Book Review: Hebrew Yeshua vs. Greek Jesus

I decided to read “Hebrew Yeshua vs. Greek Jesus” after I read another of Nehemia Gordon’s books, “A Prayer to Our Father” (read my book review here).  “Hebrew Yeshua” has a very similar format as “A Prayer” in that he draws out meanings to verses that are at times different when translated from Greek than from Hebrew.

The author is a Karaite Jew, a scriptualist, and an expert on reading the Dead Sea Scrolls.  He has numerous references on each page for you to verify his conclusions.

This book takes some time giving you a high-level crash course into the Pharisee way of thinking, which Gordon formerly was.  He also describes customs and traditions that some of those in the Jewish faith practice.

Gordon discusses the fact that the Pharisee’s believe in two torahs; the written Torah that Moses received from God (Yehovah) on Mt. Sinai and an “Oral Torah”, one that evolves over time based on Rabbinical interpretations.  In actuality, even though God wrote down the written Torah, the Rabbi’s authority and interpretation (the Oral Torah) supersedes what God has explicitly told us; their manners and customs.  If the Rabbi says that your left hand is actually your right hand, you must obey what he has to say even though Scripturally it may say the opposite. Jesus (Yeshua) had a bit of difficulty with Pharisee’s regarding this (Oral Torah) and in reality Jesus had to be killed for not obeying the Oral Torah.  It is a rabbinical law.

Gordon uses Matthew 23:2-3 as the basis of this book.  In this verse, Jesus said:

“²Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:  ³All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

This verse sounds likes Jesus is saying that you must observe everything that the Pharisee’s are saying because they sit in Moses’ seat.  He goes step by step, explains Moses’ seat, brings in Hebrew translation, and you’ll see that as the original meaning unfolds, Jesus it is pretty much saying the opposite.  It really is amazing.

Overall, I think this is a good book and I enjoyed it.  I was a little confused with the title, but maybe it was with my expectations.  I had expected more comparisons between what the Hebrew translation describes Yeshua to what  the Greek translation describes Jesus.

One option that you can do, is to watch the video on the book (see below).  It is 2 hours long, but covers the same material as in the book.

Book Review: A Prayer to Our Father, Hebrew Origins of the Lord’s Prayer

This book is absolutely amazing!  I loved it!

This was written by two men with different perceptions; a Jew and a Christian.  The Lord’s Prayer (The Avinu Prayer) is one which both, those of the Jewish faith and the Christian faith, can apply to their life.

The authors laid the ground work of the biblical text that they were going to use; Hebrew Matthew and the Hebrew Bible.  The King James Version (KJV), New International Version (NIV), and others are Greek translations.  There is a version of the Gospel of Matthew (Hebrew Matthew) that was written in Hebrew and text within Matthew is consistent with how Hebrew was written.

Six chapters describe the six possible locations of where Yeshua (Jesus) could have taught this prayer to his disciples.  They visited each site, described what they saw, and researched Scriptures and other Hebrew materials to draw their conclusion on each location.  As I was reading each chapter, it felt like I was in a treasure hunt.  In the end, with what they described, I too came to the same conclusion as to where the location was.

The authors then broke down each of the eight statements of the Lord’s Prayer by devoting a complete chapter to each statement.  Within each chapter they talked about Hebrew mannerisms and customs in a very understandable fashion.  It is truly amazing to see when a word is translated this way or that way (Hebrew vs. Greek), how different the statement means.

This book has caused me to thirst for more.  There are other books that the Jewish author has written that also intrigue me.   He is an expert in translating the Dead Sea Scrolls and as a researcher deciphering ancient Hebrew manuscripts.  In addition, I want to dig into the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament and  of the Hebrew Matthew Version.

Below I have included the KJV version and the Hebrew Matthew Version of the Lord’s Prayer.  I invite you to read both versions and think about the differences.

King James Version
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever.

Amen.

Hebrew Matthew Version
Our Father in heaven,
May your name be sanctified.

May your kingdom be blessed.

Your will shall be done in heaven and on earth.

Give us our bread continually.

Forgive us the debt of our sins
as we forgive the debt of those who sin against us.

Do not bring us into the hands of a test,
and protect us from all evil.

Amen.

It’s Your Kindness

A woman caught in the very act of adultery and was brought to Jesus (funny, wasn’t the guy caught too?); John 8:3-11.  Jewish custom is that she should be stoned to death.   However, what did Jesus do? He knelt down to the ground and with his finger started writing, which some believe He was writing their own sins, in the ground.  In any event, the people left and Jesus was left alone with the woman.  Instead of condemning her, he showed her kindness and a new way of life.

Like my post from yesterday, we should love them and show kindness.

Who is Them?

It was asked of Jesus of the 10 Commandments, which one is the greatest.  His answer in Matthew 22:37-40 was,

” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Below is a video titled, “Love Them Like Jesus” by Casting Crowns.  Who is them?  Your “them” is the one person or people group that you do not like the most.  In the United States, it may be Al-Qaeda.  In Biblical times it was the Jews and the Samaritans.  The Jews could not stand the Samaritans, they were a hybrid group.  Yet it was the Samaritans in Luke 10:25-37 who helped the man who was robbed and beaten.  They were the ones who loved them like Jesus.

That doesn’t mean we have to agree with what that person or people group is doing, Jesus said to just love them.

What is in a Name?

A lot of times when you read the genealogy in the Bible, you kind of gloss it over.  So and so became the father of so and so, etc.  Now genealogy is really important especially when you are looking at lineage.  The Messiah needs to come from a certain line; from King David as stated in Matthew 1 and Luke 3:23-38.

A friend of mine sent me a link regarding the genealogy of Genesis 5.  As you look at the definitions of the first 10 fathers names, from Adam to Noah, you discover there is somewhat of a hidden message.  Below is a list of those names and their definitions:

• Adam -  Man
• Seth – Appointed
• Enosh – Mortal
• Kenan – Sorrow
• Mahalalel – The Blessed God
• Jared – Shall Come Down
• Enoch – Teaching
• Methuselah – His Death Shall Bring
• Lamech – The Dispairing
• Noah – Rest or Comfort
  

Sounds like a summary of God’s plan of redemption, hidden here within a genealogy in Genesis!

Source of where I got this information, click here.

Oh My God (Director’s Statement)

Peter Rodger was frustrated with the childish schoolyard mentality that permeates this world – Peter called it the “My God Is Greater Than Your God” syndrome – where you have grown men flying airplanes into buildings shouting “God is Great” – where you have the leader of the free world telling the BBC in 2003 that he invaded Iraq because God told him to – where you have the constitution of a country (Iran) that dictates that its supreme leader is God’s representative on earth – where you have young men and women blowing themselves up (and innocent others) to buy a place into heaven. None of these concepts made any sense to me. Does it matter what I believe?  Does it matter what you believe? And what is this entity that goes by the name of God – that causes so much friction, hurt and pain? So I decided to go around the world and ask people what they think.

Over three years, Peter Rodger traveled across 23 countries asking this question – to children; to religious leaders; to celebrities; to fanatics and to the common Man. The film is a result of this journey. It is not about religion and the tribes in which people eke out their lives; the film is about what God means to people.

The answers are sometimes predictable, and sometimes surprising. From birth and throughout our education we are conditioned as human beings – influenced by our parents, schools and the religious beliefs of our home country. If we have a religion, perhaps we should spend a little longer studying our chosen belief instead of blindly following other human beings who claim to have the authority of God. It seems evident that Man has taken the power and concept of God and politicized it for agendas that are the antipathies to the dignity and tolerance that the prophets of all the major religions preached in their day.

Did Man create God, or did God create Man?

Visit the Oh My God website for more information.

Penn Teller and a Gift of the Bible

About a month ago I posted this on my facebook page (care to be friends?).  It is a pretty incredible video from an atheist receiving a Bible as a gift.  The non-judgmental feeling he received is a great lesson for all.

Come Here, Stay

Not Charlie

We have a dog named Charlie.  I always wanted to name my dog, “Ask Him” for a boy or “Ask Her” for a girl.  So when someone asks me what the name of our dog is I could say, “Ask Him”.  I know, lame.  But it would be a conversation starter.

Well,  I have  friend who wanted to name their dog, “Stay”.  So when he would call him he would say “Come here, Stay”.  My kids got a real kick out of this.  Can you imagine what the dog would do when called, “Come Here, Stay.  Come here, Stay.”  Talking about giving a dog a complex.  I think it would be hilarious.

Notice what happened when Jesus called certain men to follow him:

Matthew 4:18-20
“As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’  At once they left their nets and followed him.”

Matthew 4:21-22
“Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.  They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets.  Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

Matthew 9:9
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth.  ‘Follow Me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.”

The men immediately stopped what they were doing and followed Him.  They didn’t ask questions or hesitate, they just went.  Some left the family fish business to follow someone who they really didn’t know yet.

We always seem to ask for God’s Will.  Just tell me and I’ll do as you say … honest.  But when we are told are we listening, will we do as He asks … immediately?  Or will we be like my friends dog name, “Come here, Stay”?

Is God a GPS?

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are very popular.  There are a wide variety of GPS receivers available at a fairly reasonable price.  A GPS receiver calculates its position by precisely timing the signals sent by the GPS satellites high above the Earth.  For the traveling salesman, they are essential.

The other day I was in my friends vehicle which had a GPS receiver.  He entered in the address we were heading to and the system calculated the path we were to take.  It did not list out all the directions on where to go rather gave directions one turn at a time; basically an arrow on the street as to where to head.  As we drove and got close to the next turn, the system would audibly alert of what direction we need to turn next.  We took the turn and when we got close to the next turn, we were alerted again.  It was amazingly accurate.  We got to our destination with no problems.

Now, I got a little curious.  I asked him to put in another address.  As we began our journey, I asked him to not obey the directions.  Sometimes he would not turn or would turn the opposite direction.  The unit recognized the “mistake”, recalculated another path, and proceeded to give new directions.  Eventually we had enough and we ultimately still got to our destination, though obviously, a little longer than it should have been.

This got me thinking.  We are always wanting to know God’s Will for our life.  We want details, tell us audibly on where to go, etc.  In Genesis 12:1, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.‘” Abram didn’t get step by step directions from God, just a command to leave and go.  Later in that chapter is states that Abram left as the Lord had directed him.  It seems like God works like a GPS unit.  He may not tell us the whole path we are going to take, but only one step at a time; in Abram’s case to just go.  As we journey into God’s will, God may tell us turn several times very close to each other (turn at this corner, at that corner; like you are in a city), at other times we may need to stay straight on the path we are on for a long time (like on a highway).  If we don’t listen, the path will be recalculated.  Eventually as we listen and obey, we will get to the place we are to be, though it would not have been the best way if we had only listened and obeyed the directions when we were told.

Matthew 6:34
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.“ 

Sounds to me that we should not be concerned with the details, only focus on today; go one turn at a time.

Who is this Jesus?

For a good number of years my weekly schedule would be something like this:

• Go to church on Sunday morning … check
• Read your Bible a few times … check
• Say a few prayers … check
• Tuck in the kids and give a 15-second prayer … check

That routine should make me good to go, right?  Is there more to the Christian lifestyle?  Is that the Christian lifestyle?   Surely this is not what Jesus intended for us to be.  However, for years that is what I seemed to have learned from

The Church Bowl

attending church … the typical Sunday morning church service (the church bowl).  I would hear over and over to have a morning devotional time (read the Bible and pray), go to church each Sunday (don’t forsake the assembly), and don’t forget your tithe and offerings (don’t rob God).  If I didn’t do one of those things I would have failed, then guilt would set in for letting down the church.  Now don’t get me wrong, I take full responsibility for what I have done or not done, but the environment inside some church services that I have been in is not conducive to living something other than what my weekly routine was.

Ephesians 5:1-2 states:

” 1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

So I ask myself, which better reflects those verses in Ephesians, my weekly “checks” or the chorus from the song below, “Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath that talks of Jesus?

“Give Me Your Eyes”

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

So I, like numerous people, allowed the weekly Sunday morning church service to my guide so to speak.  Get right with the church and you’ll be, by default, right with God.  However, I’ve come to the conclusion that there must be more to cause Jesus to be so passionate in what he believed in and die a brutal death.  To do that, I must get out of the church bowl and explore what that is.