Study Notes Week 70

Torah Study Notes for Week 70 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) 20:1-26
  • Prophets (P): Joshua 8:30-35
  • Apostolic (A): Romans 13:1-14
  • Additional (ADD): Jubilees 1:1-29

Torah Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

Shemot (Exodus) 20:1-26

20:1 And [Elohim](LXX) spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Other elohim will not exist for you before my face. 4 You will not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the land beneath, or that is in the water under the land: 5 you will not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, YHWH your Elohim, am El Qanna, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons, [and upon the sons' sons,](mss)(cf. Exodus 34:7)  on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and guard my commandments. 7 You will not misuse the name of YHWH your Elohim, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. 9 You will labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. You will not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your maid, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days YHWH made the heavens and land, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the [seventh](mss)(LXX) day, and made it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother, that [it may be well with you,](LXX) that your days may be long in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you. 13 [You will not commit adultery. 14 You will not murder.](mss)(cf. Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9) 15 You will not steal. 16 You will not give false witness against your neighbor. 17 You will not covet your neighbor's house. You will not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.” 18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the voice of the shofar, and the mountain smoking, [and the people were afraid](mss)(LXX)(SP) and trembled, and stayed at a distance. 19 They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don't let Elohim speak with us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Don't be afraid, for Elohim has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won't sin.” 21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses came near to the thick darkness where Elohim was. 22 YHWH said to Moses, "This is what you will tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from the heavens. 23 You will most certainly not make elohim of silver or elohim of gold for yourselves to be alongside me. 24 You will make an altar of earth for me, and will slaughter on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you will not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it. 26 You will not go up by steps to my altar, that your indecency may not be exposed to it.'"

Review

Review

  1. 19:1-2 In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that same day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 When they had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mountain.
  2. 19:3-6 Moses went up to Elohim, and YHWH called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed hear in my voice and guard my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the land is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a [royal priesthood](LXX)(cf. 1 Peter 2:9) and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
    1. Often translated as “obey or listen to my voice” שְׁמַע בְּקֹלִי shema beqoli (H8085 + H6963) is literally translated, “hear in my voice”
    2. בְּרִית beriyt or brit (H1285) literally means “to eat meat” and comes from a root word which means to feed grain to a person or livestock to fill or fatten them up. Livestock were fed grains to become fat as the choicest for slaughter. When related to covenants in the Bible, a covenant was established through a sacrifice of a choice, fatted, animal which was cut in two and the parties of the covenant would pass through the two divided pieces of the cut animal (cf. Genesis 15:9-10, 17-21; Jeremiah 34:18-20). If either party who has passed through the pieces fails to meet the agreed upon words of the covenant, then the party who has not broken the covenant are allowed to “cut them off” from the covenant just as the animals were cut (cf. Genesis 17:14 “…that soul shall be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant.“) Most often translated “cut a covenant” כָּרַת בְּרִית karat berit (H3772 + H1285) literally means “cut a covenant” because the animal sacrificed when a covenant is enter into is cut in half (cf. Genesis 15:9-10,17-18; Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 9:16-20).
    3. דָּבָר davar H1697) means “to order” in the sense of an arrangement or placement of something to create order. In Hebraic thought, “a word” is a completed thought, not babbling incoherence (cf. Sirach 7:14; Matthew 6:7). דָּבָר davar is equivalent to the Greek word λόγος logos which is a word, uttered by a living voice, that embodies a conception or idea.
      • Prattle – to talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way
      • Babble – to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way
    4. 1 Peter 2:1-12 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual milk, that with it you may grow, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim, precious. 5 You also as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah. 6 Because it is contained [in](mss) Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen and precious. He who believes in him will not be disappointed.” (cf. Isaiah 28:16) 7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who [do not believe],(mss) “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” (cf. Psalms 118:22) 8 and, “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” (cf. Isaiah 8:14) For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for the possession of Elohim, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are the people of Elohim, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good works and glorify Elohim in the day of visitation.
  3. 19:7-8 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which [Elohim](LXX) commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, and said, “All that [Elohim](LXX) has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to [Elohim].(LXX)
  4. 19:9 YHWH said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to YHWH.
    1. Most often translated, “forever,” עוֹלָם ‘olam literally means, “to a hidden time” as in a time hidden from the present; a distant time in the past or future. עוֹלָם ‘olam is equivalent to the Greek εις τον αιώνα (eis ton aióna) which means “in the age”. In modern Greek, αιώνα (aióna or eon) means “century” (a period of 100 years), but likely referred to a period of unspecified time in ancient Greek (cf. Strong’s G165).
  5. 19:10 YHWH said to Moses, “Go to the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, 11 and be ready for the third day; for on the third day YHWH will come down in the sight of all the people on Mount Sinai. 12 You shall set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain shall be surely put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he shall not live.’ When the [yovel] sounds long, they shall come up to the mountain.”
    1. Usually translated as “jubilee” from the Latin Jubilaeus, יוֹבֵל yovel (H3104) is the horn of a ram used to announce the time of celebration (cf. Exodus 19:13).
    2. 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 “…Even as Elohim said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their Elohim and they will be my people.” (cf. Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27) 17 Therefore“ ‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says YHWH. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. (cf. Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41) 18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (cf. 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8)
  6. 19:14 Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready by the third day. Don’t have sexual relations with a woman.” 16 On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud shophar; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 Moses led the people out of the camp to meet Elohim; and they stood at the lower part of the mountain. 18 All of Mount Sinai smoked, because [Elohim](LXX) descended on it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 When the voice of the shofar grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and [the elohim](MTT) answered him by a voice. 20 YHWH came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. YHWH called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. 21 [Elohim](LXX) said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to [Elohim](LXX) to gaze, and many of them perish. 22 Let the priests also, who come near to [Elohim],(LXX) sanctify themselves, lest YHWH break out on them.” 23 Moses said to [Elohim],(LXX) “The people can’t come up to Mount Sinai, for you warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds around the mountain, and sanctify it.’ ” 24 YHWH said to him, “Go down! You shall bring Aaron up with you, but don’t let the priests and the people break through to come up to [Elohim],(LXX) lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people, and told them.
  1. Commonly translated as “ten commandments”, עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים aseret hadevarim literaly translates to “ten of the words” (cf. Exodus 34:28)
    1. Exodus 34:28 He was there with YHWH forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, ten of the words.
      1. Most Bibles say “ten commandments”.
    2. דָּבָר davar H1697) means “to order” in the sense of an arrangement or placement of something to create order. In Hebraic thought, “a word” is a completed thought, not babbling incoherence (cf. Sirach 7:14; Matthew 6:7). דָּבָר davar is equivalent to the Greek word λόγος logos which is a word, uttered by a living voice, that embodies a conception or idea.
      • Prattle – to talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way
      • Babble – to talk rapidly and continuously in a foolish, excited, or incomprehensible way
    3. מִצְוָה mitsvah (H4687) comes from the root word צַו tsav (H6673) which means “to command,” thus the word מִצְוָה mitsvah becomes a noun with the מ mem prefix as “a command or ordinance”. “10 Commandments” would be aseret hamitsvot, but instead is עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים aseret hadevarim, “ten of the words”
    4. What are the Words of the Covenant?
      1. Exodus 24:1-8 He said to Moses, “Come up to YHWH, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance. 2 Moses alone shall come near to YHWH, but they shall not come near. The people shall not go up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the words of YHWH, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which YHWH has spoken will we do.” 4 Moses wrote all the words of YHWH, then rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the sons of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to YHWH. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “We will do all that YHWH has said, and be obedient.” 8 Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is the blood of the covenant, which YHWH has made with you concerning all these words.”
        1. Hebrews 9:15-20 For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a last will and covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it. 17 For a will is in force where there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Torah, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Elohim has commanded you.” (cf. Exodus 24:8)
      2. Exodus 34:10-28 He said, “Behold, I make a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of YHWH; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. 11 Observe that which I command you today. Behold, I will drive out before you the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. 12 Be careful, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare among you; 13 but you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you shall cut down their Asherah poles; 14 for you shall worship no other elohim; for YHWH, whose name is Jealous, is a zealous Elohim. 15 “Don’t make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they whore after their elohim, and sacrifice to their elohim, and one call you and you eat of his sacrifice; 16 and you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters whore after their elohim, and make your sons whore after their elohim. 17 “You shall make no cast idols for yourselves. 18 “You shall keep the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib; for in the month Abib you came out of Egypt. 19 “All that opens the womb is mine; and all your livestock that is male, the firstborn of cow and sheep. 20 You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You shall redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one shall appear before me empty. 21 “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. 22 “You shall observe the feast of weeks with the first fruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of harvest at the year’s end. 23 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord YHWH, the Elohim of Israel. 24 For I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders; neither shall any man desire your land when you go up to appear before YHWH, your Elohim, three times in the year. 25 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread. The sacrifice of the feast of the Passover shall not be left to the morning. 26 “You shall bring the first of the first fruits of your ground to the house of YHWH your Elohim. “You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.” 27 YHWH said to Moses, “Write these words; for in accordance with these words I have cut a covenant with you and with Israel.” 28 He was there with YHWH forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread, nor drank water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten words.
      3. Deuteronomy 29:1-29 These are the words of the covenant which YHWH commanded Moses to make with the sons of Israel in the land of Moab, in addition to the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. 2 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that YHWH did in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; 3 the great trials which your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But YHWH has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, and ears to hear, to this day. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not grown old on you, and your sandals have not grown old on your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, neither have you drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am YHWH your Elohim. 7 When you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, and we struck them. 8 We took their land, and gave it for an inheritance to the ones of Reuben, and to the ones of Gad, and to the half-tribe of the ones of Manasseh. 9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do. 10 All of you stand today in the presence of YHWH your Elohim: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the foreigners who are in the middle of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 that you may enter into the covenant of YHWH your Elohim, and into his oath, which YHWH your Elohim makes with you today, 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your Elohim, as he spoke to you and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 Neither do I make this covenant and this oath with you only, 15 but with those who stand here with us today before YHWH our Elohim, and also with those who are not here with us today 16 (for you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the middle of the nations through which you passed; 17 and you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them); 18 lest there should be among you man, woman, family, or tribe whose heart turns away today from YHWH our Elohim, to go to serve the elohim of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that produces bitter poison; 19 and it happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, “I shall have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart,” to destroy the moist with the dry. 20 YHWH will not pardon him, but then YHWH’s anger and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book will fall on him, and YHWH will blot out his name from under the sky. 21 YHWH will set him apart for evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this book of the Torah. 22 The generation to come—your children who will rise up after you, and the foreigner who will come from a far land—will say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sicknesses with which YHWH has made it sick, 23 that all of its land is sulfur, salt, and burning, that it is not sown, doesn’t produce, nor does any grass grow in it, like the overthrow of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which YHWH overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath. 24 Even all the nations will say, “Why has YHWH done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?” 25 Then men will say, “Because they abandoned the covenant of YHWH, the Elohim of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 and went and served other elohim and worshiped them, elohim that they didn’t know and that he had not given to them. 27 Therefore YHWH’s anger burned against this land, to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book. 28 YHWH rooted them out of their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and thrust them into another land, as it is today.” 29 The secret things belong to YHWH our Elohim; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Torah.
  2. 20:1 And [Elohim](LXX) spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Other elohim will not exist for you before my face. 4 You will not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the land beneath, or that is in the water under the land: 5 you will not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, YHWH your Elohim, am El Qanna, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons, [and upon the sons’ sons,](mss)(cf. Exodus 34:7)  on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and guard my commandments. 7 You will not misuse the name of YHWH your Elohim, for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart. 9 You will labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. You will not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your maid, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days YHWH made the heavens and land, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore YHWH blessed the [seventh](mss)(LXX) day, and made it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother, that [it may be well with you,](LXX) that your days may be long in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you. 13 [You will not commit adultery. 14 You will not murder.](mss)(cf. Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9) 15 You will not steal. 16 You will not give false witness against your neighbor. 17 You will not covet your neighbor’s house. You will not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
  4. 20:18 All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the voice of the shofar, and the mountain smoking, [and the people were afraid](mss)(LXX)(SP) and trembled, and stayed at a distance. 19 They said to Moses, “Speak with us yourself, and we will listen; but don’t let Elohim speak with us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for Elohim has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.”
    1. Deuteronomy 18:15-22 YHWH your Elohim will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You will listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you desired of YHWH your Elohim in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again YHWH my Elohim’s voice, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I not die.” 17 YHWH said to me, “They have well said that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a prophet from among their brothers, like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I will command him. 19 It will happen, that whoever will not listen to my words which he will speak in my name, I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet who acts arrogantly to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other elohim, that same prophet will die.” 21 You may say in your heart, “How will we know the word which YHWH has not spoken?” 22 When a prophet speaks in YHWH’s name, if the thing doesn’t follow, nor happen, that is the thing which YHWH has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it in arrogance. You will not be afraid of him.
  5. 20:21 The people stayed at a distance, and Moses came near to the thick darkness where Elohim was. 22 YHWH said to Moses, “This is what you will tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from the heavens. 23 You will most certainly not make elohim of silver or elohim of gold for yourselves to be alongside me. 24 You will make an altar of earth for me, and will slaughter on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you. 25 If you make me an altar of stone, you will not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it. 26 You will not go up by steps to my altar, that your indecency may not be exposed to it.'”

Apostolic Summary
Context and coherence (Nehemiah 8:8)

  1. In our Apostolic portion this week, Paul is instructing us in submission to government.

    1. Submission should be a familiar concept at this point in our studies.

      1. We have examined multiple relationships that teach about submission.

        1. These include wives to their husbands, children to their parents and slaves to their masters.

  2. Today we’re going to look more closely at another relationship of submission; specifically, individuals to government.

    1. We’re going to examine why we should do this and what Scripture provides in terms of guidelines and boundaries for submission to authority.

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

  1. What is the mission or telos of government?

    1. “For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore. it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing” (Rom. 13:4-6).

      1. Rulers are ministers of God, empowered under God’s authority.

        1. To do what?

          1. #1 – To avenge God by bringing His wrath onto those who practice evil.

          2. #2 – To praise and minister good to those who practice good.

          3. #3 – To use taxes for the public good.

  2. Not surprisingly, we see these principles in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution which explicitly outlines six primary goals for the American government:

    1. To form a more perfect Union.

    2. To establish Justice.

    3. To insure domestic tranquility.

    4. To provide for the common defense.

    5. To promote the general welfare.

    6. To secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.

  3. Paul begins his argument for the authority of government in verse 1.

    1. “Every person is to be in submission (#5293) to the governing authorities” (Rom. 13:1-2).

      1. G5293. hupotassó – “to subordinate; to obey”.

        1. From 5259 /hupó, “under” and 5021 /tássō, “arrange”) – properly, “under God’s arrangement,” i.e. submitting to the Lord (His plan).

          1. Subordinate (def.) – from Latin sub “under” + ordinare “arrange, set in order,” from ordo– “row, rank, series, arrangement”

          2. Obey (def.) – “listen to”; from ob “to” (see ob-) + audire “listen, hear”.

            1. H8085. shema – “to listen with the intent to obey”.

KEY POINT:

Submission is the act of listening to and obeying a higher authority within God’s order.

  1. We tend to read Romans 13 through the lens of our own experience and view of “government”.

    1. From Paul’s perspective and worldview, government was neither representative nor democratic.

      1. Most scholars agree that Paul wrote Romans around 57 to 59 A.D. during the reign of Nero who was one of the most brutal and sadistic of the Caesars.

    2. In 1st-century Israel, there were only two groups of people: the one who had authority and the ones they governed.

  2. Why is this important?

    1. For Paul to describe the Roman empire under Nero as “the minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” (Rom. 4b), should remove any objection that submission to authority is conditional.

      1. “For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore, whoever opposes (#498) authority has opposed the ordinance (#1299) of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves” (Rom. 13:1b-2).

        1. G498. antitássomai — “oppose; rebel”

          1. From 473 /antí, “against” and 5021 /tássō, “arrange, order”) – properly, “squared off” (opposite to); opposed to in principle and in practice.

        2. G1299. diastasso – “appoint; command; ordain”.

          1. Strongs 1299 /diatássō (“to command with detailed instructions”) means to issue a command with full authority because it takes into account all that is necessary to lay down a proper order.

KEY POINT:

All authority comes from God and is ordered according to His will and purpose.

  1. Divine order transcends society, culture, and history.

    1. Because God does not change, His order is universal, constant and unchanging.

      1. Society, on the other hand, does change and each of us changes along with it.

        1. The challenge of being a follower of Messiah is how to be transformed and not conformed to the world (see Romans 12:2).

  2. So, is Paul directing Believers towards unequivocal obedience to authority regardless of whether it is moral or ethical?

    1. What are guidelines for when we should not submit to authority?

      1. Let’s look at the epistle of James to establish several foundational principles that will help us to answer this question.

  3. By nature, mankind is and has always been in rebellion against God’s authority.

    1. “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: ‘He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us’?” (Jam. 4:4-5).

      1. The systems of the world oppose God and will do so until Messiah puts them under His feet.

      2. As to the meaning of verse 5, there is much debate. However, I think the following wording clarifies the point James is making:

        1. “Do you suppose that Scripture speaks in vain? Does the Spirit, which took up His abode in you, lust to envy?”

          1. In other words, lusting after the world is from the flesh, not the Holy Spirit.

  4. Pride is at the core of all rebellion against authority.

    1. “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, ‘GOD IS OPPOSED (#498) TO THE PROUD, BUT SHOWS FAVOR TO THE HUMBLE’” (Jam. 4:6; ref. Pro. 3:34; cf. 1 Pet. 5:5)).

      1. “Therefore, whoever opposes authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves” (Rom. 13:2).

KEY POINT:

Pride is the heart attitude that reorders God’s hierarchy by asserting individual authority.

  1. Resisting evil is what establishes God’s order.

    1. “Submit (#5239) therefore to God. Resist (#436) the devil and he will flee from you” (Jam. 4:7).

      1. G436. anthistémi – “to stand against; resist”.

        1. Strongs 436 /anthístēmi (“oppose fully”) means to forcefully declare one’s personal conviction (where they unswervingly stand); to keep one’s possession; ardently withstand, without giving up (letting go).

          1. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So, resist (#436) him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world” (1 Pet. 5:8-9).

          2. “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand (#436) against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand (histémi) in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (histémi) firm” (Eph. 6:11–13).

    2. Standing firm equates to covenant faithfulness, which means listening (Shema) to God’s voice and obeying His God’s commandments.

      1. “When they had brought them, they had them stand before the Council. The high priest interrogated them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man’s blood upon us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:27-29).

KEY POINT:

The only condition of submission to authority is that it should not transgress the covenant.

  1. Perhaps my favorite example of this in scripture is Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

    1. “Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So, they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?’ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up’” (Dan. 3:13–18).

      1. Because they had been built up in the Lord, standing firm in covenant faithfulness was the only choice they would make in the evil day.

        1. And what was the result?

    2. “Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, ‘Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!’ Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way’. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon” (Dan 3:26–30.

      1. By obeying God rather than man, these men established God’s order before a pagan king.

      2. Their refusal to assert their individual authority (e.g.. humility) opened the door for God to grant them His power to overcome (e.g. grace).

  2. So, how do we apply these truths to our lives?

    1. #1 – Submit to God’s order and pay less attention to politics.

      1. Politics is the art of manipulating public opinion.

        1. From the games in the coliseum to agenda-driven “news” designed to provoke outrage and galvanize the base, those in authority have always used manipulation to distract and control the people.

      2. As Believers, we have a unique and sacred function to maintain God’s order with respect to government.

        1. This requires wisdom, knowledge of His Word, and the guidance of Holy Spirit.

    2. #2 – Practice standing firm against evil in the small things.

      1. Every day we are provided with opportunities to be tested in covenant faithfulness.

        1. Will our words be honest or manipulative?

        2. Will our actions model humble submission or prideful rebellion?

      2. As we grow in maturity, God will ensure we have the grace we need to stand firm in the evil day, so He is glorified.

    3. # 3 – Join the resistance, not the rebellion.

      1. Work to reform and restrain corrupt or evil government, not overthrow it.

      2. Affirm the legitimacy of the governing authorities based on God’s decree, not man’s (e.g. social contract).

      3. Disavow the sword unless it has been granted by God’s ordinance.

        1. This includes military, law enforcement, self-defense, and protection of weak and vulnerable.

      4. Remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood and that truth can be a more powerful weapon than anything physical.

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 impacted you from Romans 13?
        6. How do verses 8 through 10 describe the goal (telos) of the Torah?
        7. Do you struggle with submission to authority? Why or why not?

Additional Notes