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Ovadyah Ben Yisrael
Shalom Chaverym,
This week's parasha is: Yithro - יתרו - “Jethro”
Torah Reading: Exodus 18:1-20:23
Haftarah Reading: Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-6
Kethuvym Hatalmidym Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-3, 9-12
Shalom aleykhem, achym, b’shem Yehoshua Hamashiach, Adoneynu ~ Peace to you, my brothers, in the name of Yehoshua the Messiah, our master.
V’atah im shamoa tish’mu b’qoliy ushmartem et britiy vih’yiytem li cegulah mikal ha’amiym. Ki li kal ha’aretz; v’atem tihyu li mam’leketh Kohanym v’goy qadosh ~ “Now, therefore, if you will hearken with hearing to My Voice and keep My covenant, then you will exist to Me as a treasure from all the peoples; for to Me (belongs) all the earth; and you will exist to Me as a kingdom of priests and a nation of set-apartness.”
These words from our sedra are another simple if/then proposition. This is a common form of logical reasoning in most every language and culture on earth. It is a guarantee that, IF you will do this, THEN such will be the result. The implication is that the reverse also must be true: if you do NOT do this, then such will NOT be the result. It is an oddity of modern thought, and in particular of Western thinking that, while the positive aspect of logical reasoning is commonly considered – the “if you will do,” the negative aspect – “if you will not do,” is most often ignored or even rejected.
Many people who have been raised in Christian or secular culture have been taught that, with the advent of the “New Testament” and Jesus, this is no longer the case – that is, there are no longer any conditions placed on the chosen people of YHWH regarding their obedience and election. In other words, the “if/then” has been removed, and all one need do now is “believe” (or say you do) in order to become (and remain) one of the elect of YHWH – one of His Qedoshym, His “Saints.” This is not true now, never has been, and never will be.
Belief in YHWH, through the saving, sacrificial blood of Yehoshua, results in salvation. This salvation is free and unconditional. YHWH provided this simple avenue of escape from certain eternal death by His attributes of grace and mercy. However, to only SAY, “I believe,” without the subsequent evidence of works – that is, works of Torah – is not enough. In fact, it is a false faith, for it is written,
“Faith without works is dead.”
And,
“The one who says I know Him and does not guard His commands, is a liar and the Truth is not in him.”
About our Torah Parasha this week, Shimon Kepha (Peter) has something to say:
“As newborn babes, desiring the sincere milk of the Word (Torah), that ye may grow thereby: IF so be that ye have tested that YHWH is gracious. Drawing near to Him, a living Stone – rejected indeed by men, but chosen by Elohim and precious – you also, as living stones, are being built up, a spiritual house, a set-apart priesthood, to offer up spiritual slaughter offerings acceptable to Elohim through Yehoshua Hamashiach. Because it is contained in the scripture, ‘See, I lay in Tziyon a chief corner-stone, chosen, precious, and he who believes on Him shall by no means be put to shame.’”
In other words, IF YHWH has shown you grace through the death and resurrection of our Messiah, THEN you should desire to learn and do His Word – His Torah. Kepha next says of Yehoshua,
“This preciousness, then, is for you who believe; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone,’ and ‘A stone of stumbling and a rock that makes for falling,’ who stumble because they are disobedient to the Word, to which they also were appointed.”
In other words, IF you stumble at being Torah observant through deliberate disobedience (which is rebellion), then Yehoshua is that rock of offense and a stumbling stone, so he will be to you of no avail.
Finally, He paraphrases our Parshath in conclusion; speaking to those of you who do desire to be His obedient sons, and to learn and do His Torah:
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a nation of set-apartness; a treasured people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him, who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Kepha agrees with the words of our Parasha, as well as the if/then proposition and conditional covenant it presents.
So, what of Yochanan 3:16 then?
“For Elohym so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but receive eternal life.”
You will point out to me that it says we need only “believe” in order to be saved and attain eternal life, and you will be correct. Now go and learn the difference between salvation and election, between the first resurrection and the second, between Yisrael and the great multitude who joins them, and between first fruits and the great harvest.
B'shalom, Ovadyah Ben Yisrael