the Gentile

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands – remember that you were at that time separated from haMashiach (the Messiah), alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without YaHoVeH in the world. But now in Yeshua haMashiach you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Yeshua haMashiach.” Ephesians 2:11-14 “Truly YaHoVeH is good to Israel, to those who are of a pure heart.” Psalm 73:1 After the article the Blood (click on highlighted words to view content), several have written asking the same question – “Who is Israel today?” As that article stated and the passage from Ephesians above confirms, the purpose of the shedding of the pure blood of Yeshua was for the restoration of echad (Hebrew for “one”) to the Kingdom of YaHoVeH as it was in the beginning with the first Hebrew Adam. Before answering that question specifically, however, we need to be sure our terminology is in alignment with the words and life of Yeshua Who is the benchmark by which everything is measured – including other scripture (Revelation 19:10b). In the article, the Beatitudes, we found that the words Yeshua spoke were not something “new”, that is, unique just to His message; but, rather, all of His Words can be referenced back to the Words of YaHoVeH in the Tanakh (the OT, John 14:24). Since words mean things, if we simply look to what the words of scripture say and mean without overlaying any preconceived traditional theology upon them, those words make clear the question of who comprises the family of YaHoVeH, the Kingdom of Israel. As we see from Psalm 73:1 above, YaHoVeH considers Israel to be those who maintain a pure or cleansed heart before Him. 1Peter 1:22 tells us HOW our lives are cleansed and made pure – by obedience to the Truth. That Truth is found in the standard set by the Words of the Father of the family of the Kingdom Who IS Spirit (John 4:24, see Who’s Word Is It?). When we remember that all of the books of the Book were written by Hebrews and were primarily addressing Hebrews; from a strictly Hebraic perspective, we find there are only two categories of people contained in scripture – Hebrews and others. These others are called Gentiles – those who worship gods other than the Holy One of Israel. The term “Gentile believer” is oxymoronic and does not exist in a Hebraic world view. When a Gentile or foreigner (someone from outside the family, from another nation) becomes adopted into YaHoVeH’s Hebrew family of Israel by observance of the standards set by the Father, it has always been the case that he is to be treated no differently from those naturally born into the family (Leviticus 19:34). So, when a Gentile abandons the multiple gods of any society and “comes to faith” in YaHoVeH, the One True God of Israel, he is considered a Hebrew convert. This was the same Father the Hebrew Yeshua addressed in His Words and Life. This is the same Name that appears over 6500 times in the Hebrew scriptures but not once has the Name of YaHoVeH found its way into our modern English translations. Why is that? – because it has been replaced by the words “God” or “Lord”. So, every time these words appear in scripture, our mind should be seeing His Name – YaHoVeH, or the shortened version, YaHoVeH (see One Name for more evidence). Just as we have previously seen heaven to be – the Israel spoken of in scripture is not a place on a map but a state of being of those within YaHoVeH’s Kingdom who manifest His Nature.

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Paths of Old – Ancient Paths

Jeremiah 6:16; 18:15; Acts 15:21

“Thus said יהוה (Yahweh), “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and find rest for yourselves….” (Jeremiah 6:16)

“But My people have forgotten Me, they have burned incense to what is false, and they have stumbled from their ways, from the ancient paths, to walk in bypaths and not on a highway.” (Jeremiah 18:15)

Regular public reading of the Torah was introduced by Ezra the Scribe after the return of the Jewish people from their Babylonian captivity (c. 537 BCE), as described in the Book of Nehemiah 8. In the modern era, adherents of Orthodox Judaism practice Torah reading according to a set procedure they believe has remained unchanged in the two thousand years since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (70 CE).

“For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the congregations every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21)

Bible readings for July 16, 2022. In the 7th solar month of the Hebrew 4th month of Tammuz (June/July).

Pinchas
פִּינְחָס
Phineas

If you are interested in downloading the annual Torah reading schedule with projected new moon sightings, Feast Days, click HERE.

Three Year Bible Reading Schedule

Genesis to Revelation

Genesis 1:1-31 | Joshua 1:1—2:24 | Psalm 1:1-6 | Isaiah 1:1-31 | Matthew 1:1—2:23

If you are interested in downloading the complete 3 year Bible reading schedule, click HERE. You can break up your Bible reading into 5 days of your choosing or combine the above readings of your choice.