{"id":3157,"date":"2014-07-27T11:09:23","date_gmt":"2014-07-27T11:09:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=3157"},"modified":"2014-08-29T19:14:49","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T19:14:49","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-devarim-washing-our-cloths-white-as-snow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-devarim-washing-our-cloths-white-as-snow\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Devarim, Washing our Cloths White as Snow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/f5RtePhvC1U\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In this weeks reading from Parsahat Devarim (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22<\/span><\/em>), Moshe retells the story on what happened that led the people to remain in the wilderness.\u00a0 The Hebrew name of this book in the Masoretic Text is <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cDevarim,\u201d<\/span><\/em> which is derived from the opening words in this week\u2019s Torah portion, \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cEleh ha\u2019devarim\u201d<\/span><\/em> meaning <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>\u201cThese are the words.\u201d<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 The English translation of the book of Devarim is <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cDeuteronomy,\u201d<\/span><\/em> derived from the Greek translation \u0394\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd (Deuteronomion) which means <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201csecond law.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Here the phrase \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd translated as \u0394\u03b5\u03c5\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd\u03cc\u03bc\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd shows a movement from the traditional name of the book derived from the Hebrew text which was influenced by the Greek speaking culture.\u00a0 According to Midrash Rabbah, the rabbis spend a considerable amount of time making halakhic decisions based upon the opening words from the book of Deuteronomy on the phrase, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cEleh ha\u2019devarim\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd).<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d0<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05e8 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e2\u05b5\u05d1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b7\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05bc\u05df \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05d3\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e2\u05b2\u05e8\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05dc \u05e1\u05d5\u05bc\u05e3 \u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9\u05df-\u05e4\u05b8\u05bc\u05d0\u05e8\u05b8\u05df \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u05d9\u05df-\u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05e4\u05b6\u05dc \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05df \u05d5\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e6\u05b5\u05e8\u05b9\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d6\u05b8\u05d4\u05b8\u05d1: \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05d7\u05b9\u05e8\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d3\u05b6\u05bc\u05e8\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e8-\u05e9\u05b5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d3 \u05e7\u05b8\u05d3\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7: \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05ea\u05b5\u05bc\u05d9-\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b6\u05d7\u05b8\u05d3 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d3\u05b4\u05bc\u05d1\u05b6\u05bc\u05e8 \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05db\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b9\u05dc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05e6\u05b4\u05d5\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05dc\u05b5\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b2\u05e8\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05b9\u05bc\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05e1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d7\u05b9\u05df \u05de\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b1\u05de\u05b9\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05c1\u05d1 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d7\u05b6\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05d2 \u05de\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05da\u05b0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b8\u05bc\u05e9\u05b8\u05c1\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8-\u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05e9\u05b5\u05c1\u05d1 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05e8\u05b9\u05ea \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b6\u05d3\u05b0\u05e8\u05b6\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9: \u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05e2\u05b5\u05d1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05b7\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05d3\u05b5\u05bc\u05df \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0\u05b8\u05d1 \u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dc \u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b5\u05bc\u05d0\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05b9\u05bc\u05d0\u05ea \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 1:1-5<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 1:1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab. 1:2 It is eleven days\u2019 journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea. 1:3 In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the Lord had commanded him to give to them, 1:4 after he had defeated Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei. 1:5 Across the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses undertook to expound this law, saying, (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>According to the preface to the volume containing Midrash Rabbah Devarim, the author\/editors (<em>Harry Freedman (Author), Maurice Simon (Editor)<\/em>) of Soncino Midrash Rabbah state that Midrash Devarim Rabbah is a collection of Halakhic (\u05d4\u05b2\u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b8\u05d4) decisions on various topics rather than a verse by verse exposition as compared to the previous midrashim.\u00a0 So this week we will be discussing Halachah.\u00a0 Historically, the purpose of Halachah was to provide a way for Jewish communities to enforce civil and religious law.\u00a0 The Halakhic decisions were used as a basis for life, how to live, and how to serve God in the diaspora and even at home in the land of Israel.\u00a0 The word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201chalakhah\u201d<\/span><\/em> is derived from the Hebrew word halakh (\u05d4\u05b8\u05dc\u05b7\u05da\u05b0) meaning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cto walk\u201d<\/span><\/em> or <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cto go.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em> The word taken literally translates as <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe way to go\u201d<\/span><\/em> rather than <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201claw.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Halakhah constitutes the practical application of the 613 mitzvot in the Torah, as developed through discussion and debate in the classical rabbinic literature, particularly the Mishnah and the Talmud, and as codified in Rambam\u2019s Mishneh Torah and the Shulchan Aruch.<\/p>\n<p>According to the editors of Midrash Rabbah, the rabbis spend a considerable amount of time making halakhic decisions based upon the opening words (\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u201cEleh ha\u2019devarim\u201d) from Parashat Devarim, and according <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parashat 1, Part 4<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d0 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d3) the rabbis make the following comments regarding these words, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cEleh ha\u2019devarim\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd).<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Devarim, Parashat 1, Part 4<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 4.\u00a0 Another explanation, THESE ARE THE WORDS.\u00a0 R. Aha son of R. Hanina said, it would have been more fitting for the rebukes to have been uttered by Balaam and the blessings by Moshe.\u00a0 But had Balaam uttered the rebukes, then Israel would say, It is an enemy who rebukes us; and had Moshe uttered the blessings then the other nations of the world would say, It is their friend who blesses them.\u00a0 Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He, commanded, Let their friend Moshe reprove them, and their foe Balaam bless them, so that the genuineness of the blessings and the rebukes of Israel may be clear beyond question.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The midrash states that the opening phrase <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cTHESE ARE THE WORDS\u201d<\/span><\/em> are interpreted as a reference to the blessing and rebuking and discuss the importance of who it is that blesses and who it is that rebukes.\u00a0 They say that it would have been better to have Bilam do the rebuking and Moshe the blessing.\u00a0 However, if Bilam had spoken a rebuke rather than a blessing, Israel would say that an enemy rebukes, whereas, if Moshe had given the blessing, the nations would have said it is a friend who blesses.\u00a0 According to the rabbis, the way God worked in these peoples lives, bringing a blessing by the mouth of an enemy and a rebuke by the mouth of a friend, has great significance.\u00a0 The purpose was so we could see the genuineness of the blessings and the rebukes would not have been questioned.\u00a0 The Lord God rebukes us and it is not because He is an enemy but because He is a friend and He loves us.\u00a0 The truth is, when the Lord rebukes, a blessing is often hidden within the rebuke.\u00a0 The motivation of the Lord\u2019s rebuke is the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cgreat love of God.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This should be the approach of a loving earthly father and is also true of the Lord God Almighty, who rebukes us with love.\u00a0 Rebuke is in fact a sign of love.\u00a0 Loving parents know they must put rules in place and rebuke their children if they disobey the rules so their children will learn to grow and to refine their ways.\u00a0 On the other hand, parents who do not establish rules nor rebuke their children at all, only cause them harm as we see occurring with King David\u2019s son Adonijah.\u00a0 David neglected to rebuke his son which resulted in tragic consequences.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Summary of Adonijah<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">After the death of his elder brothers Amnon and Absalom, Adonijah became heir-apparent to the throne, but Solomon, a younger brother, was preferred to him. Adonijah, however, when his father was dying, caused himself to be proclaimed king. But the prophet Nathan and Bathsheba induced David to give orders that Solomon should immediately be proclaimed and admitted to the throne. Adonijah fled and took refuge at the altar, receiving pardon for his conduct from Solomon on the condition that he showed himself \u201ca worthy man\u201d (1 Kings 1:5-53). He afterwards made a second attempt to gain the throne, by trying to marry David\u2019s last woman, Abishag from Shunem, but Solomon denied authorization for such an engagement, even though Bathsheba now pleaded on Adonijah\u2019s behalf. He was then seized and put to death (1 Kings 2:13-25).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>According to the Torah, the Lord loves us and gave us His commands.\u00a0 When we neglect His commands he rebukes us.\u00a0 Parashat Devarim (this week\u2019s reading) can be divided into 3 sections: (i) Moshe restates the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, (ii) the people are reminded to obey God and His ways, and (iii) Moshe explains that unfaithfulness to God will cause the people to lose their right to the land.\u00a0 If the people neglect the commands in their unfaithfulness, the Lord will rebuke them and bring a punishment upon them that is purpose to draw them back to Him.\u00a0 Knowledge of the commands and having violated the command gives us the knowledge that we have sinned which leads us to repentance.\u00a0 Thus, repentance is an important part of remaining secure in the land as we read according to the Torah.\u00a0 The narrative of the exodus journey tells us that Israel entered into a covenant agreement with God, received His Torah, and then proceeded to the Promised Land.<\/p>\n<p>The parallel we find today from the Torah portion is as we place our faith and trust in Yeshua the Messiah, our lives <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cturn\u201d<\/span><\/em> in repentance and we are set on a journey of living for God for the purpose of bringing glory to His Name.\u00a0 The question is though how do we do that?\u00a0 How do we live for God in a way that brings glory to His name?\u00a0 In the book of Revelation we are given a message from God regarding what the Lord expects of His children, how we are to turn in repentance and live for Him.\u00a0 Reading through the book of Revelation, in the narrative, two principal characters appear to be described, the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cHarlot-Babylon\u201d<\/span><\/em> and the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cBride-New Jerusalem.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 We can see this in the variety of parallels that are drawn between the Babylon (see <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 17-18<\/span><\/em>) and the New Jerusalem (see <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 21-22<\/span><\/em>) the author of Revelation (John) is contrasting the two, one against the other.\u00a0 We can see this by the way John adopts similar introductory phraseology, thematic sequences, and verbal patterns (<em>Jan Fekkes III, Journal of Biblical Literature,Vol. 109, No. 2 (1990), pp. 269-287, Publisher: The Society of Biblical Literature<\/em>).\u00a0 In Revelation 21, the Apostle John introduces the bride (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">19:9-21<\/span><\/em>) where the bride is described using terminology from the Torah to explain the marriage symbolism, relationship, and role of the faithful bride to her husband.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 19:7-9<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 19:7 \u2018Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.\u2019 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 19:9 Then he said to me, \u2018Write, \u2018Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.\u2019\u2018 And he said to me, \u2018These are true words of God.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Reading through this section of Revelation, it is interesting to observe the way the bride is described having <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cmade herself ready\u201d<\/span><\/em> for the day of her marriage.\u00a0 <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 19:8<\/span><\/em> states that <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cIt was given her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This is an important text because it speaks of something that was given to be used as clothing, and this thing that was given is <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cacts of righteousness.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The thing that was given occurred during Shavuot, the giving of the Torah, and the purpose of the Torah was for the righteousness of Israel.<\/p>\n<p>There is a lot of confusion among believers today regarding righteousness.\u00a0 Some say that we are righteous because of our good works, and others say our righteousness comes by faith apart from our works.\u00a0 Why is there so much confusion?\u00a0 One reason may be that the word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous\u201d<\/span><\/em> is used in two different ways in the Apostolic Writings.\u00a0 In order to understand what John is writing in Revelation, we must understand the difference between the two usages.\u00a0 In the Apostolic Writings, there are times when the word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous\u201d<\/span><\/em> refers to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous acts.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Examples may be found in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Timothy 2:22, 3:16, and Titus 3:5<\/span><\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Timothy 2:22<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">2 Timothy 3:16<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Titus 3:5<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>These scriptures among others use <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteousness\u201d<\/span><\/em> to describe <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cdoing what is right before God.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Rightly so, we should do our best to live in a righteous manner before the Lord God because this honors God and Yeshua the Messiah.\u00a0 Another way <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteousness\u201d<\/span><\/em> is used in the Apostolic Writings is to describe the position of those who place their faith in Yeshua the Messiah.\u00a0 The righteousness described in this way has been traditionally understood to be separate from the works we do (righteous acts).\u00a0 Is this be the approach we should take regarding <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous acts\u201d<\/span><\/em> and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cour righteousness in Yeshua the Messiah?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 How do we harmonize this hermeneutic with <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 19<\/span><\/em>?\u00a0 I would propose that it is not possible to harmonize this hermeneutic with Scripture.<\/p>\n<p>Thinking about righteousness, the <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous\u201d<\/span> are described in the Scriptures as the people who stand before God justified and accepted.\u00a0 Traditionally this is taught as <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteousness by faith\u201d<\/span><\/em> that was not available before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 The difficulty is when considering all of Scripture, and for consistency sake, the \u201crighteousness by faith\u201d is understood to always be accompanied by<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> \u201crighteous deeds\/acts\u201d<\/span><\/em> which the Apostle Paul describes as our <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cspiritual act of worship\u201d<\/span><\/em> in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 12<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 On the other hand, Paul says in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 3:20-25<\/span><\/em>:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Romans 3:20-25<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 3:20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 3:25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The issue here regarding the Torah, Righteousness, and being Justified before God is the approach some people were taking in first century Judaism.\u00a0 The mind-set was one could perform <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous deeds\u201d<\/span><\/em> and be justified before God without the requirement of inward righteousness also known as the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ccircumcision of the heart,\u201d<\/span><\/em> which was a work of God alone.\u00a0 Paul is saying righteous deeds (the works of the Law) are not what brings justification before God.\u00a0 The reason being that we are to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cwalk by faith.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Walking by faith does not mean we are floating 3 feet above the ground, but that we are humbly seeking the Lord for our salvation, we have repentant lives, and our ways exhibit the ways of God according to the Commands.\u00a0 Our lives are transformed in this way by the power of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 This is the way in which the bride performing <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous acts\u201d<\/span><\/em> and washing her cloths in preparation for the coming of her husband (Yeshua the Messiah) in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 19:7-9<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 This is helps our understanding the meaning of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 22:12-14<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 22:12-14<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 22:12\u00a0 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 22:13\u00a0 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 22:14\u00a0 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (KJV)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">12 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b9\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03c1\u03c7\u03bf\u03bc\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c7\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf \u03bc\u03b9\u03c3\u03b8\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4 \u03b5\u03bc\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03ba\u03b1\u03c3\u03c4\u03c9 \u03c9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b5\u03c1\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 13 \u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03b5\u03b9\u03bc\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03b1 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03c9 \u03b1\u03c1\u03c7\u03b7 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b5\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf \u03c0\u03c1\u03c9\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03bf \u03b5\u03c3\u03c7\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 14 \u03bc\u03b1\u03ba\u03b1\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03b9 \u03bf\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b9\u03bd\u03b1 \u03b5\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b7 \u03b5\u03be\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9\u03bd \u03b5\u03c0\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf \u03be\u03c5\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u03b7\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c5\u03bb\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03c0\u03bf\u03bb\u03b9\u03bd<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 22:14<\/span><\/em> states <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cBlessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 According to the last few verses in the Bible, it appears that those who <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cdo the commandments\u201d<\/span><\/em> are the one\u2019s who will have the right to the tree of life.\u00a0 The KJV is translated from the Textus Receptus, which states <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cpoiountes tas entolas auton\u201d \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5<\/span><\/em> translating literally to say <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cdoing the commandments.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Vaticanus and the Alexandrinus codex state:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u039c\u03b1\u03ba\u03ac\u03c1\u03b9\u03bf\u03b9 \u03bf\u1f31 \u03c0\u03bb\u03cd\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f70\u03c2 \u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u1f70\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd, \u1f35\u03bd\u03b1 \u1f14\u03c3\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u1f21 \u1f10\u03be\u03bf\u03c5\u03c3\u03af\u03b1 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f10\u03c0\u1f76 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03be\u03cd\u03bb\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03b6\u03c9\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c0\u03c5\u03bb\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c3\u03ad\u03bb\u03b8\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c0\u03cc\u03bb\u03b9\u03bd.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cBlessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.\u201d (NIV)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>These manuscripts say <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cblessed are those who wash their cloths.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Earlier, John explained the meaning of washing the cloths, and the bride who prepares herself in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Revelation 19:6-8<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 This is the halachah (the way of life) that God seeks from each one of us, we are expected to make the conscious daily decision to walk in righteousness, truth, holiness, and justice.\u00a0 These are important verses because today we are told that all one really needs to do is to be <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnice\u201d<\/span><\/em> to people and you are good, assuming one is exempt from the rest of the commandments and have a right to the tree of life.\u00a0 The point is that I know a lot of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnice\u201d<\/span><\/em> people who do not even know God.\u00a0 The command to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201clove your neighbor as yourself\u201d<\/span><\/em> was a sum of all the Torah.\u00a0 The definition of <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>\u201csum\u201d<\/em><\/span> is addition, which is inclusive, additive, not subtraction.\u00a0 All of Torah is included in the command to love your neighbor and to love God.<\/p>\n<p>The point of week\u2019s Torah reading regarding \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cEleh ha\u2019devarim,\u201d\u00a0 \u201cThese are the words\u201d<\/span><\/em> from the book of Deuteronomy is that these words and all of Scripture applies to our lives today.\u00a0 We are called to walk humbly before God, seeking the Lord for our salvation, and to live repentant lives which are expressed by walking in God\u2019s ways according to the Commands.\u00a0 Walking by faith in this way, our lives are transformed with the help and power of the Holy Spirit and we are daily seeking to intentionally bring Glory to God\u2019s name.\u00a0 As His bride, we perform <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201crighteous acts\u201d<\/span><\/em> because we love Him, this is a selfless action to give of ourselves to the Lord.\u00a0 We are called to live humble lives and part of being humble is submitting our lives to God\u2019s Word as a guide for life (i.e. biblical halachah).\u00a0 Taking this approach to life and faith, we wash our cloths in preparation for the coming of our husband our Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 What a wonderful and exciting thing this is don\u2019t you think? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/07\/BTT_Parashat-Devarim-2014.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Devarim-2014<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this weeks reading from Parsahat Devarim (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22), Moshe retells the story on what happened that led the people to remain in the wilderness.\u00a0 The Hebrew name of this book in the Masoretic Text is \u201cDevarim,\u201d which is derived from the opening words in this week\u2019s Torah portion, \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u201cEleh ha\u2019devarim\u201d [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3250,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3157","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3157","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=3157"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3157\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3250"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}