Musing – Were the Pharisees Good Guys or Bad Guys?

 Hebraic Musing – Were the Pharisees Good Guys or Bad Guys?

Many Bible readers do not fully understand the Pharisees because they don’t know the teachings of the Torah well enough to understand the accusations of the Pharisees.  On many occasions Jesus had to correct them based on the Torah which He observed.  And Jesus never violated the Torah.  Might this also apply to us?

We have almost identical verses in Matthew, Mark and Luke for most of these accusations:

·      Matthew 9:11, Mark 2:16, Luke 5:50 – Eating with tax collectors and social outcasts.  In their eyes Yeshua is lowering himself by having anything to do with these men who are working for the Romans and being a traitor to Israel. Matthew himself had been a tax collector.

·      Matthew 9:14, Mark 2:18 – Failing to fast.  There is only one Biblical fast, which is found in Leviticus23, on the 15th day of the 7th month is Yom Kippur the day of fasting and repentance.

·      Matthew 12:2, Mark 2:24, John 6:2  – Gleaning fields as walking by.  In Deuteronomy 23:24-25, “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you shall eat to the satisfaction of your desire, but do not put any in a receptacle of yours. When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you shall pluck the heads with your hand, but do not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.”   BTW, in China, there are walking paths right along the fields, just like Yeshua described in the parable of the seeds with some falling on the path, and also being able to glean/snack as they walked along.

·      Matthew 15:1-2, Mark 7:3 – Hand washing before eating.  Only the priests were instructed to repeatedly wash their hands, not only for cleanliness in the midst of sacrifices, but to be clean when the entered the Mishkan or Heykal, where the presence of YHVH dwelt.

The Pharisees paid a great deal of attention to outward ordinances and actions that would make them appear righteous, but they were not as concerned with being righteous in their hearts.  For this Jesus referred to them as hypocrites. 

In Christian context, a modern day “Pharisee” is someone who follows the impulse to be seen as righteous by obeying certain laws, while ignoring more important matters of the heart.

Points to Ponder

How often are we overly concerned about our outward appearance(s)?

Is the Lord looking at our appearances, or at our hearts?

Have we made Extra-Biblical rules for ourselves?

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                             December 26, 2023

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    

Note – Excerpted from Johanna Shager Hocker’s “Were the Pharisees good guys or bad guys?” Dec. 11, 2023
            And there are two more pages of additional examples of hypocrisies available on request.

Musing – What was God’s Plan for Our Children’s Education?

Hebraic Musing – What was God’s Plan for Our Children’s Education?

How many times do you hear someone wanting to know, or go back to, what the early church did to be so successful?  We find ourselves envious of their explosive growth.   The book of Acts provides the answer.  “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 NIV   Is there a reason that ‘teaching’ is named first?

Growing as they did required a lot of ‘equipping of the Saints’ Eph 4:11-12 NKJV.  Home fellowships did not have “paid, professional leaders”.  Instead, everyone participated, learned, took turns teaching and eventually started another group in another home.  How did these Hebrew believers become so learned?   Three keys: 

1. It started in childhood.  Children at about the age of five start to learn and memorize the Torah, starting with Leviticus in order to learn what is righteous and holy before learning anything else.  Honey was fed in the initial reading session so the ‘Word became as sweet as honey’.  By the time the boy was twelve he was trying to memorize major portions of the Torah.  At 12 or 13 the boy celebrates his Bar Mitzvah and is accepted as a ‘man’ in the community; not surprising that Jesus was teaching at the temple at the age of twelve – His Bar Mitzvah.  At about age 15 the young man is chosen to either learn a trade or be accepted to study and to memorize the rest of the TaNaK.  Age of 30 was the typical ‘Rabbinical’ ordination; Jesus was ordained, commissioned, by baptism (or Mikvah) in the Jordan at about age 30.  The ‘learning culture’ for all men continues until their dying day.

2. Teaching was, and is, the father’s responsibility.  Mother helped but there was no ‘public school’.  And a child who did not learn the ‘Law’ and also a ‘trade’ was a disgrace to the father (and to His Father).  The center of education was the home.  They used text-people, not text-books.  As the father, and mother, worked around the house, the children would be taught object lessons.  Deut. 6:6-9 prescribes the curriculum.  “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” NIV   Home-schooling is not new; and observing diligent home-schooling parent/child interaction awakens one to the advantages of learning to capture ‘teaching-moments’ in daily life.

3. Education was supplemented by priests, prophets and wise-men.  Priests were the custodians and expounders of the Law.  Prophets championed moral righteousness and social justice.  And wise-men were to — “Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.” Deut.31:12 NIV

Conclusion:  To this day their ‘superior’ education process, customs and culture produces an abundance of ‘Nobel Prize’ winners, doctors, lawyers and business owners; one example – the Rothschild family.

So, why the explosive growth of the early church?  The typical Hebrew/Jew in Bible times studied, LEARNED and knew God’s Word thoroughly.  Thus they were able to grasp the message of the Messiah – Yeshua HaMashiach.  Leading a newly spun-off bible study and living room fellowships were second nature to the typical Hebrew family.  Thus the Church had plenty of God-fearing, LEARNED ‘Bible scholars’ ready to lead new groups.  And Evangelism was second nature.  Would a more thorough reverence of God and LEARNING His Word directly from his/her parents provide the desire and ability for today’s church to explode?  

Points to Ponder

Does education only come from public Kindergarten through H.S./College curriculums?

Who is teaching today’s children (tomorrow’s leaders)?    What are they being taught?

If children are not to watch “Adult Only” entertainment, why is it okay for adults to watch?

“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverb 22:6

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                             December19, 2023

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    

Note – Re-edited from Dec.30,2009 – Hebraic Insight #44 – What were THEY devoted to?   Learning!

Musing – Are there Heresies that are Distracting Us from the Truth?

 Hebraic Musing – Are there Heresies that are Distracting Us from the Truth?

Churches and religions of today have many ways to avoid the whole truth by accepting false teachings about Jesus.  Jesus warned us in three Gospels – “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.”  Matthew 24:4-5, Mark 13:5-6 & Luke 21:8    What are some deceptions that have crept into mankind’s theology?  Here are nine Heresies to consider.  (NKJV references)

Adoptionism – AKA Dynamic Monarchianism holds that Jesus was adopted as the Son of God at his baptism, his resurrection, or his ascension.  This early nontrinitarian theological doctrine is derived from the account of Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:17 from which they’ve concluded that Jesus was adopted by God the Father. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  Another reference they use – “For to which of the angels did He ever say: ’You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son’” Hebrews 1:5.  And Monarchianism similarly believes God the Father is superior, above Jesus, so Jesus is not divine.

Apollinarianism – is a Christological heresy proposed by Apollinaris of Laodicea (who died 390AD) arguing that Jesus had a human body and a divine mind/soul; not a rational human mind. 

Arianism – is a heresy declaring that Jesus is not truly divine but was only a created being.  According to Arius (4th century), God alone is immutable and self-existent, and the Son is not God but a creature with a beginning.  This Mormon and Jehovah Witness teaching focused on Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  It teaches that God the Father created Jesus before all else was created, but not divine.  So, while Jesus is the son of God, He is neither eternal nor as fully divine as God the father.

Docetism – AKA Gnosticism is an early Christian doctrinal heresy affirming that Jesus did not have a real or natural body during his life on earth but only an apparent or phantom one based on an underlying belief that all material things are evil, and all spiritual is good.  So, for Jesus to be good, He must not be human.   Philippians 2:5-8 NIV says – …Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!   So, Jesus cannot be both physically human and also be spiritually in the Godhead.

Monophysitism – refers to Christians who believe that Jesus’ nature remains altogether divine and not human, even though he has taken on an earthly and human body with its cycle of birth, life, and death.  So, they believe that Jesus looked like a man, but really was God.  He never took on humanity, thus never was human.  Hebrews 4:15 is their supporting scripture - For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Psilanthropism – is a belief that Jesus was always a man, never a god.  He was only a mere human being.  This is the typical modern liberal viewpoint of modern liberalism.

Sabellianism – AKA Modalism believes there are three ''modes'' or ''aspects'' of the same god instead of being three persons in one.  Instead, God has three modes of operation, and they are exercised one at a time.  This is contradicted by John’s account of Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3:16-17 in which all three persons are present.  When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.  And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Tritheism – AKA Polytheism is the belief that they are three distinct gods as in Mormonism and Hinduism. The Greek and Roman cultures were accustomed to multiple gods with varying levels, ministries, and missions; so for them, it was natural for a polytheistic interpretation to fit their existing cultural way of thinking. 

Points to Ponder

How many heresies do you recognize creeping into teachings you’ve heard?

How many have exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator? (Romans 1:25

“Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. Hebrews 13:9

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                             December 12, 2023

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    

Note – Inspired by and gleaned from Corey Corrick’s Sunday School Teaching, Nov. 11,2023

Musing – Does God Punish Children for the Sins of Their Fathers?

 Hebraic Musing – Does God Punish Children for the Sins of Their Fathers?

My good friend raised a question.  “Why does God visit the iniquity of the fathers to the third and fourth generations?” which proclaims, or suggests, that a man’s descendants will have to suffer for the iniquity of his father.  And this understanding comes from verse 5 of Commandment #3, AKA “Do not worship idols.”  “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand [generations] of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6 NIV   Verse 5 is always the focus of the verses for Commandment #3.  

Does God really punish the children for the sins/iniquities of the fathers “to the third and fourth generation.”?  I admit that always puzzled me, so let’s look more closely at some working definitions of key words:
- Iniquity – Violation of societal laws (the right or duty that mankind is under obligation to do)
- Sin – Violation of God’s law; breaking the law and missing the standard which He has set for us.
- Hate – Biblically - to love less; to dislike someone or something very much; intense or passionate dislike.
- Righteousness – Being right in the eyes of God; Keeping His commandments; Quality of being morally right.

The commandment has to do with idol worship; “hate” means that God is getting less respect than idols.

A child’s life and moral growth is shaped, molded, and influenced by their father, and that influence carries to future generations.  So, fathers need to be careful since the things they do are the examples that will influence future generations.  How often have we heard “Like father, like son” or “The nut doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Does the sin of the father that is repeated by the son become a sin for the son, or is it just a sin of the father?  For the father, yes.  For the son, it depends if the son recognizes it as sin or as a way of life!  Do a man’s descendants have to suffer for the iniquity of their father?  They might have to suffer, but the son(s) have freedom of choice, however their behavior will be influenced by his father’s training or example.

Meanwhile, Ezekiel stresses the individual’s responsibility. “For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die.” Ezekiel 18:4 NIV  And Ezekiel clarifies the responsibility issue.  “Yet you ask, ‘Why does the son not share the guilt of his father?' Since the son has done what is just and right and has been careful to keep all my decrees, he will surely live.  The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him.” Ezekiel 18:19-20 NIV

Ultimately, we should learn from this that we are responsible for ourselves and our own sins according to the Lord God’s summary.  “… I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD.  Repent!  Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.  Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD.  Repent and live!” Ezekiel 18:30-32

SUMMARY - If a father lives a life of sin, he pays the price; and if a father is righteous, he lives; and if a son lives a life of sin, he pays, and if a son is righteous, he lives.  Here is a father’s responsibility.  “Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.” Proverbs 19:18 NIV  

Points to Ponder

Fathers, is it a sin to not discipline your son?

How many generations are affected by a father’s behavior, or misbehavior?

What responsibility do fathers have to live righteously?

Have you seen idol worship handed down to future generations?   What’s an idol?!?!

Do you know any “sons” who have overcome bad parenting?

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,” Titus 2:11

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                             December 5, 2023

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
             “Biblical Marriage”               Weekly “Hebraic Musings”