The Simcha of Mishpocha Part One
Monday, November 13, 2006
This is the first part of a four-part series that will discuss the nature of interpersonal relationships within the body of believers in Yeshua the Messiah. The "Simcha of Mishpocha" essentially translates to "The Joy of Family." Yeshua said, "Whoever does what my Father in heaven wants, that person is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:50) It is in seeking to better understand this teaching and apply it to my own halacha that I present this work to you.
Baruch haShem and Shalom,
~Shoshana
The Simcha of Mishpocha
Part One: It's All About G-d
Mishpocha [Yiddish] the entire family network of relatives by blood or marriage (and sometimes close friends)
Unfortunately, not many in the believing movement truly understand what it means to be a family. Yeshua instructed his talmidim, But you are not to let yourselves be called 'Rabbi' because you have one Rabbi, and you are all each other's brothers. [Matt 23:8] Often, the first portion of this verse is cited in criticisms of Rabbinical clout within the movement, while the second portion, the part about calling each other "brother," is completely ignored. It is all well and good to focus on Yeshua's criticisms of the "hypocritical Torah teachers" but if we ignore the thesis of His message-- that we are all mishpocha in Him-- we miss the essence of His words to His people.
It's All About G-d
To understand Yeshua's rebuke of the hypocrisy of the Torah teachers and P'rushim, we must understand the very culture of these religious authorities. Too often, the Christian Church interprets Yeshua's rebukes as criticisms against Torah study, where the exact opposite is true. Directly preceding His rebukes, Yeshua states, "The Torah-teachers and the P'rushim sit in the seat of Moshe. So whatever they tell you, take care to do it. But don't do what they do, because they talk but don't act!" [Matt. 23:2-3]
"Do what they tell you." In other words, these Torah-teachers and P'rushim who speak the words of HaShem repeatedly should be listened to because they speak the words of HaShem from the Torah on a weekly basis.
How can we assess the veracity of the statements someone makes? By looking at the actions that accompany the words. [Matthew 7, Yakkov 2] The Scriptures are filled with accounts of HaShem's actions on behalf of His people that testify to the truth of Torah. In fact, the entirety of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation bears witness to the greatest and most everlasting act of G-d that testifies to His truth: the atoning sacrifice of Yeshua haMashiach. Over and over in the Psalms we can read of David haMelekh praising HaShem for His actions, His works, His deeds:
God, you have taught me since I was young, and I still proclaim your wonderful works. [71:17]This is truth: That G-d, through His mighty works, testifies to the truth of His words.
Blessed be ADONAI, God, the God of Isra'el, who alone works wonders. [72:18]
Each generation will praise your works to the next and proclaim your mighty acts. [145:4]
In turn, we as believers are charged to prove the veracity of our verbal testimonies with our actions. Hence, we have been given the Torah, outlining the way of living that not only separates us from the pagan nations of the world, but testifies to the the truth of Adonai's existence. Without a halacha grounded in Torah, we are trees that bear no fruit, because our actions do not and cannot testify to the truth of HaShem and His Messiah- Our Messiah- Yeshua.
HaShem's prophets spoke extensively against the actions of the religious leaders of Israel. [Isaiah 3:13-15, Jeremiah 2:8-9, and Jeremiah 5:5 come quickly to mind.] This was the basis of Yeshua's criticisms of the Rabbis; their actions were not done as a testimony to HaShem, but in order to glorify themselves before men: "Likewise, you appear to people from the outside to be good and honest, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and far from Torah." [Matt. 23:28] The halacha of the Torah teachers and the P'rushim was all about them, however, the halacha of Yeshua, the halacha of Torah, is all about G-d.
Faith without works is dead; works without faith are useless, because they do not hit the mark.
Stay Tuned for Part Two: Living Torah With All Your Heart
Messianic Judaism
Torah
Yeshua
mishpocha
leadership
posted by Shoshana @ 1:03 PM
