Week 130

• Torah (T): Devarim (Deuteronomy) 5:1 – 6:3
• Prophets (P): Joshua 1:1-9
• Apostolic (A): Matthew 5:1-32
• Additional (ADD): Sirach 32:14-24

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Nehemiah 10:28-31 (T)
• Exodus 24:1-8; Exodus 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 4:12-14  (T)
• Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13 (T)
• Deuteronomy 29:1-15 (T)
• Exodus 19:1-16 (T)
• Exodus 34:1-17 (T)
• Deuteronomy 4:10-20 (T)
• Exodus 20:1-22 (T)
• Psalms 81:1-16 (T)
• Matthew 19:16-28; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-29 (T)
• Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10; Ya’aqov (James) 2:8-26 (T)
• 1 John 5:1-3; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 22:14-15 (T)
• Matthew 15:1-6; Mark 7:1-13 (T)
• Jude 1:5; Acts 17:28-31; Matthew 5:33-37; Mark 2:27-28; Ephesians 6:1-3; Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew 19:8-9; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Corinthians 15:14-15; Luke 12:15 (T)
• Romans 7:1-25 (T)
• Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (T)
• Hebrews 12:19-29 (T)
• Exodus 24:1-8 (T)
• Joshua 23:6-8 (T)
• Jeremiah 7:13-28 (T)
• Malachi 4:1-6; Matthew 17:1-13 (T)
• Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (T)

RELATED ADDITIONAL REA.D.INGS

• Tobit 3:1-16 (T)
• Sirach 3:1-31 (T)
• Deuteronomy 5:1 – 6:3 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)
• Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4. 8.12-13, 44-45 (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

Devarim (Deuteronomy) 5:1 – 6:3

5:1 Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the judgments which I speak in your ears [this day],^(DSS) that you may learn them, and guard to do them.” 2 YHWH our Elohim cut a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 YHWH didn’t make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 YHWH spoke with you face to face on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, 5 [And]^(DSS)(LXX) I stood between YHWH and you at that time, to show you YHWH’s [words];^(DSS) for you were afraid because of the fire, and didn’t go up onto the mountain, saying, 6 “I am YHWH your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 7 “Other elohim will not exist for you before my face. 8 “You will not make a carved image for yourself—[or]^(DSS) any likeness of what is in the heavens above, or what is in the land beneath, or that is in the water under the land. 9 You will not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, YHWH your Elohim, am El Qanah, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons’ sons [upon]^(DSS) the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me 10 and showing loving kindness to thousands of those who love me and guard my commandments. 11 “You will not misuse the name of YHWH your Elohim; for YHWH will not hold him guiltless who misuses his name. 12 “Guard the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as YHWH your Elohim commanded you. 13 You will labor six days, and do all your work; 14 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to YHWH your Elohim. [On it]^(DSS) you will not do any work—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, nor your maid, your ox, nor your donkey, nor your livestock, your sojourner who is within your gates; that your male servant and your maid may rest as well as you. 15 You will remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and YHWH your Elohim brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore YHWH your Elohim commanded you to guard the Sabbath day. [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 Sabbath day, and made it holy.]^(DSS)(LXX) 16 “Honor your father and your mother, as YHWH your Elohim commanded you, that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you. 17 “You will not murder. 18 “You will not commit adultery. 19 “Do not steal. 20 “Do not give false witness against your neighbor. 21 “Do not covet your neighbor’s wife. Do not [covet]^(DSS) your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his maid, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” 22 YHWH spoke these words to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, [darkness, blackness, storm],^(LXX) with a great voice. He added no more. He wrote them on two stone tablets, and gave them to me. 23 When you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders; 24 and you said, “Behold, YHWH our Elohim has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the middle of the fire. We have seen in this day that Elohim does speak with man, and he lives. 25 Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we [continue to]^(DSS) hear YHWH our Elohim’s voice any more, then we will die. 26 For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking out of the middle of the fire, as we have, and lived? 27 Go near, and hear all that YHWH our Elohim [speaks to you],^(DSS)(LXX) and tell us all that YHWH our Elohim tells you; and we will hear it, and do it.” 28 YHWH heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me; and YHWH said to me, “I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me and [guard my]^(DSS)(LXX) commandments always, that it might be well with them and with their sons forever! 30 “Go tell them, ‘Return to your tents.’ 31 But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which you will teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess.” 32 You will guard to do therefore as YHWH your Elohim has commanded you. You will not turn away to the right hand or to the left. 33 You will walk in all the way which YHWH your Elohim has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you will possess.

6:1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which YHWH your Elohim commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land that you go over to possess; 2 that you might fear YHWH your Elohim, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you—you, your son, and your son’s son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, Israel, and guard to do it, that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as YHWH, the Elohim of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

Prophets Portion (P)

Joshua 1:1-9

1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of YHWH, YHWH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the sons of Israel. 3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, will be your border. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you. 6 “Be strong and courageous; for you will cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, to guard to do according to all the Torah which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This book of the Torah will not depart from your mouth, but you will meditate on it day and night, that you may guard to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for YHWH your Elohim is with you wherever you go.”

Apostolic Portion (A)

Matthew 5:1-32

5:1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the reign of the heavens. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the land. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see Elohim. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of Elohim. 10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the reign of the heavens. 11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in the heavens. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 13 “You are the salt of the land, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in the heavens. 17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For most certainly, I tell you, until the heavens and the land pass away, not one yod or one horn will in any way pass away from the Torah, until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever will break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, will be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever will do and teach them will be called great in the reign of the heavens. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the reign of the heavens. 21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘Do not murder’ (cf. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) and ‘whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Reka!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘Naval!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehinnom. 23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery;’ 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to covet after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehinnom. 30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body go into Gehinnom. 31 It was also said, ‘Whoever will put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ 32 but I tell you that everyone who puts away his wife, except for the word of fornication (cf. Deuteronomy 22:20), makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

Additional Portion (ADD)

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places including the 4th Century Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

Sirach 32:14-24

32:14 He that fears the Lord will receive his discipline; And those who rise early will find favor. 15 He that seeks the law will be filled therewith: But the hypocrite will stumble thereat. 16 They that fear the Lord will find judgment, And will kindle righteous acts as a light. 17 A sinful man shuns reproof, And will find a judgment according to his will. 18 A man of counsel will not neglect a thought; A strange and proud man will not crouch in fear, Even after he has done a thing by himself without counsel. 19 Do nothing without counsel; And when you have once done, repent not. 20 Go not in a way of conflict; And stumble not in stony places. 21 Be not overconfident on an unexplored road. 22 And beware of your own children. 23 In every work trust your own soul; For this is the keeping of the commandments. 24 He that believes the law gives heed to the commandment; And he that trusts in the Lord will suffer no loss.

Related Scriptures

Nehemiah 10:28-31 (T)

10:28 The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Torah of Elohim, their wives, their sons, and their daughters—everyone who had knowledge and understanding— 29 joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath, to walk in Elohim’s Torah, which was given by Moses the servant of Elohim, and to guard and do all the commandments of YHWH our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; 30 and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons; 31 and if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy from them on the Sabbath, or on a holy day; and that we would forego the seventh year crops and the exaction of every debt.

Exodus 24:1-8; Exodus 34:27-28; Deuteronomy 4:12-14  (T)

Exodus 24:1 He said to Moses, “Come up to YHWH, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, [Eliezer and Ithamar],^(DSS) and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance. 2 Moses alone will come near to YHWH, but they will not come near. The people will not go up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the word of YHWHs, and all the judgments; 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 word of YHWHs, 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 slaughtered 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, “All that YHWH has spoken [we will obey and we will do].”^(DSS) 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.”

Exodus 34:27 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, ten of the words.

Deuteronomy 4:12 YHWH spoke to you out of the middle of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice. 13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, the ten words. He wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 YHWH commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might do them in the land where you go over [the Jordan]^(DSS) to possess it.

Jeremiah 31:31 “Behold, the days come,” says YHWH, “that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah, 32 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant of mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says YHWH. 33 “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 34 They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says YHWH, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Hebrews 8:6 But now he has obtained a more excellent service, by as much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which on better promises. 7 For if that first had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, he said, “Behold, the days are coming”, says YHWH, “that I will make a renewed covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; for they didn’t continue in my covenant, and I disregarded them,” says YHWH. 10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says YHWH: “I will put my Torah into their mind; I will also write them on their heart. I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 11 They will not teach every man his fellow citizen and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know YHWH,’ for all will know me, from their least to their greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.” 13 In that he says, “A new”, he has made the first obsolete. But that which is becoming obsolete and grows aged is near to vanishing away.

Deuteronomy 29:1-15 (T)

29:1 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 guard 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 face 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…

Exodus 19:1-16 (T)

19:1 In the third new moon 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. 3 Moses went up to Elohim, and YHWH called to him out of the mountain, saying, “This is what you will 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 obey my voice and guard my covenant, then you will be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the land is mine; 6 and you will be to me a reign of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you will speak to the sons of Israel.” 7 Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which YHWH commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, and said, “All that YHWH has spoken we will do.” Moses reported the words of the people to YHWH. 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. 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 will set bounds to the people all around, saying, ‘Guard yourselves that you don’t go up onto the mountain, or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will be surely put to death. 13 No hand will touch him, but he will surely be stoned or shot through; whether it is animal or man, he will not live.’ When the [yovel] sounds long, they will come up to the mountain.” 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 trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled.

Exodus 34:1-17 (T)

34:1 YHWH said to Moses, “Chisel two stone tablets like the first. I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one will come up with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain. Do not let the flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.” 4 He chiseled two tablets of stone like the first; then Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up to Mount Sinai, as YHWH had commanded him, and took in his hand two stone tablets. 5 YHWH descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed YHWH’s name. 6 YHWH passed by before him, and proclaimed, “YHWH! YHWH, a merciful and gracious Elohim, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, 7 preserving loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin; and who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons, and on the sons of the sons, on the third and on the fourth generation.” 8 Moses hurried and bowed his head toward the land, and did bow down. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, Lord, please let the Lord go among us, even though this is a stiff-necked people; pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.” 10 He said, “Behold, I cut a covenant: before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been worked in all the land, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are will see the work of YHWH; for it is an awesome thing that I do with you. 11 Guard 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 Guard yourself, lest you cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be for a snare among you; 13 but you will break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and you will cut down their Asherah poles; 14 for you will worship no other god; for YHWH, whose name is Jealous, is a zealous Elohim. 15 “Don’t cut a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, lest they whore after their elohim, and slaughter to their elohim, and one call you and you eat of his slaughter; 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 will make no cast idols for yourselves.

Deuteronomy 4:10-20  (T)

4:10 the day that you stood before YHWH your Elohim in Horeb, when YHWH said to me, “Assemble the people to me, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the land, and that they may teach their sons.” 11 You came near and stood under the mountain. The mountain burned with fire to the heart of the heavens, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. 12 YHWH spoke to you out of the middle of the fire: you heard the voice of words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice. 13 He declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to do, the ten words. He wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 YHWH commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that you might do them in the land where you go over [the Jordan]^(DSS) to possess it. 15 Be very careful, for you saw no kind of form on the day that YHWH spoke to you in Horeb out of the middle of the fire, 16 lest you corrupt, and make yourself a carved image in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 the likeness of any animal that is on the land, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the heavens, 18 the likeness of anything that treads on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the land; 19 and lest you lift up your eyes to the heavens, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, even all the army of the heavens, you are drawn away and worship them, and serve them, which YHWH your Elohim has allotted to all the peoples under all the heavens. 20 But [Elohim]^(LXX) has taken you, and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of inheritance, as it is today.

Exodus 20:1-22 (T)

20:1 Elohim 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 a zealous Elohim, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the sons, 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 Sabbath day, and made it holy. 12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which YHWH your Elohim gives you. 13 You will not murder. 14 You will not commit adultery. 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. When the people saw it, they 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.

Psalms 81:1-16 (T)

81:1 Sing aloud to Elohim, our strength! Make a joyful shout to the Elohim of Jacob! 2 Raise a song, and bring here the tambourine, the pleasant lyre with the harp. 3 Blow the trumpet at the New Moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. 4 For it is a statute for Israel, a statute of the Elohim of Jacob. 5 He appointed it in Joseph for a covenant, when he went out over the land of Egypt, I heard a language that I didn’t know. 6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden. His hands were freed from the basket. 7 “You called in trouble, and I delivered you. I answered you in the secret place of thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah.” Selah. 8 “Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me! 9 There will be no strange elohim in you, neither will you worship any foreign god. 10 I am YHWH, your Elohim, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me. 12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels. 13 Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of YHWH would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock.”

Matthew 19:16-28; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-29 (T)

Matthew 19:16 Behold, one came to him and said, “Good Rabbi, what good thing will I do, that I may have eternal life?” 17 He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? No one is good but one. But if you want to enter into life, guard the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” Yeshua said, “ ‘You will not murder.’ ‘You will not commit adultery.’ ‘You will not steal.’ ‘You will not offer false witness.’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ (cf. Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20) And, ‘You will love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (cf. Leviticus 19:18) 20 The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Yeshua said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow me.” 22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he was one who had great possessions. 23 Yeshua said to his disciples, “Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the reign of the heavens with difficulty. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the reign of Elohim.” 25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 Looking at them, Yeshua said, “With men this is impossible, but with Elohim all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Yeshua said to them, “Amen, amen, I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or woman, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.

Mark 10:17 As he was going out into the way, one ran to him, knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Rabbi, what will I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 Yeshua said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except one—Elohim. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not give false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and mother.’ ” (cf. Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20) 20 He said to him, “Rabbi, I have observed all these things from my youth.” 21 Yeshua looking at him loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come, follow me, taking up the cross.” 22 But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. 23 Yeshua looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into the reign of Elohim!” 24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Yeshua answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into the reign of Elohim! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the reign of Elohim.” 26 They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Yeshua, looking at them, said, “With men it is impossible, but not with Elohim, for all things are possible with Elohim.” 28 Peter began to tell him, “Behold, we have left all and have followed you.” 29 Yeshua said, “Amen, amen, I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or woman, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, 30 but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Luke 18:18 A certain ruler asked him, saying, “Good Rabbi, what will I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 Yeshua asked him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except one: Elohim. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Don’t commit adultery,’ ‘Don’t murder,’ ‘Don’t steal,’ ‘Don’t give false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” (cf. Exodus 20:12-16; Deuteronomy 5:16-20) 21 He said, “I have observed all these things from my youth up.” 22 When Yeshua heard these things, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor. Then you will have treasure in the heavens; then come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was very rich. 24 Yeshua, seeing that he became very sad, said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the reign of Elohim! 25 For it is easier for a camel to enter in through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into the reign of Elohim.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with Elohim.” 28 Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 He said to them, “Amen, amen, I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or woman, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the reign of Elohim’s sake, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the world to come, eternal life.”

Matthew 22:34-40; Romans 13:8-10; Ya’aqov (James) 2:8-26 (T)

Matthew 22:34 34 But the Pharisees, when they heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a Torah scholar, asked him a question, testing him. 36 “Rabbi, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” 37 Yeshua said to him, You will love the Lord your Elohim with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38  This is the first and great commandment. 39  A second likewise is this, ‘You will love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40  The whole Torah and the Prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You will not commit adultery,” “You will not murder,” “You will not steal,” “You will not covet,” and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You will love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t harm a neighbor. Love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.

Ya’aqov (James) 2:8 However, if you fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You will love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well. 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin, being convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as men who are to be judged by the law of freedom. 13 For judgment is without mercy to him who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Yeshua is the Messiah has been born of Elohim. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard his commandments. 3 For this is loving Elohim, that we guard his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the holy ones, those who guard the commandments of Elohim and the faith of Yeshua.”

1 John 5:1-3; Revelation 14:12; Revelation 22:14-15 (T)

1 John 5:1 Whoever believes that Yeshua is the Messiah has been born of Elohim. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard his commandments. 3 For this is loving Elohim, that we guard his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the holy ones, those who guard the commandments of Elohim and the faith of Yeshua.”

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Matthew 15:1-6; Mark 7:1-13 (T)

Matthew 15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Yeshua from Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.” 3 He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of Elohim because of your tradition? 4 For Elohim commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 5 But you say, ‘Whoever may tell his father or his mother, “Whatever help you might otherwise have gotten from me is a gift devoted to Elohim,” 6 he will not honor his father or mother.’ You have made the commandment of Elohim void because of your tradition.

Mark 7:1 Then the Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered together to him, having come from Jerusalem. 2 Now when they saw some of his disciples eating bread with defiled, that is unwashed, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders. 4 They don’t eat when they come from the marketplace unless they bathe themselves, and there are many other things which they have received to hold to: washings of cups, pitchers, bronze vessels, and couches. 5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why don’t your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 They worship me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ (cf. Isaiah 29:13) 8 “For you set aside the commandment of Elohim, and hold tightly to the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things.” 9 He said to them, “Full well do you reject the commandment of Elohim, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother;’ (cf. Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16) and, ‘He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him be put to death.’ (cf. Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9) 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban,” ‘ ” that is to say, given to Elohim, 12 “then you no longer allow him to do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making void the word of Elohim by your tradition which you have handed down. You do many things like this.”

Jude 1:5; Acts 17:28-31; Matthew 5:33-37; Mark 2:27-28; Ephesians 6:1-3; Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew 19:8-9; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Corinthians 15:14-15; Luke 12:15 (T)

Jude 1:5 Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe.

Acts 17:28 ‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his seed.’ 29 Being then the seed of Elohim, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. 30 The times of ignorance therefore Elohim overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

Matthew 5:33  “Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You will not make false vows, but will perform to the Lord your vows,’ 34  but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by the heavens, for it is the throne of Elohim; 35  nor by the land, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36  Neither will you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. 37  But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Mark 2:27 He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28  Therefore the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: 3 “that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the land.”

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘Do not murder’ (cf. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) and ‘whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Reka!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘Naval!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehinnom.

Matthew 19:8 He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. 9  I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for whoring, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery.”

Ephesians 4:28 Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

1 Corinthians 15:14 If Messiah has not been raised, then our proclaiming is in vain and your faith also is in vain. 15 Yes, we are also found false witnesses of Elohim, because we witnessed about Elohim that he raised up Messiah, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised.

Luke 12:15 He said to them, “Beware! Guard yourselves from covetousness, for a man’s life doesn’t consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses.”

Romans 7:1-25 (T)

7:1 Or don’t you know, brothers, for I speak to men who know the law, that the law has dominion over a man for as long as he lives? 2 For the woman that has a husband is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 3 So then if, while the husband lives, she is joined to another man, she would be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Messiah, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead, that we might produce fruit to Elohim. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law worked in our members to bring out fruit to death. 6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter. 7 What will we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn’t have known sin except through the law. For I wouldn’t have known coveting unless the law had said, “You will not covet.” (cf. Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) 8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead. 9 I was alive apart from the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 The commandment which was for life, this I found to be for death; 11 for sin, finding occasion through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. 12 Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, righteous, and good. 13 Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was producing death in me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin. 15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. 16 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good. 19 For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice. 20 But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the law that, while I desire to do good, evil is present. 22 For I delight in Elohim’s Torah after the inward person, 23 but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? 25 I thank Elohim through Yeshua the Messiah, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve Elohim’s Torah, but with the flesh, sin’s law.

Deuteronomy 18:15-22 (T)

18:15 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 speaks a word presumptuously 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 presumptuously. You will not be afraid of him.

Hebrews 12:18-29 (T)

12:18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, 19 the sound of a shofar, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, 20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it will be stoned”. (cf. Exodus 19:12-13) 21 So fearful was the appearance that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” (cf. ) 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living Elohim, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23 to the festal gathering and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in the heavens, to Elohim the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Yeshua, the mediator of a renewed covenant, (cf. Jeremiah 31:31) and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. 25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the land, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from the heavens, 26 whose voice shook the land then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the land, but also the heavens.” (cf. Haggai 2:6) 27 This phrase, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a Reign that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve Elohim acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our Elohim is a consuming fire. (cf. Deuteronomy 4:24)

Exodus 24:1-8 (T)

24:1 He said to Moses, “Come up to YHWH, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, [Eliezer and Ithamar], and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance. 2 Moses alone will come near to YHWH, but they will not come near. The people will not go up with him.” 3 Moses came and told the people all the word of YHWHs, and all the judgments; 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 word of YHWHs, 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 slaughtered 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 [be obedient to] all that YHWH has said and [do it].” 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.” 9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, [Eliezer and Ithamar]^(DSS), and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10 [And they saw the place where the Elohim of Israel stood; and under his feet was as it were a work of sapphire slabs, and as it were the appearance of the firmament of the heavens in its purity. 11 And of the chosen ones of Israel there was not even one missing, and they appeared in the place of Elohim, and did eat and drink.]^(LXX) 12 YHWH said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the stone tablets, and the Torah, and the Command that I have written, that you may teach them.” 13 Moses rose up with Joshua, his minister, and Moses went up onto Elohim’s Mountain. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to them.” 15 Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 the glory of YHWH settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day he called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. 17 The appearance of the glory of YHWH was like consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the sons of Israel. 18 Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Joshua 23:6-8 (T)

23:6 “Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the Torah of Moses, that you not turn away from it to the right hand or to the left; 7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their elohim, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them; 8 but hold fast to YHWH your Elohim, as you have done to this day.

Jeremiah 7:13-28 (T)

7:13 Now, because you have done all these works,” says YHWH, “and I spoke to you, rising up early and speaking, but you didn’t hear; and I called you, but you didn’t answer; 14 therefore I will do to the house which is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh. 15 I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, even the whole seed of Ephraim. 16 “Therefore don’t pray for this people. Don’t lift up a cry or prayer for them or make intercession to me; for I will not hear you. 17 Don’t you see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The sons gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out libation offerings to other elohim, that they may provoke me to anger. 19 Do they provoke me to anger?” says YHWH. “Don’t they provoke themselves, to the confusion of their own faces?” 20 Therefore the Lord YHWH says: “Behold, my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, on man, on animal, on the trees of the field, and on the fruit of the ground; and it will burn and will not be quenched.” 21 YHWH of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says: “Add your burnt offerings to your slaughters and eat meat. 22 For I didn’t speak to your fathers or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings or slaughters; 23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you will be my people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers. 27 “You will speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You will also call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 You will tell them, ‘This is the nation that has not listened to YHWH their Elohim’s voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth.’

Malachi 4:1-6; Matthew 17:1-13 (T)

Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day comes, burning like a furnace, when all the proud and all who work wickedness will be stubble. The day that comes will burn them up,” says YHWH of Armies, “so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But to you who fear my name will the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings. You will go out and leap like calves of the stall. 3 You will tread down the wicked; for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make,” says YHWH of Armies. 4 “Remember the Torah of Moses my servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of YHWH comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons and the hearts of the sons to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.”

Matthew 17:1 After six days, Yeshua took with him Peter, Jacob, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was changed before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light. 3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him. 4 Peter answered and said to Yeshua, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid. 7 Yeshua came and touched them and said, “Get up, and don’t be afraid.” 8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Yeshua alone. 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Yeshua commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10 His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Yeshua answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things; 12 but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Immerser.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (T)

12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear Elohim and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For Elohim will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Related Additional Readings​

Tobit 3:1-16 (T)

Tobit, also called The Book of Tobias, found its way into the Roman Catholic canon via the Septuagint. Before the 1952 discovery of Aramaic and Hebrew fragments of Tobit among the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave at Qumran, scholars believed Tobit was not included in the Jewish canon because of late authorship, estimated to 100 A.D.. Qumran fragments of the text, which were copied between 100 B.C. to 25 A.D., evidence a much earlier origin than previously thought. These fragments evidence authorship no later than the 2nd century B.C. and, likely, contemporary with the date ascribed, by modern scholars, to the final compilation of the Book of Daniel, which did attain canonical status.

3:1 I was grieved and wept, and prayed in sorrow, saying, 2 “O Lord, you are righteous, and all your works and all your ways are mercy and truth, and you judge true and righteous judgment forever. 3 Remember me, and look at me. Don’t take vengeance on me for my sins and my ignorances, and the sins of my fathers who sinned before you. 4 For they disobeyed your commandments. You gave us as plunder, for captivity, for death, and for a proverb of reproach to all the nations among whom we are dispersed. 5 Now your judgments are many and true, that you should deal with me according to my sins and the sins of my fathers, because we didn’t keep your commandments, for we didn’t walk in truth before you. 6 Now deal with me according to that which is pleasing in your sight. Command my spirit to be taken from me, that I may be released, and become land. For it is more profitable for me to die rather than to live, because I have heard false reproaches, and there is much sorrow in me. Command that I be released from my distress, now, and go to the everlasting place. Don’t turn your face away from me.” 7 The same day it happened to Sarah the daughter of Raguel in Ecbatana of Media, that she also was reproached by her father’s maidservants; 8 because that she had been given to seven husbands, and Asmodaeus the evil demon killed them, before they had lain with her. And they said to her, “Do you not know that you strangle your husbands? You have had already seven husbands, and you haven’t borne the name of any one of them. 9 Why do you scourge us? If they are dead, go your ways with them. Let us never see either son or daughter from you.” 10 When she heard these things, she was grieved exceedingly, so that she thought about hanging herself. Then she said, “I am the only daughter of my father. If I do this, it will be a reproach to him, and I will bring down his old age with sorrow to Hades.” 11 Then she prayed by the window, and said, “Blessed are you, O Lord my Elohim, and blessed is your holy and honorable name forever! Let all your works praise you forever! 12 And now, Lord, I have set my eyes and my face toward you. 13 Command that I be released from the land, and that I no longer hear reproach. 14 You know, Lord, that I am pure from all sin with man, 15 and that I never polluted my name or the name of my father in the land of my captivity. I am the only daughter of my father, and he has no child that will be his heir, nor brother near him, nor son belonging to him, that I should guard myself for a woman to him. Seven husbands of mine are dead already. Why should I live? If it doesn’t please you to kill me, command some regard to be had of me, and pity taken of me, and that I hear no more reproach.” 16 The prayer of both was heard before the glory of the great Elohim. 17 Raphael also was sent to heal them both, to scale away the white films from Tobit’s eyes, and to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel for a woman to Tobias the son of Tobit; and to bind Asmodaeus the evil demon; because it belonged to Tobias that he should inherit her. At that very time, Tobit returned and entered into his house, and Sarah the daughter of Raguel came down from her upper chamber.

Sirach 3:1-31 (T)

Sirach, or Wisdom of Sirach, and also known as the Book of Ecclesiasticus (abbreviated Ecclus.) or Ben Sira, is a work of ethical teachings, from approximately 200 to 175 B.C., written by the Jewish scribe Ben Sira of Jerusalem, on the inspiration of his father Joshua son of Sirach, sometimes called Jesus son of Sirach or Yeshua ben Eliezer ben Sira. The Sirach was almost completely uncovered in Hebrew in the Dead Sea Scrolls, at Masada, and the Cairo Geniza. The multiplicity of manuscript fragments uncovered in the Cairo Genizah evidence its authoritative status among Egyptian Jewry until the Middle Ages. Quotes from Sirach can be found in Rabbinic literature in multiple places  including the Talmud in Bava Kamma 92b:13 and Hagigah 13a:2. Additionally, the Gospels and other Apostolic Scriptures quote from the Book of Sirach including the Song of Miriam in Luke 1:52 (cf. Sirach 10:14); the description of the seed in Mark 4:5, 16–17 (cf. Sirach 40:15); the statement by Yeshua in Matthew 7:16,20 (cf. Sirach 27:6); and Ya’aqov (James) 1:19 (cf. Sirach 5:11).

3:1 Hear me, your father, O my children, and do what you hear, that you all may be saved. 2 For the Lord has given the father glory concerning the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother concerning the sons. 3 He who honors his father will make atonement for sins. 4 He who gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure. 5 Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard in the day of his prayer. 6 He who gives glory to his father will have length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother, 7 and will serve under his parents, as to masters. 8 Honor your father in deed and word, that a blessing may come upon you from him. 9 For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children, but the curse of the mother roots out the foundations. 10 Don’t glorify yourself in the dishonor of your father, for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you. 11 For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a mother in dishonor is a reproach to her children. 12 My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives. 13 If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength. 14 For the relieving of your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up. 15 In the day of your affliction it will remember you, as fair weather upon ice, so will your sins also melt away. 16 He who forsakes his father is as a blasphemer. He who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord. 17 My son, go on with your business in humility; so you will be loved by an acceptable man. 18 The greater you are, humble yourself the more, and you will find favor before the Lord. 19 [… …] 20 For the power of the Lord is great, and he is glorified by those who are lowly. 21 Don’t seek things that are too hard for you, and don’t search out things that are above your strength 22 Think about the things that have been commanded you, for you have no need of the things that are secret. 23 Don’t be overly busy in your superfluous works, for more things are showed to you than men can understand. 24 For the conceit of many has led them astray. Evil opinion has caused their judgment to slip. 25 [… …] 26 A stubborn heart will do badly at the end. He who loves danger will perish in it. 27 A stubborn heart will be burdened with troubles. The sinner will heap sin upon sins. 28 The calamity of the proud is no healing, for a weed of wickedness has taken root in him. 29 The heart of the prudent will understand a parable. A wise man desires the ear of a listener. 30 Water will quench a flaming fire; almsgiving will make atonement for sins. 31 He who repays good turns is mindful of that which comes afterward. In the time of his falling he will find a support.

Deuteronomy 5:1 – 6:3 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 AD). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel (as opposed to the eastern Babylonian Targum Onkelos). Its correct title was originally Targum Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Targum), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer’s mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it Targum Jonathan to this day. Most scholars refer to the text as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. This targum is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. It is effectively a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos. The date of its composition is disputed. It cannot have been completed before the Arabic conquest as it refers to Mohammad’s wife Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century AD. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 5 And Mosheh called all Israel, and said to them: Hear, Israel, the statutes and judgments that I speak before you this day, to learn them, and observe to perform them. The Lord our Elohim confirmed a covenant with us in Horeb: not with our fathers did the Lord confirm this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here this day alive and abiding. Word to word did the Lord speak with you at the mountain from the midst of the fire. I stood between the Word of the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the Word of the Lord, because you were afraid before the voice of the Word of the Lord, which you heard from the midst of the fire; neither did you go up to the mountain while He said : Sons of Israel, My people, I am the Lord your God, who made and led you out free from the land of Mizraim, from the house of the bondage of slaves. Sons of Israel, My people, no other elohim shall you have beside Me. You shall not make to you an image or the likeness of anything which is in the heavens above, or in the earth below, or in the waters under the earth: thou shalt not worship them or do service before them; for I am the Lord your God, a jealous and avenging God, taking vengeance in jealousy; remembering the sins of wicked fathers upon rebellious children to the third genera­tion and to the fourth of them that hate Me, when the children complete to sin after their fathers; but keeping mercy and bounty for a thousand generations of the righteous who love Me and keep My mandates and My laws. Sons of Israel, My people, no one of you shall swear by the Name of the Word of the Lord your Elohim in vain: for the Lord, in the day of the great judgment, will not acquit any one who shall swear by His Name in vain. Soils of Israel, My people, observe the day of Sabbath, to sanctify it according to all that the Lord your Elohim hath commanded. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day (shall be for) rest and quiet before the Lord your God; ye shall do no work, neither you, nor your sons, nor your daughters, nor your servants, nor your handmaids, nor your oxen, your asses, nor any of your cattle, nor your sojourners who are among you; that your servants and handmaids may have repose as well as you. And remember that you were servants in the land of Mizraim, and that the Lord your Elohim delivered and led you out with a strong hand and uplifted arm; therefore the Lord thy Elohim hath commanded thee to keep the Sabbath day. Sons of Israel, My people, be every one mindful of the honour of his father and his mother, as the Lord your Elohim hath commanded you, that your days may be proIonged, and it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your Elohim giveth you. Sons of Israel, My people, you shall not murder, nor be companions or participators with those who do murder, nor shall there be seen in the congregations of Israel (those who have part) with murderers; that your children may not arise after you, and teach their own to have part with murderers; for because of the guilt of murder the sword cometh forth upon the world.

Sons of Israel, My people, you shall not be adulterers, nor companions of, or have part with, adulterers; neither shall there be seen in the congregations of Israel (those who have part) with adulterers, and that your children may not arise after you, and teach theirs also to be with adulterers; for through the guilt of adulteries the plague cometh forth upon the world. Sons of Israel, My people, you shall not be thieves, nor be companions nor have fellowship with thieves, nor shall there be seen in the congregations of Israel (those who have part)with theives; for because of the guilt of robberies famine cometh forth on the world. Sons of Israel, My people, you shall not bear false witness, nor be companions or have fellowship with the bearers of false testimony;neither shall there be seen in the congregations of Israel those who (have part) with false witnesses; for because of the guilt of false witnesses the clouds arise, but the rain does not come down, and dearth cometh on the world. Sons of Israel, My people, you shall not be covetous, nor be companions or have fellowship with the covetous; neither shall there be seen in the congregations of Israel any who (have part) with the covetous; that your children may not arise after you, and teach their own to be with the covetous. Nor let any one of you desire his neighbour’s wife, nor his field, nor his servant, nor his handmaid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that belongeth to his neighbour; for because of the guilt of covetousness the government (malkutha) seizeth upon men’s property to take it away, and bondage cometh on the world.

These words spake the Lord with all your congregation at the mount, from the midst of the fiery cloud and tempest, with a great voice which was not limited; and the voice of the Word was written upon two tables of marble, and He gave them unto me. But when you had heard the voice of the Word from the midst of the darkness, the mountain burning with fire, the chiefs of your tribes and your sages drew nigh to me, and said, Behold, the Word of the Lord our Elohim hath showed us His glorious Shekinah, and the greatness of His excellency, (tushbachteih, His magnificence,) and the voice of His Word have we heard out of the midst of the fire. This day have we seen that the Lord speaketh with a man in whom is the Holy Spirit, and he remaineth alive. But now why should we die? For this great fire will devour us; if we again hear the voice of the Word of the Lord our God, we shall die. For who, of all the seed of flesh, hath heard the voice of the Word of the Living Elohim speaking from amid the fire as we, and hath lived? Go thou nigh, and hear all that the Lord our Elohim shall say, and speak thou with us all that the Lord our Elohim will say to thee, and we will hearken and will do. And the voice of your words was heard before the Lord when you spake with me, and the Lord said to me, All the words of this people which they have spoken with thee are heard before Me; all that they have said is good. O that the disposition of their heart were perfect as this willingness is to fear Me and to keep all My commandments all days, that it may be well with them and with their children for ever! [JERUSALEM. O that they may have this good heart!] Now therefore be separate from thy wife, that with the orders above thou mayest stand before Me, and I will speak with thee the commandments, statutes, and judgments, which thou shalt teach them to perform in the land that I give you to inherit. And now observe to do as the Lord your Elohim hath commanded you; decline not to the right hand or to the left. Walk in all the way which the Lord your Elohim commandeth you, that you may live and do well, and lengthen out days in the land you shall inherit.

Chapter 6 And this is the declaration of the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which the Lord your Elohim hath commanded (me) to teach you to perform in the land to which you pass over to inherit; that thou mayest fear the Lord thy God, and keep all His statutes and precepts which I command thee; thou, thy son, and the son of thy son, all the days of thy life; and that thou mayest prolong thy days. Hearken then, Israel, to keep and to do, that it may be well with thee, and you may increase greatly, as the Lord Elohim of thy fathers hath spoken to thee, (that) He will give thee a land whose fruits are rich as milk, and sweet as honey. [JERUSALEM. A land producing good fruits, pure as milk, sweet and tasty as honey.]…

Antiquities of the Jews by Flavius Josephus 4.8.12-13, 44-45 (T)

Josephus was born Joseph ben Mattathias in 37 AD in Jerusalem of a priestly and royal family. He excelled in his studies of Jewish law and studied with the Sadducees, Pharisees, and the Essenes, eventually aligning himself with the Pharisees. In 62 AD he went to Rome to free some imprisoned priests. After accomplishing this mission through the intercession of Nero’s wife, Poppaea, he returned to Jerusalem in 65 AD to find the country in revolt against Rome. Josephus shrewdly reinterpreted the Messianic prophecies. He predicted that Vespasian would become the ruler of the ‘entire world’. His prophecy became true in 68 AD when Nero committed suicide and Vespasian became Ceasar. As a result, Josephus was freed; he moved to Rome and became a Roman citizen, taking the Vespasian family name Flavius. Vespasian commissioned Josephus to write a history of the war, which he finished in 78 AD, the Jewish War. His second major work, the Antiquities of the Jews, was completed in 93 AD. The extant manuscripts of the book Antiquities of the Jews contain two references to Yeshua of Nazareth (18.3.3. and 20.9.1.) and one reference to the imprisonment and death of John the Baptist (18.5.2.).

4 . 8.12. When the multitude are assembled together unto the holy city for slaughtering every seventh year, at the feast of tabernacles, let the high priest stand upon a high desk, whence he may be heard, and let him read the laws to all the people; and let neither the women nor the children be hindered from hearing, no, nor the servants neither; for it is a good thing that those laws should be engraven in their souls, and preserved in their memories, that so it may not be possible to blot them out; for by this means they will not be guilty of sin, when they cannot plead ignorance of what the laws have enjoined them. The laws also will have a greater authority among them, as foretelling what they will suffer if they break them; and imprinting in their souls by this hearing what they command them to do, that so there may always be within their minds that intention of the laws which they have despised and broken, and have thereby been the causes of their own mischief. Let the children also learn the laws, as the first thing they are taught, which will be the best thing they can be taught, and will be the cause of their future felicity.

4 . 8.13. Let every one commemorate before Elohim the benefits which he bestowed upon them at their deliverance out of the land of Egypt, and this twice every day, both when the day begins and when the hour of sleep comes on, gratitude being in its own nature a just thing, and serving not only by way of return for past, but also by way of invitation of future favors. They are also to inscribe the principal blessings they have received from Elohim upon their doors, and show the same remembrance of them upon their arms; as also they are to bear on their forehead and their arm those wonders which declare the power of Elohim, and his good-will towards them, that Elohim’s readiness to bless them may appear every where conspicuous about them.

4 . 8.44. This was the form of political government which was left us by Moses. Moreover, he had already delivered laws in writing in the fortieth year [after they came out of Egypt], concerning which we will discourse in another book. But now on the following days (for he called them to assemble continually) he delivered blessings to them, and curses upon those that should not live according to the laws, but should transgress the duties that were determined for them to observe. After this, he read to them a poetic song, which was composed in hexameter verse, and left it to them in the holy book: it contained a prediction of what was to come to pass afterward; agreeably whereto all things have happened all along, and do still happen to us; and wherein he has not at all deviated from the truth. Accordingly, he delivered these books to the priest, with the ark; into which he also put the ten commandments, written on two tables. He delivered to them the tabernacle also, and exhorted the people, that when they had conquered the land, and were settled in it, they should not forget the injuries of the Amalekites, but make war against them, and inflict punishment upon them for what mischief they did them when they were in the wilderness; and that when they had got possession of the land of the Canaanites, and when they had destroyed the whole multitude of its inhabitants, as they ought to do, they should erect an altar that should face the rising sun, not far from the city of Shechem, between the two mountains, that of Gerizzim, situate on the right hand, and that called Ebal, on the left; and that the army should be so divided, that six tribes should stand upon each of the two mountains, and with them the Levites and the priests. And that first, those that were upon Mount Gerizzim should pray for the best blessings upon those who were diligent about the worship of Elohim, and the observation of his laws, and who did not reject what Moses had said to them; while the other wished them all manner of happiness also; and when these last put up the like prayers, the former praised them. After this, curses were denounced upon those that should transgress those laws, they, answering one another alternately, by way of confirmation of what had been said. Moses also wrote their blessings and their curses, that they might learn them so thoroughly, that they might never be forgotten by length of time. And when he was ready to die, he wrote these blessings and curses upon the altar, on each side of it; where he says also the people stood, and then slaughtered and offered burnt offerings, though after that day they never offered upon it any other slaughter, for it was not lawful so to do. These are the constitutions of Moses; and the Hebrew nation still live according to them.

4 . 8.45. On the next day, Moses called the people together, with the women and children, to a congregation, so as the very slaves were present also, that they might engage themselves to the observation of these laws by oath; and that, duly considering the meaning of Elohim in them, they might not, either for favor of their kindred, or out of fear of any one, or indeed for any motive whatsoever, think any thing ought to be preferred to these laws, and so might transgress them. That in case any one of their own blood, or any city, should attry to confound or dissolve their constitution of government, they should take vengeance upon them, both all in general, and each person in particular; and when they had conquered them, should overturn their city to the very foundations, and, if possible, should not leave the least footsteps of such madness: but that if they were not able to take such vengeance, they should still demonstrate that what was done was contrary to their wills. So the multitude bound themselves by oath so to do.seed