From Parasha: Shoftim

 

Testing for a False Prophet

Tags:  false prophet, test, true prophet

In the case of would-be prophets, the Torah is like the rabbinical kosher-authority, checking to see if the product is kosher. If the prophet proves to be true and proves to be in concert with Torah, it is as if the Torah stamps that prophet with its heksher (kosher seal). Just as a kosher-keeping person is always careful to check to see if a particular food is kosher before popping it into his mouth, so too we should be careful to check to see if a particular prophet is kosher before heeding his words....
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Clear Boundaries

Tags:  boundaries, conflict, neighbors, orphans, privacy, widows

There are four types of people. The one who says, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is yours." This is the normal type of person, but some say this is the type of person who lived in Sodom. The one who says, "What's mine is yours and what's yours is mine." This type of person is an ignoramus. The one who says, "What's mine is yours and what's yours is yours." This is a righteous person. The one who says, "What's mine is mine and what's yours is mine." This is a wicked person. (m.Avot 5:10)...
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Prophets

Tags:  Bible, fortune-tellers, idolatry, mediums, occult, palm readers, prophets, psychics, spiritual direction, Word of God

We have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts (2 Peter 1:19). Remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets (2 Peter 3:2)...
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The Mysterious Prophet

Tags:  confession

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Yeshua, the Messiah appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. Moses said, '"The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren; to him you shall give heed, to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.'" (Acts 3:19-23)...
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King of the Jews

Tags:  word made flesh

The commandment for the king to write a copy of the Torah demonstrates the work of Messiah. He Himself is the Word made flesh. He is the copy of the Torah in human form. Furthermore, He writes a copy of the Torah as He writes the Torah upon our hearts. The Torah of King Messiah is “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:3)....
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The Prophet Like Moses

Our sacred text is the record of revelation left to us by the prophets. The greatest of the prophets is Moses, therefore the Torah is the greatest source of revelation. Yet the Torah itself speaks of another prophet, a prophet equal to Moses…...
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The King's Copy and the Rule of Law

Tags:  provision

We affirm that Yeshua kept the Torah and admit that if he did not, He would have been a sinner. Yet we excuse ourselves from the same obligation. In so doing we hold our king to a standard that we ourselves are unwilling to keep....
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