Shabbat Message of
Reading Scriptures With New Eyes
Mat 15:12-16 - Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. And YHWSHUA said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Mat 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Are we reading with blind eyes??
Mar 8:21-25 - And YHWSHUA said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand? And he cometh to Bethsaida: and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw aught. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
DO we have eyes to see and ears to hear the TRUTH of YHWH's Word? Or are we just listening and seeing the lies of human tradition and religion?
Mat 13:9-16 - Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
This week my wife sent out a devotion with Scriptures in the shape of a bell. Many only saw the bell and missed the point of the devotion (maybe she should have put it in the shape of a sword? LOL). Do we see the word that way as well.. through our own preconceived ideas and understanding?
People take Scripture and formulate IT to their doctrines! The Scripture was written in such a way that any man can see anything that he wants to in it!!
People get bored with Scripture.. so try to find new doctrines to bring excitement back into their walk!!!!
Scripture is designed for a greater purpose than to inform us with respect to the past -- It's the handbook of those who desire to enter into Life.
Understand that Scripture isn't a history book!
Origen: “It is sufficient however, to represent in the style of a historic narrative what is intended to convey a secret meaning in the garb of history, that those who have the capacity may work out for themselves all that relates to the subject.”
Origen warns that, even when the scriptures are historically accurate, there is concealed within the narrative a deeper meaning than what is grasped by the carnal reader.
Spiritual Israelites perceive the true meaning of the scriptures as the guide that helps the disciple open the doors to the true Temple of YHWH.
While the Pharisees and Sadducees read the scriptures literally -- and were under the false belief that YHWH dwells in temples made with man's hands -- employed a body of priests -- and approved a series of sacrifices, rituals and observances.
Luke 11:52 - Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; you did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered” If we read the scriptures in the manner of the Pharisees, we become the modern day Pharisees in opposition to YHWH
We need to have a fresh approach to reading which enables the Word to get into our hearts (WE are the Temple of YHWH!!)
Scriptures are an Allegory
Gal 4:21-26 - Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Ezekiel 20:49 (KJV) Then said I, Ah Master YHWH! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Psa 78:2 - I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
1 Corinthians 10:11 (KJV) Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
"Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures." Luke 24:45
If the Scripture were cut and dry why would YHWSHUA have had to do this?
Origen writes: “I believe that every man must hold these things for images, under which the hidden sense lies concealed” (Origen - Huet., Prigeniana, 167 Franck, p. 142).
Mat 13:44 - Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
The Word is like this field...
It contains great Truths!
But they are hidden in the field of theories, doctrines, and traditions
Origen also wrote: “Scripture contains an unhistorical element in-woven with the history, in order that the worthlessness of the latter may drive us to seek the spiritual meaning” (Origen quoted under Origen Adamntius; The Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics).
Church Historian Eusebius: “Many were led astray by reading the allegorical contents of the scriptures literally in the method of the Pharisees and Sadducees”.
In other words...Where the Word found that using events from history could fulfill the purpose of the scriptures, the Word used these historical events, “concealing from the multitude the deeper meaning”.
YHWSHUA HIMSELF used these 'techniques'
Matthew 13:34-35 All these things spake YHWSHUA unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Wycliffe Commentary writes that: “…the initiate was instructed in the esoteric teaching of the group, which was not revealed to outsiders… The mystery of the kingdom in its ultimate development is the full-orbed message of the Gospel (Romans 16:25-26 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of YHWSHUA Messiah, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting YHWH, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:). The purpose of parables was to instruct the initiates without revealing the items of instruction to the ones who were without. This is in keeping with the Biblical principle that spiritual understanding is restricted to those who have become spiritual...”
Mat 13:13 - Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
YHWSHUA continually told us that The Knowledge of the Kingdom did not belong to everyone -- but only to those who were found worthy to hear these higher revelations of truth.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately...
Mar 9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?
Luk 9:10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
Luk 10:23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
Deu 29:29 The secret things belong unto YHWH our Elohim: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Will we continue to be modern day Pharisees and Sadducees, looking only to the letter, continuing to read the scriptures as history, rather than keys to open the door to the Spirit and the Kingdom of YHWH within our own heart and mind.
2Co 3:6-8 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
2Co 3:13-15 - And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Messiah. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
Rom 7:6 - But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
Why is the Scripture written in this Manner?
Psa 25:14 The secret of YHWH is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
Psa 31:20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Pro 3:32 For the froward is abomination to YHWH: but his secret is with the righteous.
Dan 2:19-23 -Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the Elohim of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of Elohim forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou Elohim of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
Amo 3:7 Surely The Master YHWH will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
We must not allow ourselves to be burdened by carnal thinking
We are flesh & spirit.. Which will we follow?
We must “open and unloose the mind” -- get free from the attachments of this "world"
Carnal mind looks upon the world.. but the Spiritual man knows that this world is incomplete.. and an illusion!
We need to understand Scripture as the means by which we can understand Inner Truth and the Light of the Spirit of YHWH!
The Spirit was given to help us understand the Spiritual Meaning!
Joh 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Spirit of YHWH, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 15:26 - But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
Joh 16:12-13 - I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Origen said: We must “be led to the investigation of that truth which is more deeply concealed”.
The purpose of Scripture is not to cause us to believe what happened in the past, but to focus our attention on what is taking place in our lives right now!
Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psa 19:7-11 - The law of YHWH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of YHWH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
Psa 1:1-6 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of YHWH; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The unrighteous are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the unrighteous shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For YHWH knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.