{"id":2609,"date":"2013-11-10T13:02:02","date_gmt":"2013-11-10T13:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=2609"},"modified":"2013-11-10T13:02:02","modified_gmt":"2013-11-10T13:02:02","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vayishlach-what-do-you-think-righteousness-is-about","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-vayishlach-what-do-you-think-righteousness-is-about\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayishlach, What do you think Righteousness is about?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayishlach (Bereshit \/ Genesis 32:3-36:43<\/em>).\u00a0 This week we read that Jacob, before crossing over the river Jordan into Eretz Canaan, wrestles with a man (32:24<\/em>) and realizes that he has seen God face to face and lived (32:25-31<\/em>).\u00a0 God instructs Jacob to go to Bethel and dwell there (35:1<\/em>).\u00a0 The Lord appears to Jacob again and confirms his name change from Jacob to Israel (35:9-15<\/em>).\u00a0 The Parashah ends with Esav, the land cannot sustain the flocks of both Jacob and Esav, so Esav moves his family and all that he owns away from Jacob (36:1-43<\/em>).\u00a0 The opening verses of Parashat Vayishlach reveal to us that at this point in Jacob\u2019s life he is at a major turning point.\u00a0 Jacob realizes that encountering Esav is inevitable when he returns to Canaan and prepares for meeting his brother.\u00a0 Jacob calls out to the Lord saying that He is unworthy of God\u2019s grace and truth (32:11<\/em>).\u00a0 Jacob encounters God at Peniel (\u05e4\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc<\/span>) and sees God face to face.\u00a0 The Lord changes Jacob\u2019s name to Israel and strikes his hip changing both who he is and the way he walks.\u00a0 Has your encounter with God changed you in both who you are and in the way you walk?<\/p>\n

\n

\u05db\u05ea\u05d1\u05d9 \u05d4\u05e7\u05d5\u05d3\u05e9 \/ The Holy Scriptures<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d0\u05e9\u05d9\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05dc\u05d1<\/span><\/strong>
\n \u05db\u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d5\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b5\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b2\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e8: \u05db\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b8\u05db\u05b9\u05dc \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05d2\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05db\u05b7\u05e3-\u05d9\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05db\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b5\u05e7\u05b7\u05e2 \u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05e3-\u05d9\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05d1\u05b0\u05e7\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9: \u05db\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b5\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d7\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b5\u05d7\u05b2\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8\u05b7\u05db\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9: \u05db\u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05de\u05b7\u05d4-\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1: \u05db\u05d8\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e7\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d9\u05b5\u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b5\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05d3 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b8 \u05e2\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc:<\/span><\/p>\n

Bereshit \/ Genesis 32:24-28<\/em><\/strong>
\n 32:24 Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 32:25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob\u2019s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. 32:26 Then he said, \u2018Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.\u2019 But he said, \u2018I will not let you go unless you bless me.\u2019 32:27 So he said to him, \u2018What is your name?\u2019 And he said, \u2018Jacob.\u2019 32:28 He said, \u2018Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.\u2019 (NASB)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Did you know that \u201crighteousness\u201d<\/em> is terribly misunderstood in the body of Christ today?\u00a0 Is righteousness something we do or something we are?\u00a0 I have heard it said that \u201cyou are not righteous because of how moral you are, your level of self control, how many scriptures you read each day, etc,\u201d<\/em> and \u201cwe simply must just believe in Jesus and we are righteous.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Is this really what the Apostle Paul was saying to the Romans?\u00a0 Often Romans chapters 3 and 4 are quoted as proof texts for example in Romans 4:14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified (NASB)<\/em> thus \u201cif righteousness can be obtained by our work and effort then faith would become void\u201d<\/em> and therefore the Law has passed away because we are not to do anything \u201cby the Law.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Romans 3:27-4:8<\/em><\/strong>
\n 3:27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 3:29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 3:30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 3:31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.<\/span> 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? \u2018Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.\u2019 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, 4:6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: 4:7 \u2018Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. 4:8 \u2018Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.\u2019 (NASB)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Some also quote from Romans 10:3 For not knowing about God\u2019s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. NASB<\/em> (\u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u03bd\u1f79\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd \u03c0\u03b1\u03bd\u03c4\u1f76 \u03c4\u1ff7 \u03c0\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5\u1f7b\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b9) and say therefore Christ is the end of the Law, it is gone.\u00a0 I have even read some say to just believe in Jesus, you are righteous and you do not have to live a righteous life, God\u2019s righteousness will just seep from your pores.\u00a0 Again I ask, was this what Paul was saying to the Romans?\u00a0 How does one reconcile Romans 3:31<\/em> that we do not nullify the Law through faith rather we establish it?\u00a0 Having a closer look at Romans 10:3-4<\/em>, Paul is trying to address the issue of the people not subjecting themselves to the righteousness of God.\u00a0 They thought they were righteous enough.\u00a0 Paul says \u03c4\u1f73\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u03bd\u1f79\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b7\u03bd (telos gar nomou christos eis dikaiosunen<\/em>) \u201cFor Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The word t\u00e9los is a neuter noun and translates to mean \u201cthe end-goal, purpose\u201d<\/em> in the sense of \u201creaching the end (aim).\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The Torah is the aim, the end-goal that directs us to understand Yeshua the Messiah is our righteousness.\u00a0 How so?\u00a0 The Law is a school master that trains us in the righteousness of God.\u00a0 The point is we are unable to reach the goal on our own (we fall short).\u00a0 We are expected to live both holy and righteous lives; i.e. the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin validating (establishing) the requirements of the Law in our lives.\u00a0 We then seek the Lord by the power of His Holy Spirit to empower us to produce the fruits of righteousness and faith, the very meaning of faith and works (see James 2:24<\/em>).\u00a0 Jacob was touched by God and he walked differently the rest of his life.\u00a0 Have you been touched by God?\u00a0 Do you walk differently today in Christ?\u00a0 As believers, we are to strive for righteousness and holiness in our lives and seeking God, in Yeshua the Messiah, by the power of the Holy Spirit to help us to live in obedience to His Word.\u00a0 We are not told to declare our righteousness in Christ and go on living as usual.\u00a0 The Lord calls us to a greater standard, 1 Peter 1:16 because it is written, \u201cYOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.\u201d (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 The Torah is not something to run from, it helps us to understand who the Messiah truly is and most importantly that we are in need of a Savior! BTT_Parashat Vayishlach-2013<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayishlach (Bereshit \/ Genesis 32:3-36:43).\u00a0 This week we read that Jacob, before crossing over the river Jordan into Eretz Canaan, wrestles with a man (32:24) and realizes that he has seen God face to face and lived (32:25-31).\u00a0 God instructs Jacob to go to Bethel and dwell there (35:1).\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2609","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2609\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}