Hebraic Musing – How do you define “Evil”?

The word “Evil” appears 569 times in the KJV Bible, what might it mean?  Where does it come from?  What causes it?  We are familiar with the challenging verse “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...” Romans 3:23 NKJV  Free will and personal choice direct our steps to heaven or hell and those steps are defined as good or evil. 

Where does that prevalent and pervasive evil come from?  Let’s start by defining what is evil.  The dictionary definition of evil –   a: morally reprehensible: sinful, wicked. an evil impulse. b: arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct.

Could evil be as simple as pernicious selfishness?  (Pernicious - having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way)   Or could evil come from our drive for immediate gratification, without regard for others?  Most people, including “Christians”, tend to worship their triune god – me, myself and I.

Does pride keep us from seeing the truth of our own nature?  Does pride blind us to our own pride?

Where & when does selfishness begin?  What’s one of the first words a baby learns and uses? 
      A – “Mine” as they grab the object.

Are pride, selfishness and arrogance the seeds that grow in us and produce an evil nature?  Yet we are told in Proverbs 8:13 that “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.”

Does the root and cause of evil come from our self-centeredness that tends to ignore consideration for others?  It is so easy to develop and rely on “tunnel vision” to focus on ourselves and not the other person(s).  If so, then complete evil is achieved when we have blind selfishness; with no recognition of the other(s).  And this might be at the root of egomaniacal desires to maim, kill or destroy in order to satisfy one’s own desire(s) at the expense of the desires, feelings, position or life of “others.”

How many “others” are there?  While preaching a message on our need to love “others”, I defined “others” as seven billion people.  My pastor immediately corrected me saying - “The number of ‘others’ is seven billion minus one.”

Profound questions:
 - Was evil created, or did we discover it within us as a consequence of our free will?
 - Didn’t our omniscient Creator God realize what would happen when He gave us the ability to choose?

Summary – The nature of evil is a twisted, myopic, childish, self-centered point of view. 
So, what is the opposite of evil?  Biblical answer – “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 NKJV

Points to Ponder

How to keep evil from creeping into our lives?

Why does the Bible have to keep telling us to “Love one another”?

Who should we put first?    Ourselves?   or   Others?

Why is it so hard to teach children (& adults) to share?

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34

 Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                          September 26, 2023 
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – Inspired & excerpted from “The Books of Enoch, The Angels, Watchers & Nephilim” by Joseph Lumpkin
   (Extensive commentary on Apocryphal books frequently mentioned, referenced & alluded to in our Bibles!)

Musing - What are the 613 Mitzvot…

 Hebraic Musing - What are the 613 Mitzvot…  (Hebraic Insight #16, April 2009, Updated)

…that our loving Father G-d gave us in the Torah?   Mitzvot (Commandments from the Torah) are at the heart of Chalachah (way of walking).  These are the unchangeable 613 Mitzvot that our loving G-d gave to us in the Torah.  The word "mitzvah" (plural: Mitzvot) means "commandment."

In its strictest sense, Mitzvot refers only to commandments instituted in the Torah; however, the word is commonly used in a more generic sense to include all of the laws, practices and customs of Chalachah, and is often used in an even more loose way to refer to any good deed. Because of this looser usage, sophisticated chalachic discussions need to be careful to make a distinction between Mitzvot "from the Torah" and Mitzvot "from the rabbis".

Some of the Mitzvot "from the Torah" are clear, for example – the 10 commandments and “you shall write words of Torah on the doorposts of your house”.  Others are more implicit, like reciting grace after meals.   And some can only be ascertained by deductive reasoning, like that a man shall not commit incest.   Some Mitzvot overlap, like, it is a positive commandment to rest on Shabbat and a negative commandment not to do work on Shabbat.

BTW, if 613 commandments in the Torah seems like a lot; there are 1050 commandments in the NT.  So much for OT being about ‘law’ and NT being about ‘grace’!  G-d does not change & has not changed!

Please note that we are not dealing with a salvation issue, but rather ‘how our Father G-d would like us to live, for our own benefit.  When G-d and/or our parents give us a command or ask us to do something, it is for our own good (Period).  He still wants us to listen and enjoy His Living Torah.  Listen to His advice and recognize that there are consequences to ignoring His advice.  “All these curses shall come upon you ... Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things....” Deut. 28:45&47 ESV

Which Mitzvot/Commandments apply today?   Directly?     Practically?   Symbolically? 
Note - There are certain types of Mitzvot that cannot be fulfilled today:

1. Involving the Temple – which was demolished in 70AD

2. Requiring Animal Sacrifices – which is outlawed and requires a temple and/or priesthood

3. Involving the roles of Levitical Priests and the Priesthood – lineage records were destroyed in the temple

4. The 66 “Cut-off” laws – which Yeshua came to fulfill with atonement

Let’s relate the 613 Mitzvot to the perspectives above.  If we study a listing or categorization of the 613 Mitzvot we can gain an understanding of which ones were fulfilled by Jesus and/or any circumstances such that they can no longer be obeyed.  And which ones are worthy of our paying more attention!  That categorized list is in the Addendum.   

Here is just a sample of relevant scripture references:
- “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you...” Lev.26:3
- “And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments,
            as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” 1 Kings3:14
- “And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.” Jer.7:23b
- “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love,
            just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” John 15:10

Points to Ponder

How did we learn to obey when “Daddy said so”?

Do we want to know what our Lord wants us to do for our own good?

Where can we find these 613 Mitzvot?   A – In the Torah in your Bible. (or see Note)

Just do what Daddy says. 

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     September 19, 2023 
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – A complete categorized & referenced list of the 613 Mitzvot is also available on request;
             or – https://www.jewfaq.org/613_commandments

Addendum - Categories of the 613 Mitzvot

Here is a categorization to help us better understand the nature of the 613 Mitzvot.   
(My thoughts re ‘applicability’ are added in black):      

Types of APPLICATIONS for the laws

a.       Temple                                    Not applicable, no temple – Are principles applicable(?)

b.      Moral Universal                      Applicable today - universal

c.       Universal but revised in NT    Applicable today – universal as revised

d.      Ancient                                   Let’s seek any applicability or lessons to learn

e.       Unclear                                    Let’s seek any applicability or lessons to learn

f.        Combination                           Let’s seek any applicability or lessons to learn

g.      No Application                                  

Mandatory Commandments – concerning:

h.      G-d     Dt.6:4 example Applicable today - universal

i.        Torah                                       Applicable today, except re Temple, priests or sacrifices

j.        Temple & Priests                    Cannot apply

k.      Sacrifices                                 Cannot apply (Except re ‘forgiveness to fellow man’ - Guilt or
                                                Trespass offerings “Asham” intentional [requiring Restitution +
                                                 20% to offended party – NOT A BLOOD Sacrifice—Raises
                                                question as to whether Christ’s blood atones for all our sins!?!?
                                                Interesting issue re role of ‘forgiveness’ so He can forgive us)

l.        Ritual Purity                            Applicable in principle – Keep clean/HOLY!

m.    Donations to the Temple         Applicable in principle – re tithes & offerings

n.      The Sabbatical Year               Should we be keeping G-d’s calendar or Rome’s pagan calendar?
                                                (the church has been duped into some ‘detestable’ practices)

o.      Animals for consumption       Applicable as a health advisory – McMillen’s “None of these Diseases”

p.      Festivals                                  Applicable - represents His teaching times and prescribed times of
                                                special symbolic fellowship. (Church duped into detestable’ practices?)

q.      Community                             Applicable today - universal

r.        Idolatry                                   Applicable in principle – Keep clean/HOLY!

s.       War                                         Applicable today - universal  

t.        Social                                      Applicable today - universal

u.      Family                                     Applicable today - universal

v.      Judicial  -  flogging, etc.         Applicable in principle

w.    Slaves                                      Applicable in principle

x.      Torts                                        Applicable in principle

Prohibitions – regarding:

y.      Idolatry & related practices    Applicable in principle – Keep clean/HOLY!

z.       Resulting of Historical Events Applicable in principle (we all have ‘history’)- i.e., returning to Egypt

aa.   Blasphemy                              Applicable today – universal (Generally re use of G-d’s holy name

bb.  Temple  - H2 enter, making oil  Cannot apply  (But are there principles to consider)

cc.   Sacrifices                                 Cannot apply (Except re ‘forgiveness to fellow man’ SEE ABOVE)

dd.  Priests                                      Cannot apply (But are there principles to consider, especially
                                                since Peter called us a Holy Priesthood)

ee.   Dietary                                                Applicable health advisory – “None of these Diseases” by McMillen

ff.     Nazirites                                  Applicable in principle

gg.  Agriculture                              Applicable today – universal – a sabbatical rest for fields (Farmers
                                                today learned benefits of crop rotation the hard way!)

hh.  Loans, business, treatment of slaves Applicable today - universal

ii.      Justice                                     Applicable today - universal

jj.      Incest & forbidden relationships        Applicable today - universal

kk.  The monarchy – Kings           Applicable in principle (Do governmental leaders today
                                                understood the source of their authority?)

Musing – Insight #1 – Tree of Life – January 9, 2009

 Hebraic Musing – Insight #1 – Tree of Life – January 9, 2009*

Revelation 22:1-2 has interesting and allegorical significance that requires some Hebrew insights to fully appreciate.  “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of G-d and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Rev.22:1-2 NIV

I have been viewing that last sentence in isolation, simply a tree in heaven that had leaves with healing power; and that the “Tree of Life Missions” team in their Honduras site, called “Plan Escalon”, had adopted that reference because of their vision – to Elevate and heal the nation of Honduras.

How can a tree be on 'each side of the river'?    Applying Hebraic thought and imagery to the combined verses (1 & 2) we have a picture of a Torah Scroll which every Jew in Jesus’ time would recognize.
                                                               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting with the Eitz Chayim (Trees of Life) which are the two fancy dowels on each side.  Opening the scroll reveals pages (referred to as Leaves) between the ‘trees’ upon which the Torah (Pentateuch in gr.) is written.  God’s written word on those pages is ‘truth’ which in Hebrew is symbolized by ‘water’ (the Hebrew letter Mem is a symbol of ‘water’ and represents ‘truth’).  From His throne room, God teaches ‘truths’ to His people and those ‘truths’ are words of ‘life’.  And if those words are accepted, applied and written on their hearts, then a nation will be healed – Israel and/or Honduras and/or your nation.    

Points to Ponder

You may want to read Rev.22:1-2 again in the light of these Hebraic Insights.

Can we fully appreciate the New Testament without knowing Hebraic symbolism?

Simchat Torah!!! (the JOY of the TORAH)

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     September 12, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com

*  This teaching/learning came to me in a January 2009 Torah Study while I was wearing my Honduras missionary shirt emblazoned with “Tree of Life Ministries” and with “Rev. 22:2” on the collar.  The shirt came from a mission in Honduras called “Tree of Life” or “Arbole de Vida” (in Español) where my son & family were ministering (for over 10 years) at a school called Plan Escalon (Plan to escalate/elevate the students and thereby the nation of Honduras). 

Musing – What to do if you have a dispute?

 Hebraic Musing – What to do if you have a dispute?

or, more important - How to discuss differences and avoid church splits?

Did you know that if you have two Rabbis, you will have three opinions?

Here is a quote that came out of a teaching from Acts 14 - “Christian disputes should lead to discussion, but discussion avails nothing if hearts are not first humbled before God."

Who of us has not heard of an ugly church split, or experienced one ourselves?  Or have you encountered someone disagreeing with their Pastor, Priest or Rabbi and storming out the door…?

Did they handle it in a biblical way?  Sometimes they even claim they did according to Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:15-17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’” NKJV   They may even say they went to the person, then brought a friend, then took it before the church, etc.  That's all good, BUT... their hearts must truly be humble for that to work! 

Paul and Barnabas had a challenging time in Lystra, Iconium, Derbe and Antioch, but succeeded in preaching the gospel according to Acts 14.  Then in Acts 15:1 a significant conflict began.  “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’” NKJV   The Jerusalem church seemed to be focused on the issue of circumcision, so Paul and Barnabas went back and "discussed" it with them (this being the first Jerusalem Council).  The Jerusalem council, led by Yaakov (a.k.a. James), Yeshua’s half-brother, consisted of Jews/Israelites who were rather passionate about their points of view, customs, backgrounds, and experience.  But eventually they were persuaded by the Ruach HaChodesh, a.k.a. Holy Spirit, to agree that the Gentiles could indeed be saved, AND that the Gentile converts do not need to follow some of the symbolic portions of the Mosaic law representing crucifixion of the flesh. 

Today’s churches and individuals squabble and split over silly things... yet the original church had a pretty big issue based on a 1,900-year-old Jewish ritual requiring circumcision (Gen.17:10) and yet they were able to come to an agreement.  (Read about the first Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.)  

How & why did they come to agreement?  Their hearts were humbled.

Points to Ponder

Why should I need a humbled heart if I know I am right?

Whatever happened to the loving art of listening?

BTW - You really don’t know if you are submitted to your Rabbi or Pastor until he says ‘No’.

Are we comfortable accepting practices of Christians from other denomination?

♫ Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord...and He will... ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     September 5, 2023 
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”   

Note – This musing is an updated version of “HM – If you have a dispute...” published Nov.28, 2011