When the Jerusalem council convened to talk about how to handle all of the Gentiles coming into the faith, they decided on just four rules to get those Gentiles started. (No serious person believes this was intended to be a comprehensive instruction on moral behavior.)
What most people don’t realize is that those four rules are included in Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16-18) and Kedoshim (Leviticus 19-20), right in the middle of Leviticus. By specifying these four rules in particular, the Jerusalem Council was giving the Gentile believers a basic introduction to holiness.
Proverbs 26:4 — 5, “Don’t give a foolish person a foolish answer. If you do, you will be just like him. But answer a foolish person as he should be answered, If you don’t, he will think he is really wise.” No one wants to be offensive, but at the same time it is foolish to allow someone’s foolishness to continue without correction. Take time to choose your words carefully, the way you say something is equally important as what you say.
Thought for Today: Shabbat May 10
Refuse to worry today! In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry… That is the nature of a fallen fractured world. Things are not as they should be. So, the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best defence is continually communicating with YHVH Elohiym, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Live close to YHVH, together you can keep the wolves of worry at bay.
When you consider the nature of sheep and goats and the differences you will see this in people also. Goats like to dominate and be at the head. This is why some pastors and leaders are referred to as goats. However Messiah told us to be servants. All men are equal, not one dominating over the others. Yeshua hates the doctrine of Nicolaitans. It is the goats that scatter the flock. I will leave a place immediately if I suspect the person is a tyrant.
Matthew 20:25-28 TLV
[25] But Yeshua called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones play the tyrant over them. [26] It shall not be this way among you. But whoever wants to be great among you shall be your servant, [27] and whoever wants to be first among you shall be your slave— [28] just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”