Study Notes Week 29

Torah Study Notes for Week 29 of the Torah Reading Cycle

Read
Aloud together to hear the Word (Leviticus 23:1-3; Nehemiah 8:1-4; Luke 4:16-17)

  • Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 29:1-35
  • Prophets (P): Hosea 12:12-14
  • Apostolic (A): Luke 12:22-34; 1 Timothy 6:6-10
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 28:1-15
Bereshiyt (Genesis) 29:1-35

29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east. 2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well's mouth was large. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well's mouth in its place. 4 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.” 7 [Jacob](LXX) said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8 They said, “We can't, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well's mouth. Then we will water the sheep.” 9 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she kept them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rebekah's son. She ran and told her father. 13 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister's son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a new moon. 15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?” 16 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful [in appearance].(LXX) 18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.” 20 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. 21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant. 25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! [Jacob](LXX) said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn't I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you [mislead](LXX) me?” 26 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the week of this one, and [I](LXX) will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.” 28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant. 30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years. 31 YHWH saw Leah was hated and he opened her womb and Rachel was barren. 32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because [Elohim](LXX) has looked at my affliction [and given me a son].(LXX) For now my husband will love me.” 33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because [Elohim](LXX) has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Shimon. 34 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. 35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise [Elohim].”(LXX) Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

Torah Portion Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Genesis 29:1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came to the land of the sons of the east.
  2. Genesis 29:2 He looked, and saw a well in the field, and saw three flocks of sheep lying there by it. For out of that well they watered the flocks. The stone on the well’s mouth was large. 3 There all the flocks were gathered. They rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone back on the well’s mouth in its place.
  3. Genesis 29:4-6 Jacob said to them, “My relatives, where are you from?” They said, “We are from Haran.” 5 He said to them, “Do you know Laban, the grandson of Nahor?” They said, “We know him.” 6 He said to them, “Is it well with him?” They said, “It is well. See, Rachel, his daughter, is coming with the sheep.”
    1. Targum While they were speaking with him, Rahel came with her father’s sheep; for she was a shepherdess at that time, because there had been a plague from the Lord among the sheep of Laban, and but few of them were left, and he had dismissed his shepherds, and had put the remaining (flock) before Rahel his daughter. And it was when Jakob saw Rahel the daughter of Laban his mother’s brother that Jakob went nigh, and rolled the stone with one of his arms from the mouth of the Well; and the well uprose, and the waters ascended to the top of it; and he watered the sheep of Laban his mother’s brother; and it uprose for twenty years.
  4. Genesis 29:7-8 [Jacob](LXX) said, “Behold, it is still the middle of the day, not time to gather the livestock together. Water the sheep, and go and feed them.” 8 They said, “We can’t, until all the flocks are gathered together, and they roll the stone from the well’s mouth. Then we will water the sheep.”
  5. Genesis 29:9-10 While he was yet speaking with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep, for she kept them. 10 When Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother’s brother, Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother’s brother.
  6. Genesis 29:11-12 Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s relative, and that he was Rebekah’s son. She ran and told her father.
    1. Targum And Jakob kissed Rahel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jakob told unto Rahel, that he was come to be with her father to take one of his daughters. And Rahel answered him Thou canst not dwell with him, for he is a man of cunning. And Jakob said to her, I am more cunning and wiser than he; nor can he do me evil, because the Word of the Lord is my Helper. And when she knew that he was the son of Rivekah, she ran and made it known to her father. And it was when Laban heard the account of the strength and piety of Jakob the son of his sister; how he had taken the birthright and the order of blessing from the hand of his brother, and how the Lord had revealed Himself to him at Bethel; how the stone had been removed, and how the well had upflowed and risen to the brink; he ran to meet him and embrace him, and kissed him and led him into his house; and he related to Laban all these things. And Laban said to him, Truly thou art my near one and my blood; and he dwelt with him a new moon of days.
    2. Josephus 1.19.5. But Jacob was quite overcome, not so much by their kindred, nor by that affection which might arise thence, as by his love to the damsel, and his surprise at her beauty, which was so flourishing, as few of the women of that age could vie with. He said then, “There is a relation between thee and me, elder than either thy or my birth, if thou be the daughter of Laban; for Abraham was the son of Terah, as well as Haran and Nahor. Of the last of whom [Nahor] Bethuel thy grandfather was the son. Isaac my father was the son of Abraham and of Sarah, who was the daughter of Haran. But there is a nearer and later cement of mutual kindred which we bear to one another, for my mother Rebeka was sister to Laban thy father, both by the same father and mother; I therefore and thou are cousin-germans. And I am now come to salute you, and to renew that affinity which is proper between us.” Upon this the damsel, at the mention of Rebeka, as usually happens to young persons, wept, and that out of the kindness she had for her father, and embraced Jacob, she having learned an account of Rebeka from her father, and knew that her parents loved to hear her named; and when she had saluted him, she said that “he brought the most desirable and greatest pleasures to her father, with all their family, who was always mentioning his mother, and always thinking of her, and her alone; and that this will make thee equal in his eyes to any advantageous circumstances whatsoever.” Then she bid him go to her father, and follow her while she conducted him to him; and not to deprive him of such a pleasure, by staying any longer away from him.
  7. Genesis 29:13-15 When Laban heard the news of Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet Jacob, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. 14 Laban said to him, “Surely you are my bone and my flesh.” Jacob stayed with him for a new moon. 15 Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my relative, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what will your wages be?”
  8. Genesis 29:16-18 Laban had two daughters. The name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah’s eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful of form and beautiful of appearance. 18 Jacob loved Rachel. He said, “I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter.” 19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me.”
    1. Targum And the eyes of Leah were moist, (or dropping, running) from weeping and praying before the Lord that he would not destine her for Esau the wicked; and Rahel was beautiful in appearance, and of a fair countenance. [JERUSALEM. And the eyes of Leah were tender, for she had wept and prayed that she might not be brought up in the lot of Esau; and Rahel was beautiful in appearance, and of fair countenance.]
  9. Genesis 29:20-22 Jacob served seven years for Rachel. They seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had for her. 21 Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in to her.” 22 Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast.
  10. Genesis 29:23-25 In the evening, he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to Jacob. He went in to her. 24 Laban gave Zilpah his servant to his daughter Leah for a servant. 25 In the morning, behold, it was Leah! [Jacob](LXX) said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Didn’t I serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you [mislead](LXX) me?”
    1. Mislead = רָמָה ramah (H7411) comes from a root (רָמ ram) which means “to lift up” in the sense of revealing, or lifting up, unintentionally; to “betray” when written in the piel [active intensive] form. רָמָה ramah is equivalent to παραλογίζομαι paralogizomai (G3884) which means to reckon wrong, miscount; 2) to cheat by false reckoning; to deceive by false reasoning; 3) to deceive, delude, circumvent.
      1. Genesis 27:35-36 He said, “Your brother came with deceit, (מִרְמָה mirmah H4820) and has taken away your blessing.” 36 He said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright. See, now he has taken away my blessing.” He said, “Haven’t you reserved a blessing for me?”
  11. Genesis 29:26-29 Laban said, “It is not done so in our place, to give the younger before the firstborn. 27 Fulfill the week of this one, and [I](LXX) will give you the other also for the service which you will serve with me for seven more years.” 28 Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week. He gave him Rachel his daughter as wife. 29 Laban gave Bilhah, his servant, to his daughter Rachel to be her servant.
    1. Genesis 26:26-28 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his army. 27 Isaac said to them, “Why have you come to me, since you hate me, and have sent me away from you?” 28 They said, “We saw plainly that [Elohim](LXX) was with you. We said, ‘Let there now be an oath between us, between us and you, and let’s cut a covenant with you
  12. Genesis 29:30 He went in also to Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him seven more years.
  13. Genesis 29:31 YHWH saw Leah was hated and he opened her womb and Rachel was barren.
  14. Genesis 29:32 Leah conceived, and bore a son, and she named him Reuben. For she said, “Because [Elohim](LXX) has looked at my affliction [and given me a son].(LXX) For now my husband will love me.”
    1. רְאוּבֵן Re’uven (H7205) means “see a son”
  15. Genesis 29:33 She conceived again, and bore a son, and said, “Because [Elohim](LXX) has heard that I am hated, he has therefore given me this son also.” She named him Shimon.
    1. שְׁמוֹ Shim’on (H8095) means “hearer”
  16. Genesis 29:34 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “Now this time my husband will be joined to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.
    1. לֵוִי Levi or Lewi (H3878) means “my joining”
  17. Genesis 29:35 She conceived again, and bore a son. She said, “This time I will praise [Elohim].”(LXX) Therefore she named him Judah. Then she stopped bearing..
    1. יְהוּדָה Yehudah (H3063) means “thanksgiving or praise”

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. Today’s Apostolic portion brings us back to the teachings of Yeshua, this time from Luke 12.
    1. We’re going to explore what the Master taught us regarding the important topics of money, wealth and possessions.
  2. Let’s start with some basic principles from scripture.
    1. All wealth and material possessions ultimately originate in the Creator God.
      1.  Scripture teaches us that YHWH is the source of all things.
        1. “Now, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name. But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1 Chr. 29:13-14).
        2. “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him” (Psa. 24:1).
        3. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jam. 1:17).
        4. “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen” (Rom. 11:36).
      2. Obtaining wealth and possessions results from God’s power, not our own.
        1. “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (Pro. 10:22).
        2. “In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day” (Deut. 8:16-18).

KEY POINT:

The primary purpose of wealth and possessions is to glorify God; our personal benefit is a secondary byproduct.   

  1. Scripture also teaches us that Elohim apportions all things with perfect justice.
    1. Apportion – “to make a proportionate division or distribution to according to a plan”.
      1. Synonyms: “allot; assign; allocate; distribute; ration; divide; give; measure”
    2. With the Exodus generation, YHWH took a census and then divided the land based on population.
      1. “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years old and upward… Among these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. To the larger group you shall increase their inheritance, and to the smaller group you shall diminish their inheritance; each shall be given their inheritance according to those who were numbered of them. But the land shall be divided by lot. They shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. According to the selection by lot, their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller groups” (Num. 26:2,53-55).
      2. Even the lot (think: “lottery”) belonged to YHWH and was not the “luck of the draw”. 
        1. “Into the center is the lot cast, and from YHWH is all its judgment” (Pro. 16:33).
    3. YHWH apportions based on His standards of righteousness and the promises of His covenant.
      1. “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the Lord your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God. YHWH will command the blessing upon you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to, and He will bless you in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you. YHWH will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. So, all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of YHWH, and they will be afraid of you. YHWH will make you abound in prosperity, in the seed of your body and in the seed of your beast and in the produce of your ground, in the land which YHWH swore to your fathers to give you. YHWH will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. YHWH will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully” (Deut. 28:1-2,8-13).
      2. “Do you know this from of old, from the establishment of man on earth, that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless momentary? The increase of his house will depart; his possessions will flow away in the day of His anger. This is the wicked man’s portion from God, even the heritage decreed to him by God” (Job 20:4-5,28-29).
      3. “But you will be called the priests of YHWH; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, and, in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And, instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore, they will possess a double portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs” (Isa. 61:6-7).
  2. YHWH does not apportion according to the world’s standards of equity. 
    1. Equity(n.) from Latin aequus “even, just, equal” (see equal (adj.)).
      1. Equal (adj.) late 14c., “identical in amount, extent, or portion;” early 15c., “even or smooth of surface,” from Latin aequalis “uniform, identical, equal”.
      2. Equality: the quality of being fair and just, especially in a way that takes account of and seeks to address existing inequalities.
    2. Apart from the tithe collected locally every third year for the most disadvantaged – i.e. the poor, widow, and the fatherless (see Deut. 14:28; 26:12) – the scriptures do not prescribe redistribution of resources to address income inequality. 
      1. Rather, God directs us in His Word towards generosity, fueled by hearts that reject covetousness and embrace giving and sharing of wealth and possessions with poor and needy. 
    3. History (and current events) are replete with examples of injustice in human society in the defense of equity/equality. 
      1. The core dispute is not the belief that all people are equal but that the One who created them determines what is just and unjust.

Exhortation
Counsel, comfort, and encouragement (Acts 13:14-15)

  1. How does this relate to our Apostolic portion? 
    1. Our reading begins in Luke 12:22 but Yeshua’s teaching begins with, “Therefore I tell you…”
      1. Context is king and it’s always good to ask ourselves, “What is the ‘therefore’ there for?”
    2. “Someone in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me” (Luk. 12:13).
      1. In other words, “I have not received my fair and equal portion, and I demand justice”. 
    3. “But [Yeshua] said to him, ‘Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?’” (vs. 14).
      1. This is a familiar question and likely a reference from the Torah.
        1. “Now [Moses] went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, ‘Why are you striking your companion?’ But he said, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Then Moses was afraid and said, ‘Surely the matter has become known!’” (Exo. 2:13-14).

KEY POINT:

Messiah Yeshua, the Greater Moses, affirmed that justice ultimately belongs to YHWH and chose to stay within His “jurisdiction”.

  1. Yeshua then teaches us on the roots of covetousness.
    1. “And [Yeshua] said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness (#4124), for one’s life does not consist in the abundance (#4052) of his possessions’” (Luk. 12:13–15).
      1. G4124. pleonexia – “greed; covetousness; avarice”.
        1. HELPS Word-studies: derived from 4119 /pleíōn, “numerically more” and 2192 /éxō, “have”) – properly, the desire for more (things), i.e. lusting for a greater number of temporal things that go beyond what God determines is eternally best (beyond His preferred-will).
      2. G4052. perisseuó – “abound, abundance, excel, overflowing”.
        1. HELPS Word-studies: properly, exceed, go beyond the expected measure, i.e. above and beyond (“more than…); “what goes further (more), surpasses” (J. Thayer).

KEY POINT:

At the most basic level, to covet is to desire more than what God has apportioned to you.

  1. To drive the point home, Yeshua then gives us a parable.
    1. “And he told them a parable, saying, ‘The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’” But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” (Luk. 12:16-20).
    2. There are several key points to highlight in this parable:
      1. #1 – The man’s error was not in gaining wealth, but in forgetting Who gave him that wealth (“the land…produced plentifully”).
      2. #2 – This man was not being judged for maxing and relaxing but for breaking the eighth and tenth commandments – “you shall not steal” and “you shall not covet”. 
  2. Storing up wealth not only reflects a heart of covetousness, but also a lack of trust in God as Provider.
    1. “He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and Elohim feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds!” (Luk. 12:22-24).

KEY POINT:

Creation affirms the core principles of scripture – namely, that YHWH is the source and provider of all things, that He apportions to each of His creatures exactly what they need.

  1. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Mat. 6:19-21,24).
  1. Covetousness is rooted in the same fundamental sin of choosing to serve Self instead of YHWH. 
    1. From our Week 25 study: “At its root, sin can be defined as following anyone or anything other than God”.
      1. “Don’t seek what you will eat or what you will drink; neither be anxious. For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the reign of Elohim, and all these things will be added to you. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luk. 12:29-31,34).
    2. This is why Paul tells us that covetousness is idolatry.
      1. “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5).

KEY POINT:

Apart from repentance, a covetous heart will ultimately lead a person into idolatry, whether or not they are a Christian.

  1. So, how do we overcome covetousness? 
    1. #1 – Learn how to be content.
      1. “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Tim. 6:6-8).
      2. “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Phi. 4:11).
      3. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb 13:5).

KEY POINT: 

Contentment will follow when we start thanking the Father for the portion He has given us and for the portion He has withheld in order to teach us.

  1. #2 – Make the decision to serve God and not wealth.
    1. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim. 6:10).

KEY POINT:

The path to a life free from the love of money is not poverty; it is living for a greater love. 

  1. #3 – “Put to death (#3499) therefore what is earthly in you” (Col. 3:5a).
    1.  With this verse, translation really is everything!
      1. G3499. nekroó – “to deaden; to subdue”.
        1. HELPS Word-studies: from 3498 /nekrós, corpse-like, lifeless”) – to view as a corpse, i.e. without life; to regard (but not “make”) as dead, inoperative; to mortify, deprive of life or energizing power; (figuratively) to cut off (sever) everything that energizes.
    2. In Yeshua, “our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for the one who has died is freed from sin” (Rom. 6:6-7).
    3. The key to sanctification is resting in what Messiah has already accomplished for us, not trying to attain it in our own strength.
      1. “Faith is substantiating what is hoped for…”

KEY POINT:

For those that serve Him, YHWH apportions sufficient grace to overcome sin (2 Cor. 12:9). For those that serve Self, sin can and will become their master again.

Does anyone have specific questions or need any clarification from what was said during the Summary or Exhortation?

Application & Discussion
Living the Word and following Yeshua (Acts 2:37; Romans 2:13)
Questions, input, and sharpening (Proverbs 27:17; Luke 2:46)

Romans 2:13 For it isn’t the hearers of the Torah who are righteous before Elohim, but the doers of the Torah will be justified.

James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.

    1. What questions or comments came up during your family’s discussion of this week’s study?
    2. “What other related Scriptures did you find during your study of this week’s portion?”
    3. Have you ever experienced something from this study or something related to it?
    4. “What changes do you need to make in your life to align with what you learned during this week’s Torah Study?”
    5. What have you learned in life about how to be content? 
    6. What are some areas that you have overcome the sin of covetousness and some areas where you might still be struggling?
    7. Are you serving God or Mammon? How do you know?
    8. What about saving to provide an inheritance for our children? Is this the same thing as storing up treasure on earth?
    9. What does “mortify the flesh” mean to you? How would you explain this somewhat confusing concept to a new Believer?
Additional Study Notes