Hebraic understanding of the Gospel of Yeshua
“Judge not, that you be not judged.”
What an opening to this week’s reading. Yeshua did plenty of judging. Paul did plenty of judging. We are told elsewhere in the Scriptures to judge the prophets, and to be careful of the company we keep (which is a form of judgement). So what does this mean? In the context of this discourse, which we call ‘the sermon on the mount’, it means to take your eye off what others are doing and concentrate on your own position. Time here does not allow for a complete reflection on that sermon, but sufficient to say, read it ALL in one reading, and you will discover that the general thrust is about repentance from past allegiances (to the traditions of men) and to turn (repent) to the correct observances of the Torah which God gave to Moses, on another mountain, centuries earlier.
Yeshua then states that the gate is narrow, and difficult is the way that leads to life. What a challenge that should be to the ‘greek mindset’ of those who preach a prosperity gospel in our day if they took heed to the words of Yeshua. “Come to Jesus and all your problems will be solved” is the disingenuous message of those who should know better. “Make a verbal proclamation of faith and you are in” is the equally deceptive call. Where in our churches today do we hear the call to repentance? To turning around. To right living.
Look carefully at chapter 7 verses 22,23. Probably the most judgemental words in the whole of the Scriptures. Do you think, as I do, that there may be many very disappointed people when ‘the roll is called up yonder’? Even though the consistent message throughout the Scriptures is that God requires obedience to His instructions for righteous living (Torah) from ALL who are His. Many of our churches today persist in teaching that the Torah of God is obsolete. Well, let us look just one more time at Matthew 7:23. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice Torahlessness (‘anomia’ in greek). How plain is that? It is more than plain, it is frighteningly plain.
Now, the first century audience of Yeshua would not have had the slightest difficulty in understanding the message. Torah observance was the way of life for them, from which they had become diverted. Most of us (gentile believers) were taught from childhood that Torah was obsolete. It is only when one reads the Scriptures through Hebraic eyes that the truth becomes crystal clear.
And what does Yeshua tell us is our reward? We will be likened to a wise man, who built on rock and not on sand. So when trials and tribulation appears, we will be established on solid foundations. What a privilege. Following this discourse, there are two examples of divine healing recounted. The first, a leper, was Jewish. When he was healed Yeshua told him to go and show himself to the local priest. This was pure, simple Torah observance. (Torah reflection “Tazaria” on Leviticus 13 for my comment).
The second was a Roman Centurion, a man of authority in Capernaum. His great faith was used to intercede on behalf of his faithful servant. Yeshua used this occasion to prophecy that many non-Jews would be included in the Kingdom of heaven. The basis of that inclusion is by faith alone. However, it is reasonable to conclude that such faith would manifest itself in more than mere words. On the basis of the earlier statement in Matthew 7:23 above, such faith should lead us to live, to actually practice, the life prescribed by God Almighty for those who are His. The Apostle Paul referred to this (Romans 11) inclusion as a ‘grafting in’ to the natural Olive Tree, which is Israel.The text continues with even more people healed, drawing Matthew to remember the prophecy in Isaiah 53 about Messiah bearing our sickness in His own body.
But there is one more observation to be made from the very last verse of our passage. It seems unthinkable that a whole town would band together to implore Yeshua to leave them. To go away and not come back. The reason would appear to be that they had been persuaded by the swine herders, into whose pigs the demons had entered before they were drowned, that Yeshua was bad for business! It is true today isn’t it.
