contact us at: bethmelekh@gmail.com
בית מלך Beth Melekh
  • Home - דף בית
  • Soundbites with Yaakov
  • Yaakov's Commentary - פירוש יעקב
  • Yeshivah Videos - וִידֵאוֹ
  • This Week at Yeshivah
  • Faith Statement - הצהרת אמונה
  • Worship Songs
  • Yeshivah - ישיבה
  • Weekly Torah - פרשה התורה
  • Yaakov Ben Yehoshua a Concise Life Story
  • Yaakov's BOOKS ספרי שׂל יעקוב
  • Torah Kosher Foods - אוכל כשר
  • Festivals 5780 - 5781 - חגים
  • Affiliate - בית הכנסת שותפים
  • Counting the Omer - ספירת העומר
  • Eliyahu Chris Hennessy

Sefer Yochanan (Gospel According to John) Chapter 5 Pt.2 The Hour is Coming and Now is (John 5:25-47)

26/2/2020

 
With regard to a Hebrew (religious, cultural) interpretation of the Scriptures, those things that appear contradictory are in fact unbound eternal concepts being understood within the boundaries of time and space. 
​Introduction:
 
It’s important to remember that the following verses are pursuant to the beginning of Yeshua’s conversation with the Judean religious Jews of Jerusalem following the physical healing and spiritual wholeness of that certain man at the pool of Beit Chasda (House of practical love).
 
Therefore, it’s foolish to apply these words generally without first having understood that Yeshua is speaking them to those religious Jews from Jerusalem who were opposing Him based on their understanding of the Torah and extra Biblical religious law. Many of those opposing Him here later became His followers (John 11:45; 12:41; Acts 2). Once again, the anti-Semitic Sunday school refrain “I don’t wanna be a Pharisee…” comes under scrutiny when faced with the reality that Yeshua’s theology was most like that of the Pharisees and that He had come to save the lost sheep of the House of Israel (including the Pharisees). His love for His enemies, especially those among His own people is one of the character attributes that distinguishes Him as God with us.
 
25 “Amen[H] [G]Amen[H] [G] (B’emet[H], B’emet[H]), In truth, In truth, It’s certain, it’s certain, I say (Aniy omeir[H]) to you all (lachem[H] PL), an hour, a season, a particular time (hora[G], sha’ah[H]) is coming and now (nun[G], veatah hiy[H]) is, when the dead (nekros[G], ha-meitiym[H]) will hear, comprehend, receive, understand (akouo[G], yishmeu[H]) the voice, sound (ho-phone[G], et-kol[H]) of the Son of God (ho huios ho Theos[G], Ben Ha-Elohiym[H]), and those who hear, comprehend, receive, understand (akouo[G], ha-shomeiym[H]) they will live (zao[G], chayh yichyu[H]). 26 For just as the Father (ho Pater[G], la-Av[H]) has life, living (yesh chayiym[H], chaye[A]) in His substance  (baqnumeh[A]), even so He gave (didomi[G], natan[H]) to the Son (ho huios[G], la-Ben[H]) also to have life, living (zoe[G], chayiym[H]) in His substance  (baqnumeh[A]); 
 
 “Amen, Amen, I say to you all, an hour, a season, a particular time is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear they will live. 26 For just as the Father has life in His substance, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in His substance; 
 
Put concisely the theme of these verses is that of “realized eschatology”, the idea that God’s goals have already been accomplished in Yeshua outside of the limitations of time and space. However, this is an over simplification that needs to be examined more thoroughly. Suffice to say the conditions of the last days are already being realized at the time of Yeshua’s earthly ministry (first century CE).
 
“a particular time is coming and now is”
 
Just as it was true in the moment Yeshua spoke it, so it remains true today. The coming of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God is now and yet to come. Where the Spirit of the Father and the Son (Ruach Ha-Kodesh) has filled the believer and is at work in the life of that person, the Gospel and the Kingdom are manifest and present, having been seeded into time and space. The Gospel and the Kingdom therefore are a present deposit of eternity found within temporal creation, that await the bursting forth and renewal of creation when time is brought to a new beginning. Like a needle injecting the air outside a bubble into the bubble until the bubble explodes and the air inside becomes one with the air outside.
 
Yeshua is saying something like, “Even as you hear Me speaking the coming redemption you have hoped for is standing before you”.
 
“when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God”
 
The time when the “dead” will hear the voice of the Son is said to be both “coming” and “now”. Therefore, Yeshua is speaking of the present spiritually dead, and all those spiritually dead prior to His death and resurrection (who will hear the redemptive plan of God from the transcendent resurrected Messiah), and those who will be spiritually dead within time and space following His ascension to the Father after His resurrection. This cannot refer to those dead and departed in sheol at the time of Yeshua’s earthly ministry because they will rise either to life or to judgement at the final resurrection, depending on their acceptance or refusal of the Messiah (v.28).[The temporal resurrection which occurred at the time of Yeshua’s death and resurrection is an exception which acts as a sign of God pointing to the yet future and final resurrection and judgement (Matt. 27:51-53)].
 
We note that those who hear the Son’s voice in this verse will “live”. This is a reference to eternal life. This defines what hearing means, it is the Hebrew concept of “shema” hear, receive, and understand continually.
 
The previous verses (23-24) explain what is required in order to “hear” the voice/word/sound of the Son of God.
 
Put simply, the “dead” being referred to in this verse are those who are spiritually dead, including His hearers the religious Judean Jews of Jerusalem. Yeshua further adds to this an allusion to the coming and final resurrection of the physically dead (v.28). Thus He makes a clear distinction between the two.
 
For just as the Father has life in His substance, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in His substance; 
 
This is a statement of divinity. Yeshua has been given the life of the Father and the power to create life according to the Father. Thus, the Son’s Word transforms the sin affected creation into a new and renewed creation through the eternal blood of God shed on the cross as a vicarious sacrifice. The Godhead is not divided or separate as the sadly lacking theological term “trinity” infers, but is echad (a complex unity), the persons of the Godhead being distinct and One.
 
Eternal life is given of God to and through the Son. Therefore, our Salvation is manifest in the fullness of the Godhead.
 
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” -1 John 5:11 (ESV)
 
27 and He gave Him (The Son) authority (exousia[H]) to make, enact (poieo[H], ) judgment, sentencing (krisis[H]), because He is Son of Man (huios Anthropos[H], Ben Adam). 
 
and He gave Him (The Son) authority to make, enact judgment, sentencing, because He is Son of Man.
 
As stated in my commentary on John 5:1-24:
 
With regard to judgement God is no hypocrite, the Father Who is outside all things and in Whom all things exist does not pretend to be a human being or to have the frailty of a human being. However, the Son, the King Messiah (Dan. 7:13: Zohar in Gen. fol. 85. 4. Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 13. fol. 209. 4. Jarchi & Saadiah Gaon in Dan. vii. 13. & R. Jeshuah in Aben Ezra in ib.), God with us, experiences all things as we have and is therefore fully qualified in His own frailty to judge humanity (Phil. 2:5-7; Heb.4:15). Not that God the Father is unqualified, but that He perfects His qualification in the Son Who was crucified before the creation of the world in anticipation of humanity’s decision to sin. Therefore, God remains Judge in the sense that He gives judgement over to the Son in order that the Father might outwork His perfect justice.
 
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” -Hebrews 4:15 (NASB)
 
28 Do not marvel, wonder, be amazed (thaumazo[G], titmehu[H]) at this; for behold, pay attention, beware (kiy hineih[H]), an hour, a season, a particular time (hora[G], sha’ah[H]), is coming in which all who are in the tombs, graves (mnemeion[G], kever[H]) will hear, comprehend, receive, understand (akouo[G], yishmeu[H]) His voice, sound (phone[G], kolu[H]), 29 and will depart from (the tombs), come forth, burst, flow out, be spread abroad, rise (ekporeuomai[G]); those the good (ho agathos[G], ha-tov[H]) having done, made, constructed (poieo[G], oseiy[H]) to resurrection, standing upright, rising (anastasis[G], lakum[H]) of life, living (zoe[G], lachayiym[H]), those the evil (ho phaulos[G], ha-ra[H]) having performed, accomplished, exacted, required (prasso[G]) to resurrection, standing upright, rising (anastasis[G], lakum[H]) of judgment, sentencing, condemnation (krisis[G], ladiyn[H]).
 
Do not marvel, wonder, be amazed at this; for behold, pay attention, beware, an hour, a season, a particular time, is coming in which all who are in the tombs, graves will hear  His voice, sound, 29 and will depart from, come forth, burst, flow out, be spread abroad, rise; those, the good, having done, made, constructed to resurrection, standing upright, rising of life, those the evil having performed, accomplished, exacted, required to resurrection, standing upright, rising of judgment, sentencing, condemnation.
 
Notice that all rise together, the “Good” to a reward of life and the “Evil” to a judgement of condemnation. One resurrection, and one judgement distinguished by two outcomes over a period of time (season, hour) called “Ha Din” (The Judgement). The dead in Messiah will rise first in the order of resurrection (1 Thess. 4:16) but this does not negate the continuation of that singular resurrection event over a period of time. Like so many Hebraic Biblical concepts, the resurrection and judgement are seen here in a future prophetic view that employs a yet to be present continuous tense. This is consistent with the Revelation, which teaches a single multifaceted judgement (Rev. 20:4-6; 11-15). We note that based on the Greek protos the “First resurrection” of the book of Revelation is first in order (rank) and that the Hebrew concept of the number 1000 is figurative, referring to perpetuity and is both a literal term and an everlasting beginning. The text of Revelation 20:5 should be read as “But the remaining dead did not live again until the thousand years were filled up. This is the first in order of resurrection”.
 
“And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” -Daniel 12:2 (ESV)
 
With regard to a Hebrew (religious, cultural) interpretation of the Scriptures, those things that appear contradictory are in fact unbound eternal concepts being understood within the boundaries of time and space.
 
“those, the good, having done, made, constructed to resurrection, standing upright, rising of life, those the evil having performed, accomplished, exacted, required to resurrection, standing upright, rising of judgment, sentencing, condemnation.”
 
Note carefully that the Greek text does not place emphasis on the deeds of the person but on the nature that produces the person’s actions. The nature of those who rise is called “ho agathos” (those the good Heb. Ha-tov) and “ho phaulos” (those the evil Heb. Ha-ra): in both cases the nature of the person precedes their deeds. In other words, it is the person’s relationship status with God that determines their deeds and not the other way around. Many mistake this verse to infer that it is the actions of a person that determine their eternal fate, this is not the case. In the Greek the meaning is clear, it is the nature of the person (be it redeemed or unredeemed) that determines their eternal destiny and the actions that are born of the person’s nature testify to it (the nature), be it redeemed in Messiah or unredeemed through a refusal of Messiah.
 
The idea of a voice that raises the dead is common to the Zohar but is misunderstood to be the voice of the forerunner rather than the Messiah:
 
"there are three things which do not come into the world but "by voices"; there is the voice of a living creature, as it is written, (Gen 3:16), "in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children", and as it is written, (Gen 30:22), "and God hearkened to her"; and there is the voice of rains, as it is written, (1Kings 18:41), "for there is a voice of abundance of rain", and it is written, (Psalm 29:3), "the voice of the Lord is upon the waters"; and קול תהיית המתים, "there is the voice of the resurrection of the dead", as it is written, (Isaiah 40:3), "the voice of him that cries in the wilderness";'' - Zohar in Gen. fol. 70. 4.
 
30 “I can do, make, construct (poieo[G], la’asot[H]) nothing of Myself (emautou[G]) [Heb. Alt. lo uchal la’asot davar minafshiy], word, essence do I construct, make from My soul alone]. As I hear, understand, receive (akouo[G], shema[H]), I judge, decide, distinguish (krino[G], umishpatiy[H]); and My judgment, decision, sentence (krisis[G) is just, righteous (dikaios[G]], tzedek[H]), because I do not seek My own will (retzoniy[H]), but the will of the Father (ha-Av[H]) who sent (pempo[G], shelachaniy[H]) Me.
 
“I can do, make, construct nothing of Myself, word, essence do I construct, make from My soul alone. As I hear, understand, receive, I judge, decide, distinguish; and My judgment, decision, sentence is just, righteous, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of the Father who sent Me.
 
Although the Father has given authority for judgement to the Son, the Son cannot judge except by the will of the Father. Therefore, the Father and the Son are echad (a complex unity), unique and inseparable. This answers the question, “Why does the Tanakh (OT) say that God judges but the Brit HaChadashah (NT) says that all authority to judge is given to Yeshua?”
 
"there were three courts of judicature; one that sat at the gate of the mountain of the house; and one that sat at the gate of the court; and another that sat in the paved chamber: they go (first) to that which is at the gate of the mountain of the house, and say, so have I expounded, and so have the companions expounded; so have I taught, and so have the companions (or colleagues) taught: אם שמעו, ‘if they hear’” - Mishna. Sanhedrin, c. 10. sect. 2.
 
Maimonides explains it, “if they know the law, and hear, or understand the sense of the law; in such a case they declare what they know; if not, they go to them that are at the gate of the court, and say (as before).—And, "if they hear", they tell them; but if not, they go to the great sanhedrim in the paved chamber, from whence goes forth the law to all Israel.'' - Maimon. in ib.
 
The point being that Yeshua is challenging Israel’s judges at the place of highest authority and is identifying Himself fully submitted to God’s will, as Israel’s Judge.
 
31 “If I testify, give evidence, bear witness (martureo[G], mei’iyd[H]) about Myself, My testimony (marturia[G]) is not true, unconcealed, admissible, faithful, trustworthy (alethes[G], ne’emanah[H])32 There is another who testifies, bears witness, gives evidence (martureo[G]) of Me, and I know (eido[G], yadatiy[H]) that the testimony (marturia[G]), eiduto[H]) which He gives about Me is true, unconcealed, admissible (alethes[G]).
 
“If I testify, give evidence, bear witness about Myself, My testimony is not true, unconcealed, admissible, faithful, trustworthy 32 There is another who testifies, bears witness, gives evidence of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true unconcealed, admissible, faithful, trustworthy.
 
“If I  give evidence, My testimony is not admissible”
 
“My testimony is not true” This does not mean “untrue” as being contrary to the “truth” nor in relationship to secular legal proceedings but rather “true” in this case being synonymous with “admissible” in respect to Torah law. If Yeshua were to give testimony of Himself it would be quite literally true. Therefore, the meaning here denotes eligibility according to Torah law (of which He is the Author). The same Law that Yeshua’s audience demanded adherence to (albeit amended by the so called “Oral Law” and the commentary of their scribes and teachers etc.).
 
"for no man may give witness of himself" - Maimon. Issure Bia, c. 18. sect. 19.
 
“but no man is to be believed for himself: says R. Zechariah ben Hakatzah, by this habitation (swearing by the temple) her hand was not removed from my hand, from the time the Gentiles entered Jerusalem, till they went out: they replied to him, ‘no man bears witness of himself’.” - Misn. Cetubot, c. 2. sect. 9. T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 27. 2. Juchasin, fol. 56. 1.
 
Yeshua has just finished explaining that the Father has given Him authority to judge and that in fulfilling this role He will present the case for His Messiahship according to the Torah requirements.
 
In instances of judicial Torah law any capital case (which might result in the death of the accused), must be tried in the presence, or upon the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deut. 17:6; 19:15). Yeshua is being accused of a capital crime by these particular Judean religious Jews of Jerusalem. Therefore, sufficient witnesses are called upon.
 
Yeshua goes on to produce 5 witnesses that testify of His good character, identity and innocence:

  1. God (The Father) v. 32, 37
  2. Yochanan the Immerser v. 33
  3. The miraculous works of Yeshua (all observed by more than three witnesses) v. 36
  4. The Tanakh (OT), entire canon of Hebrew Scripture v. 39
  5. Moshe (Moses) v. 46
 
“There is another Who gives evidence of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is admissible, faithful, trustworthy.”
 
This “other” who testifies is not a reference to John the Immerser (Baptist), who is mentioned in the following verse because although John the Immerser has testified to the truth of Who Yeshua is, the testimony that Yeshua is speaking of as being valid and admissible is “not from man” (v.34). Therefore, the “other” (v.32) Who testifies of Yeshua is in fact God the Father.
 
33 You have sent (apostello[G], shelachtem[H]) to Yochanan[H] (YHVH is gracious, John the Baptist), and he has testified (martureo[G], hei’iyd[H]) to the truth (alethes[G], emet[H]). 34 But the testimony (marturia[G], eidot[H]) which I receive is not from man, human beings (mei’adam[H]), but I say these things so that you may be saved, preserved, rescued (sozo[G]).
 
You have sent to Yochanan and he has testified to the truth 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from human beings, but I say these things so that you may be saved.
 
It is important to remember that Yeshua is still speaking to the Judean religious Jews of Jerusalem and any other bystanders. He is saying these things that they (Judean religious Jews) “may be saved”. That is, He is pointing to the testimony of John the Immerser (Baptist) for their sake because they cannot comprehend the testimony of the Father at this point in time. This may infer that those listening were among the Perushiym (Pharisees) who had gone out to hear John the Immerser speak (John 1:19).
 
35 He was the lamp, light, flame (luchnos[G], ha-nir[H]) that was burning, igniting, consuming (kaio[G]) and was shining, shedding light (phaino[G]) and you were willing to rejoice (agalliao[G]) for a while, time, season (hora[G]) in his light (phos[G], leoro[H]).
 
He was the lamp that was igniting and was shedding light and you were willing to rejoice for a time in his light.
 
We note that this is an acknowledgement of the fact that some of the Judean religious Jews of Jerusalem had indeed rejoiced in the light of John the Immerser’s teaching, at least for a time.
 
To call a Jewish religious leader, sage, rabbi a “Light” or “Lamp” is familiar to the Jewish student of rabbinic and esoteric Jewish literature.
 
On a number of occasions the book of Zohar calls Rabbi. Simeon ben Yochai, בוצינא קדישא, "the holy light":
 
"R. Simeon, כבוצינא דשרגא דאדליק, is as "the lamp of light which burns above", and "burns" below; and by the light which burns below all the children of the world are enlightened: woe to the world, when the light below ascends to the light above.''- Zohar in Exod. fol. 79. 1.
 
Rabbi Abhu is called בוצינא דנהורא, "the lamp of light" - T. Bavli. Cetubot, fol. 17. 1. 
 
Of Shuah, Judah's father-in-law, that he was בוצינא דאתרא, "the light of the place" - Bereshit Rabba, sect. 85. fol. 74. 4. & Mattanot Cehunah in ib.
 
36 But the testimony (marturia[G], eidot[H]) which I have is greater (megas[G], gedolah[H]) than Yochanan[H] (YHVH is gracious, John the Baptist); for the works, actions, tasks (ergon[G], ha-ma’asiym[H]) which the Father (ho-Pater[G], ha-Av[H]) has given Me (natan liy[H]) to accomplish—the very works that I do, enact (poieo[G], oseh[H])—testify, bear witness, give evidence (martureo[G], meiydiym[H]) about Me, that the Father (ho-Pater[G], ha-Av[H]) has sent (apostello[G], shelachaniy[H]) Me.
 
But the testimony which I have is greater than Yochanan; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—give evidence about Me, that the Father has sent Me.
 
This profession is similar in theme to that concerning Abraham (John 8:48-58) and the Queen of the South (Luke 11:31; Matt. 12:42)
 
The works of the Father manifest in the Son are greater than all the testimony and works of fallen human beings. The works of God are both transcendent and physically present simultaneously. They are signs for the redemption of the people and at the same time evidence of the legitimacy of the Messiah. Proof that He is sent of the Father.
 
37 And the Father (Pater[G], ha-Av[H]) Who sent Me (shelachaniy[H]), He has testified (martureo[G], meiydiym[H]) of Me. You all have neither heard (akouo[G], shema’tem[H])  His voice, sound (phone[G], kolu[H]) at any time, ever (popote[G]) nor seen, looked upon, experienced, perceived, discerned, of (horao[G], reiytem[H]) His form, shape, appearance (eidos[G]). 38 You do not have His word, essence (logos[G], devaru[H], miltha[A]) abiding, remaining, staying in you (meno[G]), for you do not believe, have faith in, trust in (pisteuo[G], ma’amiyniym[H]) Him Whom He sent (apostello[G], lishlucho[H]).
 
And the Father Who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You all have neither heard His voice, sound at any time, ever nor have you seen, looked upon, experienced, perceived, discerned, of His form, shape, appearance 38 You do not have His word, essence abiding, remaining, staying in you, for you do not believe, have faith in, trust in Him Whom He sent.
 
The testimony of God the Father concerning the Son spans the entirety of the Tanakh (OT) from Genesis 3:15 through to Malachi 3:1.
 
“Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O [j]judges of the earth.
11 [k]Worship the Lord with [l]reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [
m]Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may [n]soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” -Psalm 2:10-12 (NASB)
 
“I will declare the decree of Adonai.
He said to me: “You are My Son--
today I have become Your Father.” -Psalm 2:7 (TLV)

 
“and behold, a bat kol voice from the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased.” -Matthew 3:17
 
“He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” -Matthew 17:5 (ESV)
 
“We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son.” -1 John 5:9 (NIV) 
 
“nor have you seen, looked upon, experienced, perceived, discerned, of His form, shape, appearance”
 
While it is true that Moses and Jacob among others saw manifestations of God and lived, none the less, no one has ever seen God in all the fullness of His glory except the Son.
 
“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” -John 3:13 (NASB)
 
“You do not have His word, essence abiding, remaining, staying in you, for you do not believe, have faith in, trust in Him Whom He sent.”
 
In one sense Yeshua is referring specifically to Himself as the “Davar (logos)” Word essence of God. His hearers do not yet have the Word of God living in them because they have not acknowledged the Word Himself, that is Yeshua, Who stands before them. This is pretext for what follows regarding the written word (Tanakh). The Judean religious Jews have the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings and yet do not recognize the Author (Yeshua, the Word essence of God).
 
“Him Whom He sent” is Yeshua.
 
39 You diligently search (ereunao[G], direshu[H]) the Scriptures, Writings (graphe[G], vaketaviym[H]) because you think (dokeo[G]) that in them you have life (zoe[G, chayeiy[H]) everlasting (aionios[G], olam[H]); it is these (ekeinos[G]) that testify bear witness, give evidence (martureo[G], hameiydiym[H]) about Me; 
 
You diligently search the Scriptures, Writings because you think that in them you have life everlasting; it is these that testify bear witness, give evidence about Me; 
 
“Scripture” (graphe[G], ketuviym[H]) refers to the Tanakh (OT) as a whole rather than the Ketuviym (poetry books) only. Therefore, the wealth of canonical Jewish literature of the first century CE is meant.
 
Yeshua does not deny that the Tanakh points to eternal life, rather He accuses His hearers of failing to listen to the Tanakh and instead making the text itself an object of worship. The text points to Yeshua as the Goal and Mediator through Whom God brings eternal life to human beings (Romans 10:4).
 
To this day many of our people misappropriate the Torah, continuing to misread and misuse it. The Zohar calls the Torah itself “eternal life” (Zohar in Gen. fol. 100. 3.).
 
However, the commentator Maimonides is correct in saying:
 
“he that begins to read in the book of the law is obliged to bless after this manner: blessed be he that has chosen us above all nations, and hath given us his law.--And he that finishes blesses after him in this manner: blessed is he who hath given us his law, the law of truth, and has planted "eternal life" in the midst of us.'' - Maimonides. in Misn. Megilla, c. 4. sect. 1.
 
After all, the seed of the Messiah is planted securely in the text of the Torah and is therefore awaiting the revelation of the Spirit of God at the appointed time when the fullness of the nations have come in (Romans 10:4; 11:23-27).
 
40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life, living (zoe[G], chayiym[H]). 41 I do not receive glory, renown, honour (doxa[G], kavod[H]) from men (anthropos[G], adam[H]); 
 
and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory, renown, honour from men;
 
The specific Judean religious Jews in question were unwilling at that time to come to Yeshua in order to receive life. Yeshua assured them that He did not require their approval or the approval of any human being in order to fulfil His purpose and carry out the works of God’s Kingdom. He need not receive glory from men because He knew that He shared in the glory of the Father before the creation of the world.
 
“Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world came to be.” -John 17:5 (TLV)
 
42 but I know (ginosko[G], yada’tiy[H]) you, that you do not have the benevolent love (agape[G], ahavat[H]) of the God (ho-Theos[G], Elohiym[H]) in yourselves. 43 I Behold, now, take note, beware (Hineih[H]) have come in the name (en ho onoma[G], be’sheim[H]) of My Father (Pater[G], Aviy[H]), and you do not receive (lambano[G], kibaltem[H]) Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive (lambano[G], tekabeilu[H]) him. 
 
but I know you, that you do not have the benevolent love of the God in yourselves. 43 I Behold, now, take note, beware have come in the name of My Father, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.
 
Yeshua knows the hearts of His accusers. He knows that they prefer to put their trust in men of their own sect and have deluded themselves through the pursuit of the theological ideas and rules of their priests, scholars, teachers, and rabbis. In this respect many in the believing community (Church) today are equally guilty. Knowing the text but misinterpreting it through a lack of knowledge of the Author.
 
Yeshua exposes the hypocrisy of His accusers by pointing out that they would rather follow a man who glorifies himself than a man who points others to the Father as He does.
 
44 How can you believe (pisteuo[G], leha’amiyn[H]), when you receive glory, honour, renown (doxa[G], kavod[H]) from one another and you do not seek the glory (doxa[G], ha-kavod[H]) that is from the One (monos[G], hayachiyd[H]) (Theos[G], ha-Elohiym[H]) God? 
 
How can you believe, when you receive glory, honour, renown from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one God?
 
Because his hearers were seeking honour and prestige among their fellow religious Jews in Jerusalem, they were unable to see what was right in front of them. It is common to human beings to be distracted by beautiful lies and self-deification, a form of gazing that it is extremely difficult to be loosed from.
 
45 Do not think (dokeo[G]) that I will accuse (kategoreo[G], eton[H]) you before the Father (ho-Pater[G], ha-Av[H]); the one who accuses (kategoreo[G], ha-toein[H]) you is Moshe[H] (drawn out, Moses), in whom you have set your hope (elpizo[G]). 
 
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moshe, in whom you have set your hope.
 
The ultimate irony in this situation is that the “hero” of these specific Judean’s and indeed of many Jews of Yeshua’s time, is Moses, the human recorder of the Words of Hashem (Yeshua). Moses who himself points to Yeshua as the “prophet like me” (Deut. 18:15). Therefore, it is Moses who is best qualified to accuse those Jews who deny Yeshua. (Keeping in mind that many Jews believed Yeshua, and that many of us are today returning to HaShem through our King Messiah Yeshua).
 
Our rabbis agree that the Messiah, when He comes, will rebuke the students of Israel’s sages:
 
"R. Zeira says, that R. Jeremiah bar Aba said, that in the generation in which the son of David shall come, there will be קטוגוריא בתלמידי חכמים, "accusations against the disciples of the wise men".'' - Talmud Bavli. Cetubot, fol. 112. 2.
 
46 For if you believed, trusted in, had faith in (pisteuo[G], ta’amiynu[H]) Moshe[H] (drawn out, Moses), you would believe, trust in, have faith in (pisteuo[G], ta’amiynu[H]) Me, for he wrote (grapho[G], katav[H]) about Me. 47 But if you do not believe, trust in, have faith in (pisteuo[G], ma’amiyniym[H]) his written words (gramma[G], lichtavayv[H]), how will you believe My spoken words (rhema[G], lidvaray[H])?”
 
For if you believed Moshe, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me. 47 But if you do not believe his written words, how will you believe My spoken words?”
 
The writings of Moses are widely believed to be prophetic of the Messiah by the vast majority of our rabbis and sages. We need only take God at His Word (Davar, Logos).
 
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
[
a]Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” -Genesis 49:10 (NASB)
 
“I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near;
A star shall come forth from Jacob,
A scepter shall rise from Israel,
And shall crush through the [
a]forehead of Moab,
And [b]tear down all the sons of [c]Sheth.” -Numbers 24:17 (NASB)
 
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your [a]countrymen, you shall listen to him. 16 This is according to all that you asked of the Lord your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, let me not see this great fire anymore, or I will die.’ 17 The Lord said to me, ‘They have [b]spoken well. 18 I will raise up a prophet from among their [c]countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” - Deuteronomy 18:15-18 (NASB)
 
Copyright 2020 Yaakov Brown
    Picture

     כתביו של יעקב
    Yaakov Brown

    Spiritual leader of Beth Melekh Community, Auckland, N.Z.

    Yaakov Brown BOOKS
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013

    Categories

    All
    2019
    5778
    666
    Aaron
    Abba
    Abimelech
    Able
    Abraham
    Abram
    A Child Is Born
    Acts
    Adam
    Adam And Eve
    Adonai Roi
    Adonai Tzevaot
    Adultery
    Adversity
    Affliction
    Ahaz
    Ahsur
    Al Chet
    Aleph
    Aliens
    Aliyah
    Aliyot
    Allah
    All Tribes
    Almah
    Altar
    Amalek
    Ancient Hebrew
    Andrew
    Angel Of The Lord
    Angels
    Annas
    Annul
    Anointed
    Anointing Oil
    Anti-Christmas
    Antonia
    Anxiety
    Approval
    Arabic
    Aramaic
    Ariel
    Ark
    Ashamnu
    Ashteret
    Ashterot
    Ashur
    Ask
    Ask The Rebbe
    Asneth
    Assyria
    Atonement
    Aviyad
    Avram
    Azariah
    Babel
    Babylon
    Baker
    Baladan
    Baptism
    Bavel
    Bedikat Chametz
    Beersheba
    Beersheva
    Beggar
    Begin Again
    Beginning
    Behjamin
    Beit Chasda
    Beit Tzaida
    Bel
    Belly
    Beloved
    Benjamin
    Bereishit
    Besorah
    Bethany
    Bethesda
    Bethlehem
    Beth Melekh
    Bethsaida
    Betrayal
    Betrothal
    Betulah
    Bilhah
    Birth
    Birthdays
    Birthright
    Blasphemy
    Blessing
    Blessing For The Season
    Blind
    Blood
    Boat
    Body
    Bondage
    Book Of Life
    Books
    Books Of Moses
    Booths
    Branch
    Branches
    Bread
    Bread From Heaven
    Bread Of Life
    Brit HaChadashah
    Brother
    Brothers
    Burden
    Caiaphas
    Cain
    Camping
    Cana
    Capernaum
    Capital Crime
    Capstone
    Carry
    Caught In Adultery
    Celebration
    Challah
    Challot
    Channukah
    Chanukah
    Chanukiyah
    Chanukkah
    Chasidiym
    Chatan Bereishit
    Chatan Torah
    Chavah
    Chesed
    Chief Priests
    Children
    Children Of Light
    Chosen
    Chosen One
    Christian
    Christmas
    Chuppah
    Circumcision
    City
    Civil New Year
    Clay
    Clean
    Cloud Of Witnesses
    Clouds
    Coal Fire
    Coals
    Cohen Hagadol
    Comfort
    Comforter
    Command
    Commandments
    Compass
    Confusion
    Construct
    Contemplative Worship
    Context
    Contextual Fallacy
    Cornerstone
    Corner Stone
    Cosplay
    Courage
    Court Of Women
    Covenant
    Covenants
    Creation
    Creator
    Crescent
    Cross
    Crown Of Thorns
    Crucifixion
    Crushed
    Crying
    Cults
    Culture
    Cup
    Cupbearer
    Curse
    Cyrus
    Darkness
    Daughters Of Men
    Daughters Of Zion
    Davar
    David
    Day
    Day Of Atonement
    Day Of Coverings
    Day Of Soundings
    Death
    Dedication
    Deliver
    Demons
    Depression
    Desert
    Desolate
    Deuteronomy
    Devar
    Difficult
    Dinah
    Dionysus
    Dipped
    Disciple
    Disciples
    Discipline
    Disembodied Spirits
    Disputes
    Distinction
    Diversity
    Doctrine
    Dominion
    Dragon
    Dreams
    Drink
    Drunk
    Eat
    Echad
    Edom
    Egypt
    Eighth Day
    Elazar
    El Gibor
    Elieizer
    Eliphaz
    Elohim
    Elohiym
    Emmanuel
    Emotion
    Empirical
    Emunah
    Endor
    End Times
    Enemies
    Envoys
    Ephraim
    Error
    Esau
    Escaping Goat
    Eschatology
    Esther
    Eternal Life
    Eternal Priesthood
    Eternal Punishment
    Eternal Security
    Ethnic
    Etrog
    Eunuchs
    Eve
    Even
    Even Ha Shetiyah
    Everlasting
    Everlasting Father
    Evidence
    Evil
    Exodus
    Eye
    Eyes
    Faith
    Faithfulness
    False Gods
    Family
    Famine
    Farmer
    Fasting
    Father
    Fear
    Fear Not
    Fear Of Death
    Feast Of Trumpets
    Feet
    Fence
    Festival
    Festival Of Shelters
    Festival Of Tabernacles
    Festivals
    Filthy Rags
    Fire
    First Century
    First Century CE
    Fish
    Fishes
    Flagrum
    Flesh
    Foreigners
    Forsaken
    Foundation Stone
    Free
    Freeborn
    Freedom
    Free From Fear
    Freewill
    Fullness
    Gabbatha
    Galilee
    Galilee Of The Nations
    Gates
    Gathered
    Gat Sheminim
    G-d With Us
    Genealogy
    Generations
    Genesis
    Gentile
    Gethsemane
    Ghosts
    Gift
    Giving
    Glory
    Goal
    Goal Of Torah
    God
    Godhead
    Gods
    God With Us
    Golgotha
    Gomer
    Good
    Good News
    Goshem
    Goshen
    Gospel
    Gospel According To John
    Gospel Of John
    Government
    Goy
    Goyim
    Grain
    Grapes
    Grave
    Greek
    Groom
    Ha Akedah
    Ha Akeidah
    Haaretz
    Ha Aretz
    Ha Beit
    Ha Besorah Al Piy Yochanan
    HaBrit HaChadashah
    Ha Davar
    Ha Devar Emet
    Ha Din
    Ha-D'var Emet
    Haf Tarah
    Hagar
    Hail
    Ha Kotel
    Halakhah
    Haman
    Hannukah
    Haran
    Har Beit
    Harvest
    HaShem
    Hassidim
    Healing
    Heaven
    Heavens
    Hebrew
    Hebrews
    Hebron
    Hermon
    Herod Antipas
    Hezekiah
    Hidden Meaning
    Hidden Messiah
    High Holy Days
    High Priest
    High Shabbat
    Historical
    History
    Holy
    Holy Of Holies
    Holy One Of Israel
    Holy Spirit
    Homosexuality
    Horus
    Hosea
    Hosheia
    House
    House Of Prayer
    Humanity
    Humility
    Husband
    Hyper-grace
    I AM
    Identity
    Idolatry
    Idols
    Images
    Imannuel
    Imanuel
    Imanu El
    Immanuel
    Immature
    Immersion
    Inerpretation
    Instruction
    Isaac
    Isaiah
    Isaiah 10
    Isaiah 12
    Isaiah 14
    Isaiah 30
    Isaiah 38
    Isaiah 47
    Isaiah 8
    Isaiah 9
    Ishmael
    Islands
    Israe
    Israel
    Israelite
    Israelites
    Jabok
    Jacob
    Jacob's Ladder
    Jacob's Well
    Jeremiah
    Jerusalem
    Jesse
    Jesus
    Jew
    Jewish
    Jewish Wedding
    Jews
    Jezreel
    John
    John 1
    John's Gospel
    Jonah
    Jordan
    Joseph
    Joseph Of Arimathea
    Josephus
    Jotham
    Judah
    Judaism
    Judas
    Judea
    Judean
    Judeans
    Judge
    Judgement
    Judges
    Justice
    Kadesh
    Kadosh
    Kashrut
    Keeping The Sabbath
    Kefa
    Kerosh
    Ketonet
    Keturah
    K'fa
    K'far Nachum
    Kfar Nachum
    Kinetic Worship
    King
    King David
    Kingdom
    King Messiah
    King Of Glory
    King Of The Jews
    Kinneret
    Kinsman Redeemer
    Kiriat Arba
    Kislev
    Know
    Kohen HaGadol
    Kol Nidrey
    Koresh
    Kosher
    Kosmos
    Laban
    Lake
    Lamb
    Lame
    Land Of Israel
    Last Days
    Law
    Lazarus
    Leah
    Levi
    Leviathan
    Levites
    Levitical
    Levitical Priesthood
    Leviticus
    Life
    Life In The Blood
    Lifted Up
    Light
    Light Of The World
    Light To The Nations
    Lion
    Lion Of God
    Lion Of Judah
    Lions' Gate
    Live
    Living
    Living Water
    Living Waters
    Loaves
    Locusts
    Logos
    Lord
    Lost Tribes Myth
    Lot
    Love
    Love One Another
    Love Your Neighbour
    Lulav
    Maccabees
    Machpelah
    Magen David
    Malchus
    Man
    Manasseh
    Mangal
    Manna
    Mansions
    Marduk
    Mark Of The Beast
    Marriage
    Marta
    Martha
    Mary
    Mashal
    Mashalim
    Mashiach
    Mashiyach
    Mashiyach Neshlach
    Mashlim
    Matriarchs
    Matzah
    Matzot
    Mayim Chayim
    Meaning In Names
    Medium
    Meggilat
    Megiddo
    Megillah Ruth
    Melki Tzedek
    Memra
    Menachiym
    Mene
    Menorah
    Menstrual Cloth
    Meradoch
    Mercy
    Merodach-Baladan
    Messenger
    Messengers
    Messiah
    Messianic
    Messianic Age
    Messianic Gentiles
    Messianic Judaism
    Messianic Judaism 101
    Mighty God
    Mikdash
    Mikvah
    Mikveh
    Millennium
    Miltha
    Miracle
    Miracles
    Miriam
    Miriyam
    Mishnah
    Missing The Mark
    Mithra
    Mitzvah
    Mitzvot
    Moadim
    Molech
    Moloch
    Moral Law
    Mordechai
    Moriah
    Mosaic Penmanship
    Moses
    Moshe
    Mountain House
    Mountain Of HaShem
    Mount Zion
    Mourning
    Mt Gerizim
    Mt Moriah
    Mt Seir
    Mt Sinai
    Mud
    Murder
    Na'arah
    Nablus
    Nahor
    Nakdimon
    Nakdiymon Ben Gorion
    Names
    Naphtali
    Naqdimon
    Nation
    Nations
    Nativity
    Nebo
    Nefesh
    Negev
    Nephilim
    New Beginning
    New Commandment
    New Earth
    New Heavens
    New Jerusalem
    New Land
    New Testament
    New Year
    Nicodemus
    Night
    Nikodemos
    Nisan
    Noah
    No Fear
    Northern Kingdom
    Not Of This World
    Oaths
    Oath Taking
    Officer Of The King
    Oil
    Olam Haba
    Olam Hazeh
    Olive Press
    Olives
    One
    Pagan
    Paid Servant
    Paleo Hebrew
    Parables
    Pardes
    Parousia
    Passover
    Patriarchs
    Paul
    Paul The Apostle
    Pele Yoeitz
    Pentecost
    People
    Peoples
    Perez
    Perushim
    Pesach
    Peter
    Pharaoh
    Pharisees
    Philip
    Philistia
    Pictographic Hebrew
    Pilate
    Plagues
    Pool
    Pool Of Siloam
    Potiphar
    Potiphera
    Potter
    Powerpoint
    Practice
    Praetorium
    Prayer
    Prayer Shawl
    Pre-Trial
    Priest
    Priesthood
    Priestly Under Garment
    Prince Of Peace
    Princes
    Promised Land
    Promised Messiah
    Promises
    Prophecy
    Prophet
    Prophets
    Prosper
    Protection
    Proverbs
    Provide
    Prune
    P'rushiym
    Psalm
    Psalmist
    Purim
    Purple
    Questions
    Rabbi
    Rabbinical
    Rabbis
    Rabboniy
    Rachel
    Rainbow
    Ram
    Ram's Horn
    Rape
    Rapture
    Rashi
    Rav Shakeih
    Rav Shaul
    Reason
    Rebecca
    Rebeeca
    Redeemed
    Redeemer
    Redemption
    Red Sea
    Refute
    Regalim
    Rejoicing
    Rejoicing In The Torah
    Religious
    Religious Leaders
    Remnant
    Rend
    Repairing The World
    Ressurection
    Rest
    Resurrection
    Return
    Returning
    Reuben
    Revelation
    Righteousness
    Rites
    Ritual Purity
    Ritual Washing
    Rivkah
    Robe
    Rod
    Roman
    Romans
    Romans 14
    Rome
    Room
    Rooster
    Root
    Rosh Hashanah
    Ruach
    Ruach HaKodesh
    Ruach Ha-Kodesh
    Rule
    Ruth
    Sabbath
    Sacrifice
    Sadducees
    Sages
    Salem
    Salim
    Salvation
    Samaritan
    Samaritan Woman
    Sanctify
    Sanhedrin
    Sarah
    Sarai
    Sar Shalom
    Satan
    Saturday
    Saturnalia
    Saul & The Witch
    Saved
    Savior
    Saviour
    Scapegoat
    Scourge
    Scribes
    Scripture
    Scroll
    Seamless
    Second
    Second Coming
    Sect
    See
    Selichah
    Selichot
    Sennachereb
    Sennacherib
    Sent
    Sepulchre
    Seraphim
    Serpent
    Serpents
    Servant
    Servants
    Service
    Servitude
    Session
    Set You Free
    Sexual Sin
    Shabbat
    Shabbat Bread
    Shabbats
    Shaliach
    Shamash
    Shavuot
    Shechem
    Sheep
    Sheep Gate
    Sheep & Goats
    Shelters
    Shem
    Shemini Atzeret
    Shemot
    Shepherd
    Shiloach
    Shiloh
    Shimon
    Shimon Kefa
    Shivah
    Shmini Atzeret
    Shofar
    Shofrot
    Shomeir Shabbat
    Shomron
    Shomroniym
    Shomroniyt
    Shoot
    Shuvah
    Sickness
    Sight
    Sign
    Signs
    Silent
    Siloam
    Simchat Torah
    Simeon
    Simon Peter
    Sin
    Sinai
    Sisters
    Sitting Shivah
    Sixth Day
    Slave
    Slavery
    Slave To Sin
    Smoke And Fire
    Snake
    Sodom
    Sol Invictus
    Solomons Colonnade
    Solomons Porch
    Son
    Song Of The Lamb
    Sons Of God
    Sorceress
    Soul
    Speckled
    Spirit
    Spotted
    Star Of David
    Steps
    Stock
    Stomach
    Stone
    Story In Genealogy
    Streaked
    Streaming
    Strength
    Stump
    Substitution
    Success
    Sukkah
    Sukkot
    Sunday
    Superstition
    Swear
    Sychar
    Synagogue
    Tables
    Taken Away
    Tallit
    Talmidim
    Talmud
    Tamar
    Tammuz
    Tanakh
    Targum
    Tav
    Tear
    Teffilot
    Tefillah
    Tefillin
    Tehilim
    Temple
    Temple Mount
    Temple Rites
    Teshuva
    Testimony
    Tevilah
    That Day
    The Beast
    The Binding Of Isaac
    The Branch
    The Bride
    The Day
    The Exodus
    The Fall
    The Festival
    The Good Samaritan
    The Hebrew Text
    The Holy Name
    The Lamb
    The Land
    The Land Of Israel
    Theology
    The Pavement
    The Seventh Shofar
    The Third Temple
    The Two Olive Trees
    The Word
    Thirst
    Thomas
    Throne
    Tikun Olam
    Tishrei
    Tishri
    Tithing
    Toledot
    T'oma
    Tomb
    Torah
    Tower Of Babel
    Town Of David
    Tradition
    Transgression
    Translation
    Treasury
    Trial
    Tribe
    Tribes
    Trust
    Truth
    Turning
    Twins
    Tzemakh David
    Tzemakh Hashem
    Tzitzit
    Tziyon
    Uncreated
    Under Garment
    Unity
    Unleavened Bread
    Unquenchable Fire
    Uriah
    Uzziah
    Vayikra
    Vengeance
    Vicarious
    Village
    Vine
    Vinedresser
    Vineyard
    Violation
    Virgin Birth
    Voice
    Voice Of Annulment
    Voices
    Vow
    Vows
    Wait
    Waiting
    Walls
    Warning
    Washing
    Washing Feet
    Watchers
    Watchmen
    Water
    Water Of Life
    Water Ritual
    Waters
    Wave Offering
    Way
    Weak
    Weapon
    Wedding
    Well
    Wells
    Western Wall
    Whip
    Wine
    Wine Press
    Witchcraft
    Witness
    Woman
    Woman At The Well
    Wonderful Counsellor
    Word
    Work
    World
    World To Come
    Wrath
    Wrestles
    Write
    Xmas
    Yaakov
    Yaakov Ben Yehoshua
    Yaakov Brown
    Yahashua
    Yahshua
    Yam
    Yarden
    Yehoshua
    Yehudah
    Yehudi
    Yehudiym
    Yeshayah
    Yeshayahu
    Yeshivah
    Yeshua
    Yeshua In The Feasts
    Yeshua's Birth
    YHVH
    Yishaiyahu
    Yishay
    Yishayahu
    Yisrael
    Yizreel
    Yochanan
    Yom Ha Teruah
    Yom Ha-Zikharon
    Yom Kippur
    Yom Shishi
    Yom Teruah
    Yom T'ruah
    Yoseph
    Yoseph Ben Gorion
    Zebulun
    Ziggurat
    Zion

    RSS Feed

May the present peace of Messiah Yeshua reconcile you to the eternal rest of HaShem!


Meeting times

Friday evening: 6:30pm - 10pm

Telephone

64 212709933

Email

bethmelekh@gmail.com