1 corinthians 16

Read 1 Corinthians 16 at Bible Gateway.

“Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.” 1 Cor 16:1-2

The instruction Paul gives for the collection for the saints, was for the saints in Jerusalem, who were in need from a famine that occurred in Judea:

“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.” Act 19:21-22

“But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” Rom 15:25-27

It is a principle which permeates throughout the Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, that those who provide spiritually, are to be provided for in turn materially (1 Cor 9:3-12, Gal 6:6, 1 Tim 5:17-18). Israel supported the Levites with tithes, and Paul established among the churches that it was right for the church to support its ministers.

It is from this passage in 1 Cor 16 that taking a weekly collection during the assembly of the believers developed. In Paul's instruction, the setting aside of the portion to be given was not done during the weekly Sabbath assembly. No believer in Paul's lifetime would have done so, because transactions in money were not conducted on the Sabbath day, when the believers met together. This is why Paul instructed them to set their portion aside on the first of the week (the word “day” is not in the Greek), which would have been the normal time for a Sabbath observant believer to settle his accounts from the previous week's business.

In fact, in Torah, the tithe was not figured weekly, but after the harvest, since incomes were generally based on profit received from the harvest. This is why much of the instruction on tithing in Torah is found side by side with instruction on the celebration of the harvest festivals.

Contrary to some modern teaching I have heard on tithing, it is perfectly alright to set aside a portion and save it up. Weekly giving to the church is a wonderful discipline to establish for those who need to increase their faithfulness in this area, but it is not commanded that something be put in the offering every week. What is encouraged every week, is that something is laid aside to be stored up, so a deposit to savings, however one's savings are established, qualifies. If one gives monthly or even annually, as long as it is a fair representation of how he has prospered, then that is well.

The tithes in Torah were dispersed to Levites, as ministers of the Lord. Then other tithes and offerings were set aside for those who were suffering a material lack due to not having a father in the household who was the natural provider: widows and orphans. Then strangers living among Israel who did not own land, if they suffered; or families who, even though their father was still among them, due to injury, illness, or other misfortune, he could not provide for his family as he would wish, were also recipients. Every city included a storehouse where the tithes of grain and food were kept, where those who were in need could come.

“At the end of every third year you shall bring out the tithe of your produce of that year and store it up within your gates. And the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates, may come and eat and be satisfied, that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” Deu 14:28-29

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” Mal 3:8-10

That storehouse commanded in Torah, in Deu 14:28-29, is one storehouse of which Malachi speaks in this oft- quoted passage, but which is often overlooked! There is a double meaning in this passage. The first which would have been obvious to a Torah observant Hebrew of that century, is that the storehouse is where the tithes consisting of physical food and that which supplied for material needs were kept. The second that the Lord is revealing, is that the house of the Lord is also a storehouse that provides food, for man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God (Mat 4:4). There is physical food, and spiritual food, and tithes and offerings were to supply both kinds of bread. The storehouse of physical food provided for the spiritual food of Israel, for if the Levites did not have to work to earn bread, then they could devote themselves to their duties and the Word.

It is just as Scriptural for the local ekklesia to be the storehouse of material provision for the needy of their community as it is for them to the storehouse of spiritual food in the Word of God. Does that not witness to the love and generosity of the Lord for the world, when the needy can receive better provision from the church than from the county- run food bank? In fact, the Scriptures teach us that meeting the material needs of the poor is a proper expression of our faith in God!

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Jam 2:14-17

I believe that a church who makes room and provision for an outreach ministry, or who supplies the needs of other outreach ministries and homeless ministries and the like in their community, have discovered the heart of Abraham, the father of our faith, who was blessed by God in order to be a blessing to others (Gen 12:1-3). Abraham and the other patriarchs did not grasp for themselves, but relinquished rights, were generous, and gave liberally. In this they mirrored God, for He is a generous Giver of undeserved gifts (Mat 5:44-45, Jam 1:5), and a Relinquisher of rights in order to be a blessing to those who do not deserve it (Phi 2:5-8)! This is why God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7) - He is looking upon a heart which is in the image of His own heart!

However, for those who are able to work, but who prefer to live idly and sponge off the generosity of others, Paul's instruction is:

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 The 3:10

“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Tim 5:8

1 corinthians 15

Read 1 Corinthians 15 at Bible Gateway.

“Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” 1 Cor 15:12-14

In this chapter, Paul addresses a heresy that had already risen in the Corinthian church: that Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead. The Greeks sought after all manner of philosophies, and many of them were wise according to man's wisdom, but not wise in truth. The heresy that the mortal or natural body is not resurrected seems to me to come from platonic philosophy. Plato believed and taught that the flesh was corrupt and that the only good in a person was in the soul. (The Scriptures teach man as a triune being, spirit, soul, and body; while Greek philosophy taught man as a dual being, soul and body only. Thus, according to Plato, the evil was in the body, while the good was in the soul, or the immaterial part of the person.)

While Plato made some accurate observations, the outworking of this philosophy without the guide of the truth revealed in Scripture caused it to careen off into error. Plato taught that anything to do with the flesh was likewise corrupt - thus a platonic relationship was the highest or best form of relationship between a man and his wife, not a marriage relationship. He also taught that every soul was intrinsically good and incorrupt, thus denying the separation of the spirit which occurred at the Fall between man and his Creator, resulting in eternal death, from which man needed to be redeemed.

Even some modern theologians are denying the resurrection of Jesus -- because a risen Savior with a real body, is a living Savior who is physically returning again to subdue His enemies under His feet -- and that is such a narrow view, judgmental and intolerant of other realities, to a liberal mind.

To see why the resurrection is so central to belief in YHVH, we have to understand the big picture the Scriptures paint. YHVH created man in His image, as His children, and placed them in a garden, in which were two trees: one of knowledge of good, and of evil, and one of life (Gen 2:9). The two trees are two choices. To choose life is to choose YHVH (or vice versa). To choose the knowledge of good and of evil is to choose YHVH's enemy, who was striving to exalt a throne above YHVH's throne (Isa 14:13).

Now it is still somewhat of a mystery to me, why knowledge of good and evil aligns with YHVH's enemy. But that it does, can be clearly seen from Scripture. Knowledge of good and evil, and death, and YHVH's enemy, are on one side; and life, and YHVH, are on the other side. Of course, man chose knowledge of good and evil and death over life, and YHVH's enemy over YHVH. All the rest of the Scriptures, from Gen 4 on, is about reversing the effects of this choice, and restoring life back to YHVH's children!

The first man, Adam, caused death to triumph over life. The second man, Jesus, caused life to triumph over death! This is why the resurrection of Jesus is pivotal to faith in YHVH - it restores us back to the tree of life from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil! And while the garden in the beginning contained two trees, the garden at the end contains only one tree: the tree of life (Rev 22:1-2)!

“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.” 1 Cor 15:20-24

In this chapter, Paul reveals that the resurrection of Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrections to follow (vs. 20-22). The resurrection of Jesus happened to take place on the very day of the Feast of Firstfruits as well, and this was not by accident. The Lord's annual feast cycle is prophetic and reveals the Messiah. There are three harvest festivals included in the annual cycle (Lev 23):

1) Firstfruits - spring festival celebrating the barley harvest, the first crop to be harvested in the agricultural year (Lev 23:9-14);
2) Shavuot, Weeks, or Pentecost - spring festival celebrating the wheat harvest (Lev 23:15-22);
3) Tabernacles - fall festival celebrating the fruits harvest, the final crop to be harvested in the agricultural year (Lev 23:33-41).

We know that Jesus compares salvation, being restored to Father God in resurrection life, to a harvest (Joh 4:35, Rev 14:15). Jesus was raised from the dead on the Feast of Firstfruits, and likewise He is the firstfruits of the resurrection from the dead.

The Holy Spirit was given to the Church on the Feast of Pentecost (Act 2:1-4). That this event has to do with harvest and resurrection, or restoration to life from death, we can see by following the patterns established in Scripture. Here Paul reveals that the connection is that in Messiah all shall be made alive! We have not seen the final harvest or resurrection yet - but we have nonetheless been made alive in Him (Col 2:13), on the day that we were made a new creation by the indwelling of His Spirit (2 Cor 5:17)! It is a spiritual resurrection, a down payment, that will be consummated by a physical resurrection in which death, even the death of the physical body, will be swallowed up in victory (Eph 1:13-14)!

We can see, since the feast cycle is prophetic, that the Feast of Tabernacles correlates to His coming, when the final resurrection of His Body (us, who are the Body of Messiah) will take place. This final harvest will be great indeed. For those who have fallen asleep (died) in Christ: they will be raised bodily from the dead, as He was. The graves all over the earth will open! For those who are still alive in the body at His coming: they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, from corruption to incorruption; from mortal to immortal (vs. 51-53)!

We might even project, that since the other resurrections took place on the exact day of the annual feast which corresponded to it, that His coming will be on the exact day of the annual feast which corresponds to it - i.e., Tabernacles or one of the fall feasts, which take place in September or October every year and which are only separated by three weeks of time from beginning to end!

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

1 corinthians 12-14, the gift of tongues

Read 1 Corinthians 12-14 at Bible Gateway.

We have seen that Paul in these chapters explained the prescribed path of the Spirit, in giving gifts, so that we may identify Him when He is working (and just as importantly, identify imposters when they are working). He has explained the purpose of the gifts of the Spirit and thus the fruit that is produced when they are exercised. He has explained their proper operation and use, privately and corporately. Now let's look at the individual gifts more closely.

The most misunderstood one is no doubt tongues, and it happens to be the one with the most instruction! None of the gifts of the Spirit are a New Testament phenomenon only. There is a tradition among the rabbis, that when Moses made the covenant with Israel on Mt. Sinai, and went up to receive the Torah on tablets of stone, that the Spirit came upon the 70 elders who were with him, and they each spoke in the tongues of the nations (Exo 24:9-11).

There were 70 primal nations that rebelled against YHVH at Babel (Gen 10-11:9), and restoring the 70 nations (and their descendants today) to the worship of YHVH, praising Him in their tongues, is part of God's plan that He is implementing through the Seed of the Woman (Gen 3:15, Rev 7:9-11).

What is even more amazing, is that the day Moses went up to Sinai, was 50 days following their deliverance through the Red Sea (the days of their journeying are recorded in Exodus). Their deliverance through the Red Sea was three days following Passover. Jesus was crucified on Passover, and rose from the dead three days later, on the Feast of Firstfruits! Paul teaches that Israel going through the Red Sea is a type of baptism (1 Cor 10:1-2), picturing those who would come to faith in Jesus Christ and dying, being buried, and rising with Him! Fifty days following the resurrection of Jesus was the Feast of Pentecost (fifty in Greek), or Weeks (in English). On this day the Holy Spirit was given to the ekklesia as they were gathered in the upper room, and they each spoke in the tongues of the nations, magnifying God (Act 2)!

So on the appointed time (moed in Hebrew, translated feast in English) of Passover, Israel was delivered by the blood of the Passover lamb, and on that same day years later, Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world. On the appointed time of Firstfruits, Israel went through the Red Sea, and on that same day years later, Jesus was raised from the dead. On the appointed time of Pentecost or Weeks, Moses went up to Sinai to receive God's Word in Torah, and the 70 elders of Israel spoke in the tongues of the 70 nations as the Spirit descended on them. And on that same day, years later, the Spirit fell upon the believers, and they also spoke in the tongues of the nations. (A whole book could be written about the significance of the Torah and the Spirit given from God on the same day, starting with the fact that the Word (including Torah) and the Spirit are one! But I will stop for now at Eze 36:25-27.)

Back to tongues: it is clear from reading Acts and 1 Corinthians, that there are two aspects of the gift of tongues. One aspect is that it is a gift given to every one who believes upon the Lord Jesus, and a sign that they have received the infilling of the Holy Spirit upon their conversion (Mar 16:17, Act 2:4, 10:46, 19:6). Tongues speak to God (1 Cor 14:2), out of the spirit, through the agency of the Spirit, bypassing the human mind (1 Cor 14:9-11). As such it is a pure communication from us to God, through the Spirit making intercession for us when we do not know how or what to pray, untainted by the thoughts of the flesh or the lies of the enemy (Rom 8:26-27). Paul refers to this private or personal gift as praying with the Spirit, singing with the Spirit, blessing with the Spirit, and giving thanks with the Spirit (1 Cor 14:15-17).

The second aspect of this gift, the public aspect, is often confused, because some do not realize that the Scriptures reveal two separate manifestations of the Spirit, both of which are called tongues. Paul explained all these things to the churches when he was establishing them in person, and since he was writing his letters later on, addressing specific questions or concerns, he did not re-establish as doctrine from the beginning every thing that he had already imparted to them. This is why, when reading Paul's letters, we have to be careful to let the rest of Scripture also inform us on his meaning, so that we do not accidentally distort his meaning (2 Pet 3:14-16).

The private gift, which edifies the individual (1 Cor 14:4), is given to every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (Mar 16:17). The public gift, which edifies the church when certain conditions are met, is given to some, not all (1 Cor 12:10, 30), its purpose being to profit all in the Body (1 Cor 12:7). The public gift is a declaration of "thus saith the Lord," just as prophecy is. However, since the public gift is spoken in a tongue, the only way it will profit all, is if someone who has the companion gift of interpretation of tongues, follows the declaration in tongues with the interpretation, or translation (1 Cor 14:5, 13). Then the church will be edified, when they understand what the Lord has said to them (1 Cor 14:6-12).

If someone, in a setting of public worship, receives a message in tongues, and there is no one there to interpret, then the proper way to exercise that gift, which reflects honor back to God, is to keep silent and not speak (1 Cor 14:27-28)! Some in the Church today speak their private gift of tongues in the setting of public worship, even though the commandment of the Lord is to refrain from doing so when there is no interpreter (1 Cor 14:27-28, 36-37), because it is a fleshly declaration to all, "The Spirit is operating in me and through me!"

Remember, however, that love is the heart of the things of the Spirit (as 1 Cor 13 is at the heart of the discourse on the things of the Spirit, 1 Cor 12-14); and love does not parade itself (1 Cor 13:4)! Thus the tongue spoken in public worship, out of a fleshly motivation to parade one's spirituality, is a tongue that profits nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3) - not the individual, nor the Body!

There is another mishandling of the gift of tongues, and that is to forbid its operation at all. There are entire denominations that forbid its operation! It is a commandment of the Lord to allow the gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of tongues, to operate (1 Cor 14:37-39)! Only, let their operation be in decency and in order, for the purpose of edifying the Body (1 Cor 14:26, 40).

gifts of the Spirit, 1 corinthians 12-14

Read 1 Corinthians 12-14 at Bible Gateway.

The three chapters of 1 Cor 12, 13, and 14 are instruction to the church concerning that which is of the Spirit. The word “gifts” in 1 Cor 12:1 is not in the Greek. Much that is in these chapters deal with gifts of the Spirit, but that is only a portion of Paul's topic. The greater topic is that which is of the Spirit.

These three chapters form a chiastic structure, and seeing it outlined will help make the big picture topic more clear:

1A 1 Cor 12:1-3 - not being ignorant concerning that which is of the Spirit;
1B 1 Cor 12:4-31 - the manifestation of the Spirit: not for self- exaltation but edification of all; not for competition but cooperation;
--> X 1 Cor 13 - Love, the heart of that which is of the Spirit;
2B 1 Cor 14:1-35 - the operation of the Spirit: not in showboating but edification; not in dishonor but in order, decency, and peace;
2A 1 Cor 14:36-40 - not being ignorant concerning that which is of the Spirit.

Each section of this structure, analyzed individually and in detail, reveals mini- chiastic structures and much truth concerning those who are spiritual. A whole book could be written about these three chapters, there is so much revealed in them.

For example, idolatry leads to ignorance of spiritual things (1 Cor 12:1-2). Of course this would be true, because the greatest truth of the spiritual world is that YHVH is God, He alone is God, and beside Him there is no other. The person who denies this fact does even know the easiest, most basic fundamental of that which is spiritual - he is completely and wholly ignorant.

The deception is that those who are pursuing spiritual “realities” other than YHVH, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are spiritual. Nothing could be further from the truth! Doesn't the world make much of the Dalai Lama, or earth worship, etc? Doesn't the world elevate those “paths” as enlightened? And yet, those who are spiritual recognize the commandments of YHVH (1 Cor 14:37)! The greatest of which, is that YHVH alone is God, and we who are created, are to love Him will all that we are (Mat 22:34-40)!

The second part of the deception of idolatry is that only those involved in another religion are practicing idolatry - that everyone in the Body is exempt and can gloss over these warnings and assume that they must be spiritual then. Nothing could be further from the truth! Even the antichrist is going to come out from among the Body (1 Joh 2:18-19)! Any number of things can be elevated in the heart above YHVH: the lusts of the flesh; the love of money; reputation or fame or power; talent; fear of man; seeking to be approved of in the eyes of ones peers or the world; children or family; the list could go on and on. There are many famous ministers who have remained faithful to the Lord, and some that we have all heard of, who allowed the love of other things to crowd out the love of YHVH in their hearts. And when they were found out, their hypocrisy was splashed all over the world news.

So do not be awed by the things that the world is awed by. Do not be deceived into thinking that just because someone is doing or saying something that looks spiritual, that they are spiritual. The Holy Spirit does not mix with unholy spirits, and the distinction between them is crystal clear - for those who are submitted to YHVH as God, and who recognize that as God, He has the right to speak commandment, and be obeyed!

Another aspect of the Spirit that comes out in these chapters, is the recurring theme of edification. God doesn't just show off His power because we want to see something amazing, like going to the circus. Or because we hope that if the word gets out that miracles are happening at such and such a church, crowds will come, which means more money in offerings.

Edification is the purpose of the manifestation and operation of the Spirit. “Edify” comes from the same root as “edifice”. An edifice is a building, a large or massive structure. The Greek word translated edify or edification, means to build up (as a building). The root of the word in Greek and Hebrew means “the inhabited home.” Thus, The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands (Pro 14:1). To edify means to establish, to make firm or stable, to cause to grow or multiply, to put in a favorable position.

Guess what? If an outpouring of the manifestation of the Spirit will cause the people in a church or the church itself to destabilize, because perhaps their maturity isn't such yet that fame and crowds will profit them, then that church will not have an outpouring of the Spirit, no matter how much time the prayer team spends praying for one. The Spirit will not do that which does not edify or profit the Body.

But, it is clear from Paul's letter, that the gifts of the Spirit have been given to edify the Body. The ekklesia is to earnestly desire them (1 Cor 14:1)! Pray for them, but then receive all the Spirit gives with joy and thanksgiving! The Spirit gives miraculous gifts - tongues, healings, and miracles - and also what the human mind tends to think of as more mundane gifts - leadership, teaching, exhortation, and helps (Rom 12:4-8) - to the Body! One problem has been, that some of the Church who excel in the traditional things of the Spirit (like teaching) reject the charismatic things of the Spirit (like tongues); likewise, some of the Church who excel in the charismatic de- emphasize the traditional. They are ALL of the Spirit! Let the Lord determine what gift, ministry, and activity of the Spirit is needful at each season, for He gives to each as HE wills (1 Cor 12:11), and let us not be disappointed if it is not one of the showy ones, nor puffed up if it is!

1 corinthians 14

Read 1 Corinthians 14 at Bible Gateway.

Back in 1 Cor 12, we saw that Paul was explaining the prescribed path followed by the Holy Spirit in the gathering of the believers. The ministry of the Spirit and the effects of the Spirit, of healing or miracles or deliverance or power, among the body, will be with diversity, but the same prescribed path will be followed, so that we can recognize the Spirit.

Then Paul seemed to change subjects in explaining the agape love that the Father has for us and that we ought to have for each other. It is not a change of subject, as we can see from the continuation of the topic of the things of the Spirit in this chapter! Love is another aspect of the prescribed path of the Spirit! All the gifts, ministries, and activities of the Spirit are an expression of love from the Father to us, and through us to others. The chapter on love helps us to identify the Spirit, and identify the false spirits. Someone may come in among you and speak charismatically or even do miracles, but if the fruit of that does not express the love of the Father, either to us or through us to others, then, Paul is saying, that teaching, those miracles were not by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

So we have learned that the prescribed path of the Spirit means:

1) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, will testify of Jesus and exalt Jesus as Lord (Joh 15:26, 1 Cor 12:3);
2) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, will never accurse Jesus (1 Cor 12:3);
3) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, will profit the body (1 Cor 12:7);
4) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, will express agape love to us, and through us (1 Cor 13);
5) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, works edification (1 Cor 14:3-4, 26);
6) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, is peace, order, decency, and honoring of others (1 Cor 14:33, 40);
7) the gifts, ministries, and activities of the Spirit are subject to the person through whom the Spirit is working, so that peace, order, decency, and honor may be maintained. The Spirit does not “possess” a person so that he loses the exercise of his free will (1 Cor 14:32).

And something that was not mentioned in these chapters, but is mentioned elsewhere and is important to remember:

8) the Spirit, and the effect of the Spirit, bears witness to the truth and agrees with the Word of God (Joh 16:13).

This is so important, because people today have this crazy idea that the Spirit and the Word are somehow opposed to each other. That if you desire the Spirit, then God's Word and obedience to His Word is somehow legalistic or religious. Or if you desire His Word, and obedience to the truth, then the Spirit with His gifts, ministries, and activities are to be distrusted. The Scriptures do not teach the Spirit opposed to the Word, or the Word opposed to the Spirit, but the Spirit AND the Word:

“The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.” Deu 5:4

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Eze 36:25-27

“Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”” Mat 22:29

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Joh 4:23-24

“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” Joh 16:13

And many many other places throughout both testaments. The Word (Torah included) is our plumb line, our compass. It lets us know if we are still on the straight path, so that in all our ministry and operation through the Spirit, we do not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. The Spirit, in turn, breathes life into the Word, so that we can not only understand its message aright, but walk out its instructions in our daily lives! Walking by the Spirit does not mean abandoning the Word of God and the instructions it contains - it means obeying those instructions by the power of the Spirit (and succeeding) rather than by the (will) power of the flesh (and failing)!

1 corinthians 13, the father's love

Read 1 Corinthians 13 at Bible Gateway.

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Cor 13:4-7

The Greek word translated “love” here is Strong's G26, agape - a strictly biblical word which is not found in Greek outside the Scriptures. The Septuagint translators translated the Hebrew root Strong's H157, bha, ahab, to agape when translating the Scriptures from Hebrew to Greek several centuries before the advent of Jesus. The two letter root of ahab from the ancient Hebrew pictographs is bh, the hey bet - the man with his arms upraised as if in wonder or astonishment or worship; and the house or family. The mountain top meaning of the hey bet, then, is the sense of wonder, even astonishment, and appreciation the man feels when beholding his family. We do not choose which family we are born into. And even the man's wife, in those days, was not chosen by him, but was chosen for him by his father. So in the Hebraic way of thinking, the family - parents, siblings, wife, children, extended family and tribal clan - is a gift chosen for him and given to him by God. Thus the verbal form of the hey bet means to give. The concrete form means a gift. The abstract form means the love and protectiveness which is inspired in the heart for one's cherished gifts; i.e., one's family.

The addition of the aleph, the ox head (meaning strength, power, or leadership) onto the front of the hey bet root, then, intensifies, not only the emotion of love and protectiveness which is felt in the heart, but also the action one takes as a result of feeling that love. (Hebrew is a language based on verbs, not nouns. It is all about the doing.) Ahab is strong love.

Now ahab as a primitive root, has a double meaning. Ahab also contains the two letter root, ba, ab, aleph bet, which means father, the strong one of the family. The additional letter is the hey, the man with his arms upraised in wonder, astonishment, or worship, who is beholding that which has been revealed to him. While he beholds it, his breath quickens or deepens into sighing. In bha, ahab, the hey is in the center, or heart, of the father (ba, ab), meaning that love is the picture of the heart of the father breathing or sighing after his children. Another nuance is that love reveals the heart of the father.

That is what Paul means when he says, agape suffers long and is kind. Agape does not envy or parade itself. Because it is not weak love, like acquaintances might have for one another. It is strong love, like the strong love that beats in the heart of the father for his children. Familial love is the strongest of all the different kinds of love, and of familial love, parental love for a child is the strongest form of love of all. A parent will reject mother and father, husband or wife, for the sake of their child. (Love has to be very cold in the heart for a parent to prefer others over their children.) Parental love is the strongest love in the universe, and that is the kind of love which is painted by ahab, thus agape.

So the lesson is not only that this is the way we Christians ought to be loving others. The first lesson is, that this is the way the Heavenly Father loves us, His children! God is love (1 Joh 4:8) - YHVH is agape! YHVH suffers long and is kind (Exo 34:5-7); YHVH does not envy! YHVH does not parade Himself nor is He puffed up (Mat 11:28-30)! YHVH does not behave rudely or seek His own! YHVH is not provoked - this is why He is so slow to anger (Psa 135:8)! YHVH does not think evil of us - He is not the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10)! YHVH does not rejoice when we sin or when bad things happen to us, but He rejoices in truth, righteousness, and in our good! YHVH bears all things for the sake of His beloved, who is every person He has ever created! YHVH believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things for the sake of His beloved (Rom 5:6-11, Phi 2:5-8)!

Write that down on a 3x5 card and carry it with you for a month, dwelling on the truth about YHVH that 1 Cor 13:4-7 reveals - it will absolutely change your life forever!

1 corinthians 12

Read 1 Corinthians 12 at Bible Gateway.

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Cor 12:4-6

This chapter opens with Paul not wanting the church to be ignorant of that which is of the Spirit. “Spirit” is in Greek, Strong's G4151, from the Hebrew root, Strong's H7307, ruach, jwr resh vav chet. The parent of this root is resh chet, from the ancient pictographs meaning the man outside the fence, or nomad. The Ancient Hebrew Lexicon reveals that all of the words in this family, which have the resh chet as their root, have to do with following a prescribed path. A nomad, even though he dwells as a man outside, follows a prescribed path through the wilderness to care for his flocks, as well as through the seasons.

Other words related to this root are travel; path; the shovel used for winnowing (at the prescribed season of the year), caravan (which follows the same route from point a to point b); an allowance of food or a diet (what is prescribed for that person), millstone (the upper stone follows the same path along the lower stone), wind (which follows set patterns of currents) and the moon, which follows its prescribed path in its cycles and through its orbit.

The breath of a person also follows a prescribed path of inhaling then exhaling. The Spirit, then, is like the breath, or like the wind - you cannot see Him, where He comes from or where He goes (Joh 3:8), but you can see His effects, as He follows a prescribed path. That is what the Hebrew reveals to us that the Greek does not.

In explaining the things of the Spirit, in this chapter, Paul is describing to the Corinthian church, what the Spirit's prescribed path is. We do not need to be deceived by false spirits or lying spirits or demonic spirits - because the Holy Spirit follows a prescribed path that allows us to identify Him.

The Spirit, then gives gifts, ministries, and activities to the Church in order to profit the Body. Gifts is in Greek, charisma, which is from the root Strong's G5485, charis, meaning grace - that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness. The Hebrew root is Strong's H2580, chen, chet nun. The ancient pictographs are of the fence and the seed. Chen, then, is the fence that continues; i.e., when the nomads encamped in a place, the families set up their tents so that all the tents formed a circle - a continuous fence. The tribal clan lived and worked within the circle, within the continuous fence. It was home. It was the place of family, of beauty, freedom, and mercy.

Ministries, in Greek, is Strong's G1248, diakonia, or service - the work of those who execute the commands of another. The Greek is a combination of two words, meaning, raising dust by hastening. Isn't that beautiful? The servant is about his master's business, and is not slack about it either.

Activities, in Greek, is Strong's G1755, energema, or a thing wrought. An activity of the Spirit results in a tangible effect as the result of putting forth power. I think we have made some artificial boundaries by saying that a miracle of healing is a gift of the Spirit, while a pastor who preaches a message of encouragement is tendering a ministry of the Spirit. All the work of the Spirit is a gift - a charis, a chen, a thing of beauty, freedom, mercy, and grace, or that which produces beauty, freedom, mercy, and grace in God's people.

How the Spirit effects grace, then, differs: it can be by the expending of supernatural power, as when someone is miraculously healed. It can be by the gentle leading inside the heart which allows one to forgive another. It can be by the service of the person who derives joy from providing food to the congregation during the weekly assembly of the believers. But the same Spirit that leads a person to clean the church's bathrooms is the same Spirit that reveals truth to the prophet or teaching elder and inspires him to deliver that truth in a clear and compelling way to the congregation. The same Spirit that empowers a widow's prayers of intercession, which no one sees, is the same Spirit that empowers an evangelist to preach so that thousands are saved, which everyone sees.

And then there is the crazy notion that gifts of the Spirit have ceased operating in the church today. It is a rejection of a certain class of charisma - that which is supernatural or obviously wrought by an agency other than man. The ekklesia will need the grace (gifts), ministry, and activity of the Spirit operating among it at least until the Lord returns! But, we have all seen that which gave cause for concern and doubt among the “Spirit- filled.” The Spirit follows a prescribed path, even among His diversities of gifts, ministries, and activities. The Spirit might do something amazing that we have not seen before. But, He will always follow the prescribed path. He will always exalt Jesus and will never accurse Him. The outpouring of His charis, His chen, will always result in profit for the body (vs. 7). And Paul will continue explaining the prescribed path of the Spirit in the next chapters.

1 corinthians 11, the Lord's supper

Read 1 Corinthians 11 at Bible Gateway.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” 1 Cor 11:23-26

This section on the Lord's Supper forms a chiastic structure:

1A 1 Cor 11:17 - Corinthians not praise worthy;
  1B 1 Cor 11:18-22a - eating and drinking out of order in the assembly;
    1 C 1 Cor 11:22b - Corinthians not praise worthy;
      --> X 1 Cor 11:23-26 - the Lord's supper;
    2C 1 Cor 11:27-32 - eating and drinking in an unworthy manner brings judgment;
  2B 1 Cor 11:33-34a - eating and drinking in order in the assembly;
2A 1 Cor 11:34b - judgment.

The remembrance of and proclaiming (witnessing to) the Lord's death by communion until He comes is the central axis and message surrounded by neon flashing lights of this structure. Communion, like every other new testament sacrament, is not new, but is based in Torah:

“These are the feasts of the LORD which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the LORD, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day—” Lev 23:37

The grain offering was a loaf or cake of bread. The drink offering was wine. The sacrifice was the sacrifice made for sin, to atone for sin, on its day. When we proclaim the Lord's death, we are proclaiming that He sacrificed Himself, and that His blood was shed for the atonement of our sins. We are proclaiming that He is our sin sacrifice, and that our sin sacrifice has been sacrificed. We remember His death when we partake of the bread and the wine, which were to accompany the sin sacrifice on all feast days and Sabbaths!

The burnt offering, in its application for us today, is to become a living olah - a living sacrifice offered to God entire, consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:1).

How do we become sick, and eat and drink judgment upon ourselves, by eating and drinking the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner? Simply because, the broken body and shed blood of Adonai Messiah Yeshua was meant to provide for our healing:

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” Isa 53:5

If we do not discern that the body and blood of our Lord, which the bread and the wine represents, has been broken and shed so that our transgressions are covered, our iniquities taken away, peace restored between us and YHVH our Father, and healing of the spirit, soul, and body provided for, then we will be sick, or weak, even to death, and instead of deeming ourselves as FREE from sin, we will deem ourselves judged as sinners - a lie from the enemy, which nevertheless, allows him to steal from us, kill and destroy us (Joh 10:10)! And there is simply no need for it!

1 corinthians 11, head coverings

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“Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.” 1 Cor 11:2-16

The section about head coverings forms a chiastic structure:

1A 1 Cor 11: 2 traditions delivered to the Corinthians;
  1B 1 Cor 11:3 headship;
    1C 1 Cor 11:4-7 praying or prophesying and covering;
      1D 1 Cor 11:8-9 woman from and for man;
        --> X 1 Cor 11:10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels;
      2D 1 Cor 11:11-12 man through woman;
    2C 1 Cor 11:13 praying or prophesying and covering;
  2B 1Cor 11:14-15 covering;
2A 1 Cor 11:16 custom among the churches.

The central axis, the main point that the structure itself points to like an arrow, is vs. 10. The word “symbol” in vs. 10 is added to the text for clarification by the King James translators. Paul is saying that the woman ought to have authority on or over her head, i.e., she ought to be under authority. Her head is the man which is in authority over her (vs. 3). When she is married, her head is her husband. Before she is married, her head is her father. If she is widowed or single, and her father has passed on, I believe the Old Testament shows us that the eldest brother of the family takes care of the single women of his family. In the biblical worldview, women are covered by a head, they are not off on their own operating independently (Gen 3:16).

I know this teaching is anathema to modern society, but let us consider that in the Garden of Eden, the woman was not under any authority. She was co- ruler with Adam, in having dominion over the creation. But she was the one who was tempted and was deceived by the enemy's lie, while Adam was not deceived (1 Tim 2:14). He sinned, not because he was fooled, but because, some speculate, he did not want to be separated from his wife. It was the Lord who then placed her under the authority of her husband, and I submit to you, that He did this for her protection! He desired to be a blessing and a help to her!

For every authority is given, we learned from Rom 13, so that the strength of that authority can be a blessing and a protection to the weaker under their authority.

It is true that not all men know this about their responsibility toward women. Some men abuse their greater strength, which God gave them to protect those weaker than they are, in order to hurt those weaker than they are. Wrath is stored up for any who do wrong and do not repent, but those who are in authority, who abuse that authority and use it to wound those who cannot resist them, this fires the Lord's anger, I believe. They are fools who have stored up great wrath for themselves, unless they repent (Isa 3:14-15, Mar 9:42).

The chaistic structure itself further shows us that Paul is talking about headship being the woman's covering, and not merely a symbol of authority, such as a hat or a scarf, on her head: because 1B, which discusses headship as authority, is paired with 2B, which discusses that which covers a woman's head. If a woman desires to wear a hat or a scarf on her head, she is not doing anything wrong! The issue is, is she under authority. A woman can dutifully wear a scarf or lace over her hair, and be haughty in her heart toward her husband - the head covering will not negate the state of her heart!

Then the whole structure is wrapped with the revelation that this instruction in head coverings is from tradition and custom. Certainly we can see that the tradition has its base in spiritual truth, and so the reason for the custom ought to be honored. But tradition and custom are not commandments!

1 corinthians 10

Read 1 Corinthians 10 at Bible Gateway.

“Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.” 1 Cor 10:1-5

“Moreover” is a connection word, a conjunction, a word that indicates Paul's thought is continuing. What he had just finished talking about, in 1 Cor 9, was to run the race in such a way so that we will win the prize (1 Cor 9:24-27). Now he is saying, that the fathers, those who came out of Egypt with Moses, are our examples (1 Cor 10:6).

The fathers, he is saying, were delivered from slavery in Egypt. The unspoken implication is that we too were delivered from bondage in the kingdom of darkness. The fathers had a deliverer, Moses, who was a type of Messiah, who accomplished their deliverance (Deu 18:15). The unspoken implication is that we have the Deliverer who is Messiah. The fathers were baptized in the Red Sea. The unspoken implication is that we were baptized when we were delivered by Messiah also. The fathers, once they were free, received spiritual food and drink for their growth and instruction and edification. The unspoken implication is that we too are receiving spiritual food and drink for our growth and instruction and edification, from the hand of Yeshua the Messiah.

But then Paul says, that with most of the fathers, God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. And why were they scattered? They lusted, they worshiped idols, they committed adultery, they refused to be thankful, they tested God. Paul is making the connection, especially since this section comes after his admonition to run the race to receive the prize, that we too who think we are standing, need to take heed to ourselves lest we also fall as they did (1 Cor 10:12).

Wow, this sounds a lot like works! But what Paul is saying, is that look: the fathers are an example for us. They applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their doorposts, they were delivered from the angel of death. They were set free from the kingdom of Egypt, which is a type of the kingdom of darkness. They were baptized by type, they were given living bread (Word) and living water (Spirit) by type. They were not delivered and set free by merit, but by grace, by the promise God had made to the patriarchs!

And their example is, that those who despised their salvation, by breaking God's commandments (do not bow down to idols, do not commit adultery, do not covet) that God was not well pleased with them. They died in the wilderness and did not enter the Promised Land because of unbelief (Heb 3:16-19).

Let's face it, it takes faith to obey God. We have to believe that God is smarter than we are, and that He is higher than we are, and that He deserves our obedience and worship and service because He is YHVH! We have to believe that God's Word is true and is forever settled in heaven (Psa 119:89). We have to believe that His ways are best, and walking according to His ways, even if it goes against the mainstream of the culture or the mainstream of whatever religious organization we belong to, will produce the best fruit of blessing in our lives (Psa 1)!

What Paul is saying, is that by grace we are saved through faith, so now that we are saved, let us not despise our salvation and somehow fail to obtain the prize at the end of the race, because we showed by our works of disobedience, that our heart never belonged to God in the first place! Let us not show by our works of disobedience, that the true force motivating our heart was unbelief and not faith!

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Mat 7:21-23

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;” Phi 2:12

“For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Heb 3:16-19

“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Jam 2:14-17

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 Joh 2:3-6

What gets us into trouble is this crazy notion that faith and works of obedience are enemies of each other. Listen, Paul has thoroughly established that no one is ever saved by works of obedience, but by faith! But, he has also thoroughly established that salvation by faith is not a license to sin. The one who is saved by faith, will produce the fruit of faith in his life, which is obedience leading to sanctification. Faith and works of obedience are not enemies but are two sides of the same coin! The obedience of Joshua and Caleb, in strongly urging the people to enter the Promised Land, was not conjured up out of nowhere, but was the fruit of their faith in YHVH, that He was certainly able to perform His word toward them (Num 14:6-9)!

Now if the church could only understand that the Torah provides the definition of righteousness and sin for the believer, and will stop ignoring it as obsolete and passed away, but begin to use it as the plumb line, the aid, to gauge the straightness of its walk, then they will enter into the renewal of their mind, by the washing of water by the Word (Eph 5:24-27), so as to prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2)!

1 corinthians 9

Read 1 Corinthians 9 at Bible Gateway.

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under the law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.” 1 Cor 9:19-23

What does Paul mean when he says, “under the law,” “without law,” and “under the law toward Christ”? Paul uses the phrase “under the law” in a few other places in his letters:

“Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom 3:19

“For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Rom 6:14-15

In Rom 3 and 6, and in all the beginning chapters of Romans, Paul is establishing that every man, because he has been born of the seed of Adam, is under the dominion of sin. Because this is so, no man, by obeying the law, can be counted as righteous before God. Those who seek to establish their own righteousness by obeying the law, are under the law - they are under the requirement of the law for justification - which is perfect obedience in every point! To be under the requirement of the law for justification is to be under the dominion of sin and death! But those who have been born of the Seed of the woman, who is Jesus Christ, receive the righteousness which is imparted to us by God, by faith, and are under grace - they have been justified before God by faith. To be under grace is to be under the dominion of righteousness and life!

“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.” Gal 3:23

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Gal 4:4-5

“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law?” Gal 4:21

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Gal 5:18

We see if we read Galatians in its entirety, that Paul's topic is the same as in Romans - what justifies a man? From whence does he get his righteousness so that he is saved? Is it by obeying the law, so that righteousness is earned? Or is it by faith in Jesus Christ, so that righteousness is a free gift by grace? Those who are under the law in Galatians, are the same as those who are under the law in Romans - those who seek to be justified by their obedience to the law, rather than by faith in Jesus Christ!

So back to 1 Cor 9: when Paul says that he became as one under the law, so that he might win those who are under the law, he is saying that he became as one who sought righteousness by obedience to the law. He became as a Pharisee, so that he might win Pharisees.

When he says that he became as one without law, so that he might win those who are without law, he is talking about the Gentiles, who are without the Torah - they do not even know what the definition of righteousness and sin is according to God! So he did not act as a Pharisee around them, but as a Gentile. But then, lest we misunderstand him, he clarifies his meaning:

“... not being without law toward God, but under the law toward Christ ...” 1 Cor 9:21

He did not abandon his obedience to God, since God has, by the law, defined for us what obedience to Him looks like, what righteous behavior and unrighteous behavior is. In order to win Gentiles, he did not begin worshiping at temples, or working on Sabbath, or lying, or cheating, or any of those things that are lawless. He was not without law toward God. But he continued under the law toward Christ. He continued obeying the law of God.

He added the phrase, toward God, and toward Christ, so that we would distinguish his meaning, for he has used the phrase “under the law” before, and it means something specific, we saw, when he uses it. It is shorthand for being under the righteous requirement of the law for justification. It is shorthand for earning right standing by works of obedience to the law. But so that we know that he did not mean that he stopped obeying the law just because he has come among the Gentiles and has become as a Gentile in order to win Gentiles, he says he was under the law toward Christ. Jesus said, the one who loves Him, keeps His commandments (Joh 14:15)! Paul was obedient to the law toward Christ, not to gain right standing!

clean and unclean food, 1 corinthians 8

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“However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.” 1 Cor 8:7-8

The food that Paul is speaking of in this chapter, is meat (from animal sacrifices) offered to idols:

“Now concerning things offered to idols:” 1 Cor 8:1

“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” 1 Cor 8:13

We have to remember that in the 1st century of the Roman Empire, where Corinth was, every butcher shop in the Empire procured its meat from the temples of the idols and the false pagan gods. There was no meat that had not been first offered to an idol as an animal sacrifice. So this created a dilemma among the formerly pagan believers in Jesus outside of Judea: if we eat meat which has been offered to an idol, are we breaking the commandment, Do not commit idolatry?

The discussion is not at all about whether God's instructions concerning clean and unclean food in Torah have been discarded. It never entered into the church's head to discard commandments in Torah, especially in light of Jesus admonition in Mat 5:17-20, and Paul's clarification of the position the Torah holds in the life of the believer who has been saved by faith, in Rom 3:31.

The knowledge that Paul is talking about here, that not every believer has, is that idols are nothing - there are no false gods because they don't exist - and the only God is YHVH Creator of heaven and earth (1 Cor 8:4-6). So therefore, Paul is saying, meat offered to idols is meat offered to nothing, so the believer has perfect liberty to eat meat. But for the believer for whom an idol is something, then if they eat meat which has been offered to it, their conscience has been defiled.

This is the real heart of the matter. Some of us know one thing about God or the Scriptures or the will of God or spiritual matters, and some of us know another thing. Knowledge puffs up. But love edifies, it builds others up. And love is the fulfillment of the Law (Gal 5:14). So if because of superior knowledge, a strong brother eats meat in front of a weak brother, the strong brother by virtue of his strength has encouraged the weak brother to follow his example. The weak are followers, we learned. That is why we do not put children in the care of the ungodly.

When the weak brother follows his example, he defiles his conscience, because he does not have the knowledge that the strong brother has. For him, he has just eaten meat that has been offered to an idol, so he has committed idolatry in his heart.

So even though the strong brother has not sinned in regard to the law of idolatry by eating meat, he has committed another sin almost as grievous, which is wounding the weak conscience of another. The righteousness of the former, of not committing idolatry, is then set next to the unrighteousness of the latter, which is to put a stumbling block in the way of the weak, which is forbidden in Torah because it hurts them, stemming from a lack of love for them (Lev 19:14).

If the weak brother is not eating meat because he loves God fervently and would not transgress the command concerning idolatry in any case, then his righteous deed has proved the greater, because he would not transgress love for the sake of knowledge. The strong brother, on the other hand, who eats meat in front of the weak, has transgressed love for the sake of knowledge. So even though the strong brother might have perfect knowledge of spiritual matters, and of the application of the Law in the life of the believer, he has fallen short of Torah, because he has not shown love.

When Paul says that food does not commend us to God, of course it does not. We have been cleansed and washed by the blood of Messiah Yeshua, whose righteousness does commend us to God! We are no better off if we do eat, or no worse off if we don't, in regard to being accepted before God. No work of the Law makes us righteous or grants us entrance into the presence of God. This is not different that anything we have already seen Paul say: by the work of the Law no one will be justified in His sight (Rom 3:20)!

However, this is not Paul saying that the dietary law has been abolished! The topic of this discussion has had nothing to do with the dietary law, or clean and unclean food. For we are better off if we do eat according to the dietary law, but not because following the Law commends us to God! It is because blessings follow obedience, and our physical health is protected when we obey God's instructions concerning what to eat and not eat.

1 corinthians 7

Read 1 Corinthians 7 at Bible Gateway.

“Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife. But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?” 1 Cor 7:10-16

The command of the Lord is clear, and this passage agrees with other passages of Scripture in which it is reiterated that a wife is not to depart from her husband, and a husband is not to divorce his wife. Jesus affirms this when He says that what God has joined together into one flesh, let not man - either the husband or the wife - separate (Mat 19:4-6). And just to make a sure thing more certain, God declares that He hates divorce, and that to Him it is like covering your garment with violence (Mal 2:16). I am not sure what covering your garment with violence means; probably it is a Hebrew idiom, but that it is a bad thing comes through the translation.

The very first information YHVH gives us about marriage, is in Gen 2:24: the man leaves his parents, and he cleaves to his wife. “Cleave” is the Hebrew word Strong's H1692, qbd, dabaq. The lexicons say it means to adhere firmly as if glued. The ancient pictographs are of the door, the house, and the sun on the horizon. So the mountain top meaning of the word from the ancient Hebrew is to enter the house at sunset. In other words, when the husband's day of working in the fields is done, he goes home to his wife. He doesn't make himself unavailable to his wife by working till midnight every night as a workaholic, or going out with the guys, or finding other things to occupy his time (which equals his heart) in other places. He enters the door of his house (where his wife is) at sunset, at the end of every day. For fifty or more years, day in and day out!

The next information YHVH gives us about marriage, is that the man and his wife become one flesh. The Hebrew word for “one” is Strong's H259, dja, echad. The ancient pictographs are of the ox, the fence, and the door; the mountain top meaning from the ancient Hebrew is to strongly fence the door. When a man and his wife are one, when they are united; the door is strongly fenced so that exiting (either the house or the relationship) is not an option!

Being flawed humans, the first thing we do when faced with this scenario of unity with one person for life, no outs; is look for loopholes. :) The first loophole is that the husband takes a wife, and once they become one flesh, he discovers that there is uncleanness in her (Deu 24:1). What does that mean? Jesus tells us in His response to the Pharisees when they ask about this question. If she has been immoral, and has not kept herself for her husband alone, but gives herself to another, then it is permitted the husband to divorce his wife (Mat 19:3-9). But, Jesus tells us, this is because of the hardness of the husband's heart, for from the beginning the man and his wife were united - there was no exiting the strongly fenced door!

The next loophole that comes up, stems from the command in Torah that God's people not intermarry with the people which are living around them, who are unbelievers, not partakers of the worship of YHVH and the covenant of promise (Deu 7:3). God makes no decree that His people cannot marry those who were Gentiles, but who have since joined themselves to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Look at the example of Rahab, a Canaanite woman (Jos 6, Mat 1:5), and Ruth, a Moabite woman (Ruth, Mat 1:5), both who joined themselves to YHVH and married Hebrew men, and became foremothers of Jesus the Messiah! But we are not to yoke ourselves to unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14), precisely because marriage is a permanent institution!

Now Israel fell into idolatry and paganism, and forgot God's word, and intermarried with the people around them. For forsaking their covenant, Israel was taken away captive by Assyria, and Judah by Babylon. But Judah repented, and experienced a spiritual renewal and return to YHVH and to their covenant, and God returned all those who would go, to the Promised Land. That is the situation we find in Ezra. In Ezra, when the children of Judah had returned to Israel, and had kept the Feast of Tabernacles, and Ezra read from the book of the Law, it was discovered that marrying with pagan women was prohibited. And so the men repented of taking pagan wives, and divorced them (Ezr 9-10).

The church at Corinth, reading this precedent, asked a question of Paul concerning mixed marriages. For when two people who are pagans marry, they are not transgressing the command to be not unequally yoked, for they are both unbelievers. But if one of them, the husband or the wife, afterward meets Yeshua and experiences a spiritual renewal, now the marriage becomes mixed. It did not begin that way, but one partner changed. So should the Corinthians, after the example of Ezra, divorce their unbelieving spouses?

Paul's answer to them, is no. The Lord's command is to be one flesh, and to not put asunder what YHVH has joined together. If the unbeliever is content to live with the believer, then live together. Remember that upon marriage, the two become one, echad? So now they are no longer two, but one, Jesus said (Mat 19:6). In other words, the family as a unit (echad) becomes the lowest denomination that God saves (Exo 12:1-7, Act 16:31). This is why even though one spouse is unbelieving, the believing spouse sanctifies the unbelieving, and their home and children. And the implication is, that given enough time, the witness of the believing spouse will open the door for repentance and salvation in the unbelieving spouse (1 Cor 7:16, 1 Pet 3:1-2).

In the case of abuse, addictions, or adultery, Paul's advice is that if the woman leaves her husband, she is to remain unmarried or to reconcile with her husband. Dr. Phil this is not, but the unerring and enduring Word of God!

Beloved, this is the Lord's heart concerning marriage: to extend grace to our partners, and forgiveness, and love, and when we are tempted to focus on the speck in their eye, focus on the plank in our own instead (Mat 7:3-5), and with patience do good, and pray for them, and wait for them to come to salvation. Serve their needs instead of our own. It is not written in the Scriptures that we are on this earth in order to be served, and that we are entitled to a comfortable life without hardship (Mat 20:28, Heb 11:32-40), but rather we are on this earth to witness of Him to the lost and unbelieving (Act 1:8)!

So many divorces take place within the body of Messiah because people are unwilling to be patient, endure self- sacrifice, and wait for the promise of the Lord's salvation to come to pass! Let it not be so among us!