Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #18: Mishpatim (Rulings) Sh’mot (Exodus) 21:1-24:18 Haftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 34:8-22; 33:25-26 B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews: 9:15-22; 10:28-39 I am beginning this commentary with a couple of definitions because we must understand what words like laws and rules mean and the context of the narrative before we can understand the import of… Read more »
Weekly Parshah
Parashah #17: Yitro (Jethro) Sh’mot (Exodus) 18:1-20-23
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #17: Yitro (Jethro) Sh’mot (Exodus) 18:1-20:23 Haftarah: Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 6:1-13 B’rit Chadashah: James 2:8-13 And Adonai said to Moshe “Here is what you are to say to the household of Ya’akov, to tell the people of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I carried… Read more »
Parashah #16: B’shallach (After he had let go) Sh’mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #16: B’shallach (After he had let go) Sh’mot (Exodus) 13:17-17:16 Haftarah: Shof’tim (Judges) 5:1-31 B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 15:1-4 “B’shallach Par’oh” (when Pharaoh finally let go), G-d led the Israelites to freedom…but not by the most direct route. The shortest route, which was a direct path by caravan along the Mediterranean… Read more »
Parashah #15: Bo (Go) Sh’mot (Exodus) 10:1-13:16
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #15: Bo (Go) (Sh’mot) Exodus 10:1-13:16 Haftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 46:13-28 B’rit Chadashah: Revelation 8:6-9:12; 16:1-21 This year’s commentary will address the overall theme of the parashah, but I am going to target several different verses which I have found are the source of questions and debate over the years. The… Read more »
Parashah #14:Va’era (I appeared) Sh’mot (Exodus)
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parsahash#14: Va’era (I appeared) Sh’mot (Exodus) 6:2-9:35 Haftarah: Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 28:25-29:21 According to one of Newton’s laws of motion, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. While this law holds for the physical universe, all bets are off when we examine and consider the spiritual realm. Indeed, there… Read more »
Parashah #13: Sh’mot (Names) Sh’mot (Exodus) 1:1-6:1
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #13: Sh’mot (Names) Sh’mot (Exodus) 1:1-6:1 Haftarah: Haftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 1:1-2:3 B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 11:23-26 I have taught the importance of understanding that the Hebrew language is much more than abstract words that are extremely limited in their meaning. In Hebrew, there is an “essence” that extends beyond the literal… Read more »
Parashah #12:Vayechi (He lived) B’resheit (Genesis) 47:28-50:26
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #12: Vayechi (He lived) B’resheit 47:28-50:26 Haftarah: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 2:1-12 B’rit Chadashah: 1 Kefa (1 Peter) 1:3-9; 2:11-17 As we reach the last parashah in the Book of Genesis which covers the entire history of the entire universe, mankind, and G-d’s chosen people (all true believers), I am… Read more »
Parashah #11: Vayigash (He approached) B’resheit ( Genesis) 44:18-47:27
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #11: Vayigash (He approached) B’resheit (Genesis) 44:18-47:27 Haftarah: Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 37:15-28 B’rit Chadashah: Acts 7:9-16 (Specifically vv.13-15) This week we are going to focus on a comparison between Y’hudah’s overt willingness to sacrifice for family no matter the cost, to Yahshua’s sacrifice, unselfishness, and total commitment to family, whether biological… Read more »
Parashah#10: Mikketz (At the end) B’resheit (Genesis) 41:1-44:17
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #10: Mikketz (At the end) Genesis 41:1-44:17 Haftarah: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 3:15-4:1 B’rit Chadashah: Acts 7:9-16 One of the most important lessons in the parashah this week is that our most important opportunities to serve and glorify G-d may come when we least expect them. This means that we… Read more »
Parashah #9: Vayeshev (He continued living) B’resheit (Genesis) 37:1-40:23
Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #9: Vayeshev (He continued living) B’resheit (Genesis) 37:1-40:23. Haftarah: Amos (Amos) 2:6-3:8 B’rit Chadashah: Acts 7:9-16 (specifically vv.9-10) Yosef’s story extends through the last four parashot of Genesis, making this narrative the longest one in the book. Yosef’s story is one that encompasses all of our human emotions, our inherent… Read more »