Study Notes Week 62

Torah Study Notes for Week 62 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): Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-51
Prophets (P): Jeremiah 46:13-28
Apostolic (A): 1 Corinthians 5:1-13
Additional (ADD): Jubilees 49:1-23

Torah Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Shemot (Exodus) 12:1-51

12:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of [the sons of]^(DSS)(SP)^(LXX) Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb [for each household, a lamb according to the fathers' households].^(DSS) 4 and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls. You shall make your count for the lamb according to what everyone can eat. 5 Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of [the sons of]^(DSS)(SP)^(LXX) Israel shall kill [them]^(DSS) at evening. 7 They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it. 8 They shall eat the meat in that night, roasted with fire, with unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. 9 Don't eat it raw, nor [cooked or boiled]^(DSS) with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. 10 You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning [and a bone of it you shall not break];^(LXX) but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. 11 This is how you shall eat it: with your belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the Pesach of YHWH. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. I will execute judgments against all the Elohim of Egypt. I am YHWH. 13 The blood shall be to you for a sign on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will [shelter]^(LXX) you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 This day shall be a memorial for you. You shall hold a feast to YHWH. You shall hold a feast throughout your generations by a statute forever. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no kind of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, only that may be done by you. 17 You shall guard the feast of unleavened bread; for in the bone of this day I have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall guard this day throughout your generations by a statute forever. 18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening. 19 There shall be no leaven found in your houses for seven days, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or one who is born in the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.' ” 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of [the sons of]^(LXX) Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Pesach. 22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For YHWH will cross over to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts, YHWH will hop over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. 24 You shall guard this word for a statute to you and to your sons forever. 25 It shall happen when you have come to the land which YHWH will give you, as he has promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 It will happen, when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?' 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the slaughter of the Pesach of YHWH, who [sheltered]^(LXX) the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.' ” The people bowed their heads and did bow down. 28 The sons of Israel went and did so; as YHWH had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 29 At midnight, YHWH struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve YHWH [your Elohim],^(LXX) as you have said! 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!” 33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.” 34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 The sons of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 YHWH gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians. 37 The sons of Israel traveled from Rameses to Sukkot, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, in addition to little ones. 38 A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock. 39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it wasn't leavened, [because Egypt thrust them out],^(DSS)^(LXX) and they were not able to linger, and they had not prepared any food for themselves. 40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt [and Canaan]^(LXX)^(SP) was four hundred thirty years. 41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, in the bone of this day, all of the armies of YHWH went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night of safeguardings to YHWH for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of YHWH, safeguardings by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations. 43 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Pesach. No son of a foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it. 45 A sojourner and a hired-servant shall not eat of it. 46 It must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall do it. 48 When a sojourner sojourns with you, and would like to do the Pesach to YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and do it. He shall be as one who is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 One Torah shall be to him who is born at home, and to the sojourner who sojourns among you.” 50 All the sons of Israel did so. As YHWH commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 That same day, YHWH brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Review

Exodus 12:12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. I will execute judgments against all the elohim of Egypt. I am YHWH.

נֶגַע nega’ (H5061) literally means to lay hands upon; to touch or strike. When referring to a contaminated substance on skin, cloth, or a building which causes infection, epidemic disease, mold, or mildew, נֶגַע nega’ is most always translated as “plague” in the sense of being a “touch from God.”

Exodus 7:19 This plague was against the Egyptian god Khnum, protector of the Nile
Exodus 8:4 This plague was against the Egyptian frog-headed fertility goddess Heqet
Exodus 8:16 This plague was against the Egyptian god of the earth or land, Geb
Exodus 8:21 This plague was against the Egyptian god Khepri
Exodus 9:3 This plague was against the cow-headed goddess Hathor
Exodus 9:9 This plague was against the Egyptian goddess Isis
Exodus 10:12 This plague was against the locust-headed god Senehem, as well as Osirus, god of harvest and vegetation
Exodus 10:21 This plague was against the Egyptian sun-god, Amon-Ra
Exodus 11:5 This plague was against the Egyptian god of the dead, Anubis

12:1 YHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you.
12:3 Speak to all the congregation of [the sons of]^(DSS)(SP)^(LXX) Israel, saying…
1. Congregation = עֵדָה edah (H5712) is the feminine of the word עֵד ed (H5707) which means “to witness” in the sense of a person repeating or recounting their testimony of an event. When related to a group of people or a congregation, עֵדָה edah is a fixed congregation or collection of people for a common witness of an event. עֵדָה edah is not to be confused with the קָהֵל qahal (H6951) or ἐκκλησία ekklēsia (G1577) which is the entire a gathering of a people (or nation) called into some public place (cf. Exodus 19:17; Deuteronomy 4:10; Acts 7:38)
12:3 …‘On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb [for each household, a lamb according to the fathers’ households].^(DSS) 4 and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls. You shall make your count for the lamb according to what everyone can eat.
1. Soul = נַפְשֹׁ nephesh (H5315) means “being” and is the whole of a person or animal; the unity of the body, organs, and breath. This is demonstrated in Job 38:39 where the word commonly translated “appetite” is נַפְשֹׁ nephesh: “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite (H5315) of the young lions?” When a person dies, their soul (נַפְשֹׁ nephesh) goes to Sheol (cf. Genesis 2:7; Psalms 16:10; Psalms 88:3; Proverbs 23:14; Acts 2:27-31).
12:5 Your lamb shall be without defect, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of [the sons of]^(DSS)(SP)^(LXX) Israel shall kill [them]^(DSS) at evening.
1. Assembly = קָהֵל qahal (H6951) means “to gather” and is equivalent to the Greek word ἐκκλησία ekklēsia (G1577) which is the entire a gathering of a people (or nation) called into some public place (cf. Exodus 19:17; Deuteronomy 4:10; Acts 7:38). קָהֵל qahal and ἐκκλησία ekklēsia should not be confused with עֵדָה edah (H5712) which is a fixed congregation or collection of people for a common witness of an event.
2. Fourteenth day of the month (Quartodecimanism): “Since Christ, the true Paschal Lamb, had been slain on the very day when the Jews, in celebration of their Passover, immolated the figurative lamb, the Jewish Christians in the Orient followed the Jewish method, and commemorated the death of Christ on the 15th of Nisan and His Resurrection on the 17th of Nisan, no matter on what day of the week they fell. For this observance they claimed the authority of St. John and St. Philip… In the rest of the empire another consideration predominated. Every Sunday of the year was a commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, which had occurred on a Sunday. Because the Sunday after 14 Nisan was the historical day of the Resurrection, at Rome this Sunday became the Christian feast of Easter. Easter was celebrated in Rome and Alexandria on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox, and the Roman Church claimed for this observance the authority of Sts. Peter and Paul… The First Council of Nicaea (325) decreed that the Roman practice should be observed throughout the Church. But even at Rome the Easter term was changed repeatedly. Those who continued to keep Easter with the Jews were called Quartodecimans (14 Nisan) and were excluded from the Church.” – Catholic Encyclopedia, newadvent.orgQuartodecimanism (from the Vulgate Latin quarta decima in Leviticus 23:5, meaning fourteenth) is the name given to the practice of celebrating the death of Christ on the day of Passover on the 14th of Nisan according to the biblical dating, being on whatever day of the week. The Quartodeciman controversy in the Church was over the question of celebrating Easter on the first day of the week, Sunday, or at the same time as the sacrifice of the Passover lamb.The Quartodecimans claimed that their traditions are inherited from the Apostle John and Philip, while western churches claimed that their views of Easter have been inherited from Paul and Peter. Quartodecimanism was mainly popular in Asia Minor, Jerusalem and Syria, however it was rejected by churches in other regions. Polycarp, like other Asiatics, kept Easter on the fourteenth day of the month of Abib/Aviv. According to Eusebius, Polycarp claimed that his practice came from the apostle John. Some of the Montanists were also Quartodeciman preferring to celebrate Easter on the Hebrew calendar date of 14 Nisan, regardless of what day of the week it landed on. Montanism even brought Quartodeciman practices to the west, for example Blastus was a Roman Montanist who was also a Quartodeciman. It is unclear if the Ebionites could be deemed Quartodecimans, however they probably still observed the Passover in addition to other Jewish festivals.Melito of Sardis, Sagar of Laodicea, Papirius of Smyrna, perhaps Apollonaris of Laodicea and Polycrates of Ephesus had Quartodeciman views. The Didascalia likely drew from a Quartodeciman source. Some Novatians that spread into the east were Quartodecimans.By the 4th century the influence of Quartodecimans became smaller, later the Quartodecimans would be even persecuted.The opponents of Quartodecimanism often argued that it is a form of Judaizing.
12:7 They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two door posts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it. 8 They shall eat the meat in that night, roasted with fire, with unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs. 9 Don’t eat it raw, nor [cooked or boiled]^(DSS) with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts. 10 You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning [and a bone of it you shall not break];^(LXX) but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. 11 This is how you shall eat it: with your belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is the Pesach of YHWH.
1. Commonly translated as “Passover”, פֶּסַח Pesach (H6453) is from the word פָּסַח pasach (H6452) which literally means “to hop over” (cf. Exodus 12:13; Exodus 12:27; 1 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 31:5) or be limp or lame (cf. 2 Samuel 4:4). The Greek Septuagint translates פָּסַח pasach as σκεπάσω skepáso which means “to cover, shelter, or protect” (cf. Exodus 33:22; Psalms 91:14; Isaiah 51:16).
2. John 19:31-37 Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn’t remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. 32 Therefore the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him; 33 but when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they didn’t break his legs. 34 However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 He who has seen has witnessed, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, that you may believe. 36 For these things happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “A bone of him will not be broken.”* (cf. Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalms 34:20) 37 Again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they pierced.” (cf. Zechariah 12:10)
12:12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. I will execute judgments against all the Elohim of Egypt. I am YHWH.
1. מִּשְׁפָּטִים mishpatim (H3925) means the judge or rightly rule over cases of dispute or wrong doing (Exodus 21:1 – 23:19 “Now these are the judgements which you shall set before them…”)
2. God, Gods, Sons of Gods, the Sons of the Gods:
  1. Genesis 1:24-27 Elohim said, “The land will produce living souls after their kind, livestock, creeping, and animals of the land after their kind;” and it was so. 25 Elohim made the animals of the land after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. Elohim saw that it was good. 26 Elohim said, “[We will make]^(MTT) a man in our image, after our likeness. He will have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over the livestock, [and over all the wild animals of the land],^(syr) and over every creeping that creeps on the land.” 27 Elohim created the man in his own image. In the image of Elohim he created him; male and female he created them.
  2. Luke 3:36-38 the son of Cainan, the son of Arpachshad, the son of Shem, the son of Noaḥ, the son of Lamech, 37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, 38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, ~~the son~~ of Elohim.
  3. Genesis 5:1-3 This is the book of the births of Adam. In the day that Elohim created Adam, he made him in the likeness of Elohim. 2 He created them male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them Adam. 3 Adam lived [two hundred]^(LXX) thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
  4. Romans 8:28-30 We know that all things work together for good for those who love Elohim, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 Whom he predestined, those he also called. Whom he called, those he also justified. Whom he justified, those he also glorified.
  5. Job 1:6-12; Job 2:1-7
    1. Job 1:6 Now on the day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before YHWH, Satan also came among them. 7 YHWH said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered YHWH, and said, “From going back and forth in the land, and from walking up and down in it.” 8 YHWH said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is no one like him in the land, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears Elohim, and turns away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered YHWH, and said, “Does Job fear Elohim for nothing? 10 Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But stretch out your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce you to your face.” 12 YHWH said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only on himself don’t stretch out your hand.”
    2. Job 2:7 YHWH said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered YHWH, and said, “From going back and forth in the land, and from walking up and down in it.” 3 YHWH said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him in the land, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears Elohim, and turns away from evil. He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.” 4 Satan answered YHWH, and said, “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 But stretch out your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face.” 6 YHWH said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand. Only spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the face of YHWH, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head.
  6. Job 38:7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of Elohim shouted for joy?
  7. Deuteronomy 32:8-12; Deuteronomy 8:43; Psalms 82:1-8; John 10:31-38
    1. Deuteronomy 32:8-12 When Elyon gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of man, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of the [Elohim].^(DSS) 9 For the portion of YHWH is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10 He found him in a desert land, in the waste howling wilderness. He surrounded him. He cared for him. He kept him as the apple of his eye. 11 As an eagle that stirs up her nest, that flutters over her young, he spread abroad his wings, he took them, he bore them on his feathers. 12 YHWH alone led him. There was no foreign elohim with him…
      1. Deuteronomy 32:8 (English Standard Version Bible) When the Most High agave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Elohim. 9 But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.
      2. Deuteronomy 32:8 (Dead Sea Scrolls) When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of men, he set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the sons of Elohim. 9 For the portion of YHWH is his people. Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.
      3. Deuteronomy 32:8 (Septuagint text as translated in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot by Charles VanderPool) When the highest divided nations into parts, as he disseminated the sons of Adam, he set the borders of nations according to the number of the angels of Elohim; 9 and his people Jacob became a portion for the LORD. Israel is a piece of measured out land of his inheritance.
    2. Deuteronomy 32:43 According to Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) and Septuagint (LXX) 32:43 Rejoice, [the heavens, together with him]^(DSS)^(LXX) [and bow down to him all you elohim],^(DSS) [and let all the angels of Elohim worship him];^{(LXX)(cf. Hebrews 1:6)} rejoice ye Nations, with his people, ^(LXX)^{(cf. Romans 15:10)}, for he will avenge the blood of his [sons],^(DSS)^(LXX)and will render vengeance to his enemies, and [will recompense those who hate him];^(DSS)^(LXX) and [will atone]^(DSS) [for the land of his people].^(DSS)(LXX)
    3. Psalms 82:1-8 A Psalm by Asaph. Elohim presides in the assembly of elohim. He judges among elohim. 2 “How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked?” Selah. 3 “Judge for the helpless and the fatherless. Do righteousness to the afflicted and dispossessed. 4 Rescue the helpless and needy. Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.” 5 They don’t know, neither do they understand. They walk back and forth in darkness. All the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I said, “You are elohim, all of you are sons of the Most High. 7 Nevertheless you will die like men, and fall like one of the rulers.” 8 Arise, Elohim, judge the earth, for you inherit all of the nations.
    4. Psalms 89:5-8 The heavens will praise your wonders, YHWH, your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones. 6 For who in the heavens can be compared to YHWH? Who among the Sons of Elohim is like YHWH, 7 a very awesome Elohim in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him? 8 YHWH, Elohim of Armies, who is strong*, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.
    5. John 10:31-38 Therefore the Judeans took up stones again to stone him. 32 Yeshua answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?” 33 The Judeans answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself Elohim.” 34 Yeshua answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, ‘I said, you are elohim?’ (cf. Psalm 82:6) 35 If he called them elohim, to whom the word of Elohim came, and the Scripture can’t be broken, 36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of Elohim?’ 37 If I don’t do the works of my Father, don’t believe me. 38 But if I do them, though you don’t believe me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
    6. Daniel 4:13-27 “I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the heavens. 14 He cried aloud and said this: ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the animals get away from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the heavens. Let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him. Then let seven times pass over him. 17 “ ‘The sentence is by the decree of the watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.’ 18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the spirit of the holy elohim is in you.” 19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation, trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries. 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the heavens and its sight to all the earth; 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation— 22 it is you, O king, that have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown, and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 “Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the heavens and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the heavens. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’ 24 “This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king: 25 You will be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of the heavens, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will. 26 Whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.”
    7. Enoch 89:51-67. The Two Reigns of Israel and Judah, to the Destruction of Jerusalem. 89:51 And again I saw those sheep that they again erred and went many ways, and forsook that their house, and the Lord of the sheep called some from amongst the sheep and sent them to the sheep, but the sheep began to slay them. 52. And one of them was saved and was not slain, and it sped away and cried aloud over the sheep; and they sought to slay it, but the Lord of the sheep saved it from the sheep, and brought it up to me, and caused it to dwell there. 53. And many other sheep He sent to those sheep to testify unto them and lament over them. 54. And after that I saw that when they forsook the house of the Lord and His tower they fell away entirely, and their eyes were blinded; and I saw the Lord of the sheep how He wrought much slaughter amongst them in their herds until those sheep invited that slaughter and betrayed His place. 55. And He gave them over into the hands of the lions and tigers, and wolves and hyenas, and into the hand of the foxes, and to all the wild beasts, and those wild beasts began to tear in pieces those sheep. 56. And I saw that He forsook that their house and their tower and gave them all into the hand of the lions, to tear and devour them, into the hand of all the wild beasts. 57. And I began to cry aloud with all my power, and to appeal to the Lord of the sheep, and to represent to Him in regard to the sheep that they were devoured by all the wild beasts. 58. But He remained unmoved, though He saw it, and rejoiced that they were devoured and swallowed and robbed, and left them to be devoured in the hand of all the beasts. 59. And He called seventy shepherds, and cast those sheep to them that they might pasture them, and He spake to the shepherds and their companions: “Let each individual of you pasture the sheep henceforward, and everything that I will command you that do ye. 60. And I will deliver them over unto you duly numbered, and tell you which of them are to be destroyed–and them destroy ye.” And He gave over unto them those sheep. 61. And He called another and spake unto him: “Observe and mark everything that the shepherds will do to those sheep; for they will destroy more of them than I have commanded them. 62. And every excess and the destruction which will be wrought through the shepherds, record (namely) how many they destroy according to my command, and how many according to their own caprice: record against every individual shepherd all the destruction he effects. 63. And read out before me by number how many they destroy, and how many they deliver over for destruction, that I may have this as a witness against them, and know every deed of the shepherds, that I may comprehend and see what they do, whether or not they abide by my command which I have commanded them. 64. But they will not know it, and thou shalt not declare it to them, nor admonish them, but only record against each individual all the destruction which the shepherds effect each in his time and lay it all before me.” 65. And I saw till those shepherds pastured in their season, and they began to slay and to destroy more than they were bidden, and they delivered those sheep into the hand of the lions. 66. And the lions and tigers eat and devoured the greater part of those sheep, and the wild boars eat along with them; and they burnt that tower and demolished that house. 67. And I became exceedingly sorrowful over that tower because that house of the sheep was demolished, and afterwards I was unable to see if those sheep entered that house.
12:13 The blood shall be to you for a sign on the houses where you are. When I see the blood, I will [shelter]^(LXX) you, and no plague will be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. 14 This day shall be a memorial for you. You shall hold a feast to YHWH. You shall hold a feast throughout your generations by a statute forever.
1. Statute (sometimes ordinance) = חֹק choq (H2706) means to inscribe (write down) a decree or custom.
  1. Genesis 47:26; Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of the priests alone didn’t become Pharaoh’s.
  2. Exodus 12:24; You shall observe this word for a statute to you and to your sons forever.
2. Memorial = זָכַר zakhar (H2142) means to recall or act upon events of the past (cf. Genesis 9:16; Deuteronomy 25:17; Numbers 11:5). This word can further mean to remember in thought as a memorial (Exodus 20:8; Numbers 15:39), to mention through speech (cf. Exodus 23:13), to act or speak on behalf of another (cf. 1 Samuel 4:18). equivalent to the Greek word μιμνῄσκομαι mimnēskomai (G3403) which means to remind; to be recalled or to return to one’s mind, to remind one’s self of, to remember; to be recalled to mind, to be remembered, had in remembrance; to remember a thing; or be mindful of.The Hebrew word for “male” is זָכוּר zakhur (H2138) because the males of the family remember and pass down the family history through story and family name. Males also act and speak for the family.אַזְכָּרָה azkara (H234) is the memorial-offering, the portion of the food offering which is burned (cf. Leviticus 2:2; Numbers 5:26). זִכָּרוֹן zikaron (H2146) means to record or remember something through documentation (cf. Exodus 12:14; Exodus 13:9; Exodus 7:14; Malachi 3:16).
12:15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away leaven out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. 16 In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no kind of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, only that may be done by you. 17 You shall guard the feast of unleavened bread; for in the bone of this day I have brought your armies out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall guard this day throughout your generations by a statute forever.
1. Commonly translated as “this very same day” or “selfsame day”, בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם b’etsem hayom (H6106 + H3117) literally means “in the bone of this day” and is an idiom of uncertain meaning, but may mean “middle of this day.” This term may compare to מַחֲצִית הַיּוֹם machatsit hayom (H4325 + H3117) in Nehemiah 8:13, “He read from [the book of the Torah of Moses] before the wide place that was in front of the water gate from early morning until the middle of the day (מַחֲצִית הַיּוֹם machatsit hayom)…”
  According to etymologist Isaac E Moseson, the term means backbone or middle of the day. “The Chinese root 中 (zhōng) is a reasonable match for the Tzadik-Mem (צֶם) Hebrew bone of contention above, has several relevant meanings. Among these are Middle Finger, Backbone, Center, Core, Noon and Midday. Yes, there is nothing wrong with translating [this term] as “the bone of the day”, once we have the Chinese to teach us that the “bone” (eTZeM) is the middle and strong core (oMeTZ)”
12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening. 19 There shall be no leaven found in your houses for seven days, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or one who is born in the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.’ ” 21 Then Moses called for all the elders of [the sons of]^(LXX) Israel, and said to them, “Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Pesach.
1. Most often translated as elder or old man, זָקֵן zaqen (H2205) literally means one who has a long beard as a sign of old age. זָקֵן zaqen is equivalent to the Greek word γερουσία gerousia (G1087) which means a senate or council of elders (i.e. the Sanhedrin).
12:22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two door posts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. 23 For YHWH will cross over to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two door posts, YHWH will hop over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you. 24 You shall guard this word for a statute to you and to your sons forever. 25 It shall happen when you have come to the land which YHWH will give you, as he has promised, that you shall keep this service. 26 It will happen, when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 that you shall say, ‘It is the slaughter of the Pesach of YHWH, who [sheltered]^(LXX) the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.’ ” The people bowed their heads and did bow down. 28 The sons of Israel went and did so; as YHWH had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 29 At midnight, YHWH struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the sons of Israel; and go, serve YHWH [your Elohim],^(LXX) as you have said! 32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!” 33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, “We are all dead men.” 34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 The sons of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing. 36 YHWH gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They plundered the Egyptians. 37 The sons of Israel traveled from Rameses to Sukkot, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, in addition to little ones.
12:38 A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.
1. Often translated as “mixed multitude” אֲסַפְסֻף Aspesuph (H628) is a gathering of people; collection, rabble, collected multitude. “Mixed multitude” is sometimes translated from עֵרֶב erev (H6154) which is mixture of cords when weaving (woof or weft), mingled, mixed people, mixed company; also translated as Arabia in some versions of Ezekiel 30:5. In the Greek Septuagint, both אֲסַפְסֻף (aspesuph) and עֵרֶב (erev) are translated to the same Greek word επίμικτος epímiktos meaning intermixed or mixed multitude.“We need not celebrate the mixed multitude of Exodus 12:38 as a beacon of the Nations joining themselves to Israel, for the mixed multitude lusted greatly (cf. Numbers 11:4-6) and caused the sons of Israel to weep and despise the manna which is the heavenly bread of the angels (cf. Psalms 78:25; Wisdom of Solomon 16:20-21). To find the beacon and encouragement for the Nations joining themselves to Israel, we need look no further than the same chapter of Exodus 12:49; “One Torah shall be to him who is born at home, and to the sojourner who sojourns among you.” For we are no longer foreigners and sojourners, but fellow citizens with the holy ones and of the household of God (cf. Ephesians 2:19). Instead of lusting after food that does not satisfy and despising the manna, we choose to boldly sit at the table to feast on the true bread that came down from the heavens, the bread of life, Yeshua (cf. John 6:32-51).”
12:39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought out of Egypt; for it wasn’t leavened, [because Egypt thrust them out],^(DSS)^(LXX) and they were not able to linger, and they had not prepared any food for themselves. 40 Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt [and Canaan]^(LXX)^(SP) was four hundred thirty years. 41 At the end of four hundred thirty years, in the bone of this day, all of the armies of YHWH went out from the land of Egypt.
1. Galatians 3:16-17, Josephus, and the Jerusalem Targum confirm that it was 430 years from the time YHWH spoke to Abraham and not 430 years in slavery to the Egyptians.”Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To descendants”, as of many, but as of one, “To your seed”, which is Messiah. Now I say this: A covenant confirmed beforehand by Elohim in Messiah, the Torah, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.” (Galatians 3:16-17)”They left Egypt in the month Xanthicus, on the fifteenth day of the lunar month; four hundred and thirty years after our forefather Abraham came into Canaan, but two hundred and fifteen years only after Jacob removed into Egypt.” (Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 2.15.2.)”…And the days of the dwelling of the sons of Israel in Mizraim were thirty weeks of years, (thirty times seven years,) which is the sum of two hundred and ten years. But the number of four hundred and thirty years (had passed away since) the Lord spake to Abraham” (Jerusalem Targum)
2. They sojourned in Canaan and Egypt for ~430 years total from the time Abraham received the promise until Mt. Sinai (Galatians 3:17). They were in Egypt from the second year of the famine (Genesis 45:11) and lived there until after Joseph died, so probably about 70 years before they became enslaved. Thus, 215 years total in Egypt and maybe ~145 to 115 years in slavery. Exodus 12:40 in the Septuagint gives us the proper translation: “And the sojourning of the sons of Israel, while they sojourned in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan, was four hundred and thirty years.” Here’s a good video: https://youtu.be/eIaezewuxhU?si=SaT_Hb7N0sM5X2Fq
12:42 It is a night of safeguardings to YHWH for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of YHWH, safeguardings by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations. 43 YHWH said to Moses and Aaron, “This is the statute of the Pesach. No son of a foreigner shall eat of it, 44 but every man’s servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it. 45 A sojourner and a hired-servant shall not eat of it. 46 It must be eaten in one house. Do not carry any of the meat outside of the house. Do not break any of its bones. 47 All the congregation of Israel shall do it. 48 When a sojourner sojourns with you, and would like to do the Pesach to YHWH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and do it. He shall be as one who is born in the land; but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. 49 One Torah shall be to him who is born at home, and to the sojourner who sojourns among you.” 50 All the sons of Israel did so. As YHWH commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did. 51 That same day, YHWH brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Exodus 11:1-3 YHWH said to Moses, “I will bring yet one more plague on Pharaoh, and on Egypt; afterwards he will let you go. When he lets you go, he will surely thrust you out altogether. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man ask of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold [and clothing].”^(LXX)^(SP) 3 YHWH gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover, the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants, and in the sight of the people.
1. שָׁאַל sha’al (H7592) means “to request” and comes from a root word which means “to draw out” (cf. Job 27:8) in the sense that to “request” or “ask” is to seek to understand what is not known. שָׁאַל sha’al is equivalent to the Greek word αἰτέω aiteō (G154) which means to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, or require. (cf. Genesis 24:47; Deuteronomy 10:12; Psalms 122:6; Matthew 6:8; Matthew 7:7; James 1:5; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14)
Exodus 11:4-6 Moses said [to Pharaoh],^(DSS)^(LXX) “This is what YHWH says: ‘About midnight I will go out into the middle of Egypt, 5 and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the maid who is behind the mill, and all the firstborn of livestock. 6 There will be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there has not been, nor will be any more.
1. בְּכוֹר bekor (H1060) means “firstborn” of the womb of a woman or animal (cf. Leviticus 27:26; Deuteronomy 15:19) and בִּכּוּר bikur (H1061) means “firstfruits” of the crop (cf. Exodus 34:26; Deuteronomy 26:2); both Hebrew words signify the chosen or elected as belonging to YHWH. בִּכּוּר bikur comes from the root word בָּחַר bachar (H977) which means “to choose” in the sense of an examination to select, or elect, the choicest. בָּחַר bachar is equivalent to the Greek word ἐκλεκτός eklektos (G1588) means to be elected, chosen, or selected.
Exodus 11:7-8 But against any of the sons of Israel a dog won’t even bark or move its tongue, against man or animal, that you may know that YHWH makes a distinction between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 All these servants of yours will come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, “Get out, with all the people who follow you;” and after that I will go out.’ ” He went out from Pharaoh in hot anger.
Exodus 11:9-10 YHWH said to Moses, “Pharaoh won’t listen to you, that my [signs and]^(LXX) wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” 10 Moses and Aaron did all these [signs and]^(LXX) wonders before Pharaoh, but YHWH strengthened Pharaoh’s heart, and he didn’t let the sons of Israel go out of his land.
1. אוֹת oth (H226) is usually translated as “sign” or “ensign” and is a physical mark that signifies an agreement or covenant between two parties as a reminder (cf. Exodus 31:13) and can be in the form of a standard or flag where the family mark is visible (cf. Numbers 2:1-3)
2. מוֹפֵת mopheth (H4159) is usually translated as “wonders” and literally refers to an amazing sight or event that perforates, fragments or breaks up one’s mind into morsels or pieces (פַּת path H6595 cf. Genesis 18:5), or entices or opens one’s mind (פָּתָה pathah H6601 cf. Exodus 22:16; Deuteronomy 11:16). A simple man (פְּתִי pethiy H6612) is one who is easily persuaded, seduced, or deceived (cf. Proverbs 9:1-4). פֹּת poth or פֹּתָה pothah (H6596) also means to open a hole in the sense of hinges of a door which were made by placing a hole in the door jam with rods set in the holes, allowing the door to swivel in the socket (cf. 1 Kings 7:50) and refers to the pudenda or “secret parts” of a female (cf. Isaiah 3:17).
3. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let’s go after other elohim,” which you have not known, “and let’s serve them,” 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for YHWH your Elohim is testing you, to know whether you love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after YHWH your Elohim, fear him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice. You shall serve him, and cling to him. 5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which YHWH your Elohim commanded you to walk in. So you shall remove the evil from among you.

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

During several studies on the Apostolic portion over the past year, we have come back to what scripture calls the “unchangeable purpose of God”.
1. “In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise His unchangeable purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:17-18).
  1. The context here is the promise to Abraham in Genesis 15.
    1. “And He took him outside and said, ‘Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be. Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness (Gen. 15:5-6; cf. Rom. 4:3-22).
  2. Paul’s teaching in Romans reveal to us that while Abraham was promised many physical descendants, the fullness of God’s purpose was for him to have innumerable spiritual heirs.
2. The promise for all the families of the earth to be born from above (justified) and then brought to perfection (sanctification).

KEY POINT:

A truly purpose-driven life is one focused on the unchangeable intention of God to bring us to maturity by conforming us to the image and likeness of His Son, Yeshua. https ://thecord .life /notes /week 14/

Discipleship is the means by which we become image-bearers that bring YHWH the glory He is due.
1. Discipleship can be divided into three main steps.
  1. First, we seek to know and understand the One who’s image we bear.
  2. Second, we learn what He has given us for teachings and instructions on how to live.
  3. Third, we “continue in His Word that we might truly be His disciples” (John 8:31).
To that end, we have an opportunity with today’s Apostolic portion to glimpse how Paul discipled his flock in the area of judgment and church discipline.
1. However, before we can make application or heed Paul’s exhortation to “be imitators of [him]” (1 Cor. 4:16), we need to look at YHWH, the Perfect Judge so we can lay a foundation from His Torah.

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

Our first principle is that YHWH is the Supreme Judge of the universe, and all judgment ultimately belongs to Him.
1. “So, I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me. May the Lord, the Judge, judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon’” (Jud. 11:27).
2. “Say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns; indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved; He will judge the peoples fairly’” (Psa. 96:10).
YHWH is “the Righteous Judge” (2 Tim. 4:8) and His judgment establishes His righteousness.
1. His Word alone determines what is right and wrong, just and unjust.
  1. “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting” (Psa. 119:160).
  2. “At night my soul longs for You, indeed, my spirit within me seeks You diligently; for when the earth experiences Your judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (Isa. 26:9).
While there is only one plumbline — or standard — of righteousness, YHWH judges the Gentiles differently than He does His covenant people (e.g. Israel).
1. The nations are under the power the “world forces of this darkness, [and] the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12), also known as the “sons of Elohim”.
  1. “God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the gods. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. They do not know nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless, you will die like men and fall like any one of the princes.’ Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is You who possesses all the nations” (Psa. 82:1-8).
    1. Because the nations are under the authority of the sons of Elohim, they are only indirectly judged by YHWH, but still ultimately under His wrath.
2. The lost who walk in darkness cannot see the light of truth and walk on the path of righteousness.
  1. Therefore, justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us; we hope for light, but there is darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom” (Isa. 59:9).
3. It is for these reasons that Paul judges outsiders differently than Believers.
  1. 1. “For what business of mine is it to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?” (1 Cor. 5:12).

KEY POINT:

The prohibition against passing judgment on the world is not about justice, but jurisdiction.

We live in a time where this principle has been completely turned upside down.
1. Many Christians judge unbelievers but overlook blatant sin within their own churches.
  1. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).
  2. “But I say to you, do not resist the evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also” (Mat. 5:39; cf. Luk. 6:29).
  3. “And He was saying to them, ‘Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides” (Mar. 4:24).

KEY POINT:

As followers of Christ, our primary responsibility is to examine our own lives, not to pass judgment on those outside the faith.

YHWH’s judgment establishes His righteousness, and He holds His covenant people to a higher standard.
1. “So, you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have singled you out from the peoples to be Mine” (Lev. 20:26).
2. “The Lord will judge his people” (Deu. 32:36a).
3. “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17; cf. Pro. 11:31).
4. “For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people’” (Heb. 10:30).
As God’s image-bearers, we are called to imitate Him in both the pursuit of righteousness, and the judgments by which He establishes it.
1. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth” (1 Pet. 1:15-17).
By and large, the jurisdiction of the Believer to judge applies to the sphere of the ekklesia.
1. “Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? So, if you have law courts dealing with matters of this life, do you appoint them as judges who are of no account in the church? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren, but brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers? Actually, then, it is already a defeat for you, that you have lawsuits with one another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?” (1 Cor. 6:1-7).
2. The context of “a case against his neighbor” most likely refers to civil not criminal disputes.
  1. Civil suits are disputes between private individuals where the goal is to resolve the conflict and provide compensation or restitution between the two parties.
  2. Criminal cases are offenses against society or the state where the goal is to punish, deter, and protect the public (i.e. community).
    1. [Note: In Colorado, as elders we are considered clergy and are required by law to report any child abuse or neglect.]
3. Paul is teaching his flock that most civil disputes can and should be resolved without involving the courts.
Within the ekklesia (excluding criminal cases), Believers are equipped and empowered to judge individuals who violate biblical standards of righteousness.
1. In the case outlined in our portion, the man married to his stepmother has transgressed a clear commandment in the Torah.
  1. “You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s wife; it is your father’s nakedness” (Lev. 18:8).
2. He has also disregarded the moral standard affirmed by the narrative of scripture.
  1. Namely, Reuben who lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine (Genesis 35:22) and Absalom who took the wives of his father (2Samuel 16:20-23; 1Kings 2:17).
In view of such clear teaching from scripture, why was the ekklesia in Corinth unable and/or unwilling to discipline this individual?
1. Paul makes it clear that the issue is not a lack of knowledge, but of humility.
  1. “You have become arrogant (#5448) and have not mourned (#3996) instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?” (1 Cor. 5:2,6).
    1. G5448. phusioó – “to inflate”.
      1. 5448 physióō (from physa, “air-bellows”) – properly, inflate by blowing; (figuratively) swelled up, like an egotistical person spewing out arrogant (“puffed-up”) thoughts.
    2. G3996. pentheó – “grieve”.
      1. Penthos (Strong’s 3997) appears five times in the Greek New Testament, describing deep, heartfelt mourning. In each context the grief is not a fleeting emotion but an intense reaction to sin, judgment, or loss—often in view of divine action.
The failure of the Corinthian Believers to discipline this man seems to have resulted from some combination of deception, cowardice, or misplaced compassion.
1. It’s not clear whether they had followed the Lord’s teaching in Matthew 18:15-20 on addressing sin in the community, but the failure ultimately resided with leadership (i.e. the elders).
  1. The final step before excommunication is to “tell it to the church” (Mat. 18:17). This is the responsibility of the elders.
2. Paul’s instruction to elders was to shepherd the flock and protect them from harm.
  1. “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church and said to them, ‘Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 28:1, 28-31).
  2. “An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Tit. 1:6-9).

KEY POINT:

The leaven of sin can only spread where biblically sanctioned leadership is absent or negligent.

Every response to sin (i.e. judgment) either establishes or undermines justice.
1. Beyond any mystical or pietistic application, “to be holy as He is holy” means viewing sin from God’s perspective.
Every judgment carries with it the risk of ending up in one of two extremes.
1. We can be unmerciful, unloving and withhold forgiveness.
2. We can show “unsanctified mercy” and allow unbridled (com)passion to cloud our judgment.
3. Both extremes are symptoms of phusioó – i.e. being inflated with the sin of self-importance.
Why is judgment in the ekklesia so important to God?
1. God wants to bless His people, not condemn them.
  1. “But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world” (1 Cor. 11:32).
2. The Creator understands the leaven of sin much better than we do.
  1. “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:6-7).
  2. “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning” (1 Tim. 5:20).
3. The Father has given all judgment to the Son, and through Him, to His Body.
  1. “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).
  2. “If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. Again, I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 18:17-19).
    1. Contrary to modern teaching, the context here is judgment against unrepentant sin, not “loosing” heavenly blessings and resources.
So, how do we apply these truths in our lives and our communities?
1. There are several foundational elements to restoring church discipline in the ekklesia.
  1. First, we need to reconsider the leadership model that has become prevalent in many churches.
    1. For all practical purposes, a single individual (i.e. Senior Pastor) is given sole authority for leadership even if on paper there might be legal checks and balances.
    2. The church may have a “board of elders” but this is modeled after businesses where the board merely consults the pastor and vice versa.
    3. As churches get larger, it becomes more difficult for pastors to know and shepherd their flock which increases the likelihood that sin will go undetected.
    4. High-profile, “celebrity” pastors have much more to lose in terms of reputation and wealth which makes them more inclined to cover up or privately engage in discipline, which undermines Matthew 18 and 1 Timothy 5:20.
  2. The biblical model of leadership is for a team of qualified men to serve together as shepherds and overseers of the community.
2. Once biblical leadership in in place, church discipline requires a healthy flock with a culture of discipleship.
  1. When churches neglect the teaching of scripture, members of the community are less equipped to discern (i.e. judge) good and evil for themselves.
    1. Wolves can only draw away the sheep that are weak, sick and unprotected.
      1. Fathers, discipleship need to begin under your leadership at home.
3. Our modern culture has redefined morality and corrupted the concept of love to mean a tolerant, non-judgmental attitude where each individual’s choices are their own.
  1. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment (#144), so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Messiah; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Yeshua the Messiah Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9-11).
    1. G144. aisthésis – “perception; discernment”.
      1. Lexicon: The term denotes an inner capacity to perceive, recognize, and judge rightly. It moves beyond mere data‐gathering to a Spirit-shaped sensitivity that distinguishes between what pleases God and what does not.
  2. Many of the biggest church scandals in the past ten years have occurred because of gross moral failures among charismatic leaders, many of whom have already returned to ministry.
    1. “There are approximately 600 million Charismatic Christians in the world today” (Pew Research).
  3. Generally speaking, many charismatic churches deemphasize scripture in favor of a greater emphasis on the work of the Holy Spirit.
    1. This can easily restrict and even remove altogether the protections intended to protect the flock.
      1. “Revival culture kills discernment” – quote from Mike Winger who has recently gone public to expose a massive scandal at Bethel Church. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GH05S53QlY0)

KEY POINT:

On the day when our lives are judged, it will not matter how much we loved and how much we hated, but rather how much we loved what God loves and hated what God hates.

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 is discernment and how do we cultivate it in our lives?
6. How do we find the appropriate balance when judging other Believers?
7. What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?

Additional Notes