Tag: Apostles

Yeshua Instructs His Emissaries on Their Mission ~ Part 4

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Christian Torah1 Comment

To Be Like Yeshua Means – To Affirm Others

Fair warning:  This post is a little longer than normal ~click here for PDF version.

In my last post, Yeshua warned His emissaries that they would be persecuted.  If we want to be like Him, we have to share the joy and risks of working together.  In this post, we will conclude our mini-series on affirming others.

“A talmid is not greater than His rabbi, a slave is not greater than His master.  It is enough for a talmid that he become like His rabbi, and a slave like His master. Now if people have called the head of the house Ba‘al-Zibbul, how much more will they malign the members of His household! So do not fear them; for there is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be known.  What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.  Do not fear those who kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul. Rather, fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Gei-Hinnom.  Aren’t sparrows sold for next to nothing, two for an assarion [penny]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s consent.  As for you, every hair on your head has been counted.  So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.  Whoever acknowledges me in the presence of others I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my Father in heaven.  Don’t suppose that I have come to bring peace to the Land. It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword!  For I have come to set a man against His father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, so that a man’s enemies will be the members of His own household.  Whoever loves His father or mother more than he loves me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves His son or daughter more than he loves me is not worthy of me.  And anyone who does not take up His execution-stake and follow me is not worthy of me.  Whoever finds His own life will lose it, but the person who loses His life for my sake will find it.  Whoever receives you is receiving me, and whoever receives me is receiving the One who sent me.  Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive the reward a prophet gets, and anyone who receives a tzaddik because he is a tzaddik will receive the reward a tzaddik gets.  Indeed, if someone gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my talmid — yes! — I tell you, he will certainly not lose His reward!” ~ Matthew 10:24-42

Yeshua used a common proverb stated two ways (talmid and rabbi; slave and master) to show that both must share the same experiences.  A talmid or slave is not greater than the rabbi or master.  In Judaism, a talmid shared the daily experiences of His rabbi; in pagan cultures, a slave fought beside His master.  Both receive the same treatment.  Yeshua used a play on words by saying if people have called the head of the house Ba‘al-Zibbul because “Ba‘al-Zibbul” meant “lord of the dwelling.” Ba‘al-Zibbul was the god of Ekron (2 Kings 1:2-3, 6, 16).  The word has two parts: “Ba’al” which was the name for local Kena’ani fertility gods in the Tanakh, and “Zibbul” which means “exalted dwelling.”  This became a name for Satan himself, prince of the demons.  The P’rushim did this very act, accusing Yeshua of using Ba‘al-Zibbul’s power to drive out demons (see Matthew 12:24).  If Yeshua, who is perfect, was called evil, how much more will they malign the members of His household!   Yeshua’s followers should expect that they would face similar accusations.  God promises to vindicate those who stand firm (10:22). Continue reading “Yeshua Instructs His Emissaries on Their Mission ~ Part 4” →

Yeshua Instructs His Emissaries on Their Mission ~ Part 3

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Christian Torah1 Comment
To Be Like Yeshua Means – To Affirm Others

In my last post, we looked at Yeshua’s instructions on where the emissaries would stay, as well as other practical tips for their training mission.  In this post, we continue to explore Yeshua’s instructions to the emissaries from Mathew 10.

Yeshua invested Himself in the development of others, particularly the Twelve.  He gave them responsibility and authority, resisting the temptation to get the job done right by doing it Himself.  Of course, He gave them adequate preparation before sending them out, and on their return He affirmed them on their successful completion of the mission.  Yeshua calls us to help other grow.  If we want to be like Him, we will share the joy and risks of working together with our brothers and sisters.

“Be on guard, for there will be people who will hand you over to the local Sanhedrins and flog you in their synagogues.  On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as a testimony to them and to the Goyim.  But when they bring you to trial, do not worry about what to say or how to say it; when the time comes, you will be given what you should say.  For it will not be just you speaking, but the Spirit of your heavenly Father speaking through you.  A brother will betray his brother to death, and a father his child; children will turn against their parents and have them put to death.  Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm.  When you are persecuted in one town, run away to another. Yes indeed; I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Isra’el before the Son of Man comes.” ~ Matthew 10:17-23 Continue reading “Yeshua Instructs His Emissaries on Their Mission ~ Part 3” →

Yeshua Commissions 12 of His Talmidim to Be His Emissaries

On By Donald N. NorrisIn Christian Torah5 Comments
To Be Like Yeshua Means – To Affirm Others

0In my last post, we finished our series entitled “To Be Like Yeshua Means ~ To Serve Others.”  In this new series, we will begin to explore the concept to be like Yeshua means to affirm others by examining Yeshua’s instructions to his talmidim found in Chapter 10.   However, before we begin, let me set the context and the stage by quoting the last few verses of Matthew 9, beginning at verse 35.

“Yeshua went about all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and weakness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his talmidim, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few.   Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers to gather in his harvest.” ~ Matthew 9: 35-38

In reading this passage, I couldn’t help but think of the ministry of Rabbi Sha’ul as he conducted his itinerant ministry after his conversion. Continue reading “Yeshua Commissions 12 of His Talmidim to Be His Emissaries” →