Category Archives: Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Righteousness / Serving God

Yes Should Mean Yes and No Should Mean No

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:33-37 that our yes should mean yes and our no should mean no. We should not have to make vows to someone for them to trust our word. Instead, our word should be trustworthy all the time.

33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’[n] 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.

 If we feel we need to tell someone “I promise I will…”, then perhaps we should reflect on why they need that reassurance. Do we often let them down if we just say “I will…”?

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Adultery / Sex Outside Marriage, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Marriage

Seek a Godly Marriage Rather Than Divorce

Jesus speaks clearly on the covenant and commitment of marriage in Matthew 5:31-32 and Matthew 19:3-9.

[Matthew 5:31-32]  

31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’[m] 32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.

[Matthew 19:3-10]

3 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: “Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife for just any reason?”

4 “Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’[a]” 5 And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’[b] 6 Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”

7 “Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?”[c] they asked.

8 Jesus replied, “Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. 9 And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery—unless his wife has been unfaithful.[d]”

A marriage covenant based on God’s word is to be taken very seriously. When there are difficulties, we are called to work through them in a godly way, not to harden our hearts and seek divorce.

Jesus also highlights in both scriptures how damaging adultery is to a marriage, by calling it out as an exception to His statement. Do not misunderstand this though, many who have suffered through adultery in a marriage can, with the help of Jesus, overcome that sin and betrayal and still build a godly marriage from it based out of true repentance.

The Bible provides insight in building godly marriages, even when husband and wife do not both know God equally. At www.HearingFromJesus.org, we also provide some links on our website to ministries and to resources (e.g. books, etc.) that focus on godly marriage.

One more important reminder… work proactively to build a godly marriage even before you experience trouble in your marriage.

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Adultery / Sex Outside Marriage, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law

Avoid Even Adulterous Thoughts

While teaching to the crowds during the Sermon on the Mount, as documented in Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus powerfully clarifies the commandment about not committing adultery to show us how high God’s standard is for us.

27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’[a] 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye[b]—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand[c]—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

Jesus is not telling us to poke out our eye to overcome adultery. He is, however, clearly telling us how important it is for us to fight sinful thoughts rather than dwell on them. Do not accept lustful thoughts thinking “I am not physically committing adultery, so it is ok to think about it.” Avoid, fight or flee from lustful thoughts or situations.

There are at least two good reasons for doing so:

  • Our thoughts ultimately guide our actions. If we dwell on sinful thoughts it can lead us to sinful behaviors.
  • Even just accepting the sin in our minds, if we never act on the behavior, can have a damaging effect on our relationship with our spouse or with God.

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Anger (unrighteous anger), Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law

God’s Law Demands A High Standard

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Jesus explains the full measure and expectation in the law regarding “murder” in Matthew 5:21-26. He reveals exactly how high God’s standards are and reveals to those of us that are listening that we continue to fall short of those standards.

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’[c] 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone,[d] you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,[e] you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,[f] you are in danger of the fires of hell.[g]

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice[h] at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.[I]

Jesus commands us not to hold unrighteous anger toward others. Instead we should seek to be reconciled with them. Holding anger toward others creates bitterness and separates us from God and the joy filled life He wants us to have.

We also see in this scripture that as sinful beings we will never perfectly meet the standard of God’s law. This realization should help us to turn toward Jesus and accept His offer of grace through His death on the cross. Only in this way can we be set free from the bondage of sin.

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Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law

On the Seventh Day God Rested

Why did God rest on the seventh day of creation? Was He tired?

[Genesis 2:1-3] 2 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested[a] from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

 A review of the broader context of scripture reveals  that God tells man to set apart the seventh day as holy… as a day to rest and to focus on God. Scripture also tells us that this rest is for man’s benefit, not for God’s.

[Exodus 20:9] 8 “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

[Leviticus 23:3] 3 “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord’s Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live.

[Exodus 34:21] 21 “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but on the seventh day you must stop working, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest.

[Luke 4:16] 16 When [Jesus] came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures.

[Matthew 12:9-12] 9 Then Jesus went over to their synagogue, 10 where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him.)

11 And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would. 12 And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath.”

[Mark 2:27] 27 Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. 

There is much more that can be shared from scripture regarding the Sabbath, but here are a few points to consider as a start:

  • God rested on the seventh day following creation.
  • God observed in Sabbath in the person of Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth.
  • God commands us to honor the Sabbath.
  • Sabbath was made as a help for man, not for God.
  • Sabbath was made as a time for rest and for focusing on God.
  • We should prepare in advance while we work for six days to be ready to honor Sabbath.
  • Sabbath should be honored even during busy times, like harvest. Work is not an excuse to ignore Sabbath.
  • We are permitted to do good works on Sabbath. Jesus demonstrated personally by healing on the Sabbath.

Since I have started observing Sabbath I have genuinely found a slice of peace in one day of every seven. I spend it focused on family and God and at times on doing good works such as acts of service in Jesus’ name. It is truly a blessing to follow God’s command to honor the Sabbath.

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