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Pray as the Lord Commanded
The Master’s rulings on prayer are much the same as they are for fasting. We are not to make an ostentatious show of our prayer life. Furthermore, the hypocrites that Yeshua criticized as those who “heap up empty words” were Gentiles, not Jews. It is hypocrisy and showmanship that the Didache urges us to avoid, not traditional Jewish prayer, worship, or liturgy.
7-minute read
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Like Stars in the Kingdom
Yeshua taught his followers that those who keep the commandments and teach others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Is there a ranking system in the afterlife? Ancient Jewish literature provides us with a key to interpretation, based on a mysterious verse in Daniel.
7-minute read
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Instructions Concerning Immersion
The instructions are completely devoid of theological or mystical teachings about being born again or the death of Messiah. They read more like a section out of the Mishnah than from one of Paul’s epistles.
5-minute read
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Three Weeks to Wake Up
Sometimes, in the case of tragedies, there is no way to reframe or sugar-coat things. They are simply hard. Can we face the future with courage and faith? I believe we can, if we remain watchful, silent (maybe just quieter) and humble. May God give us much grace as we enter into the three weeks of mourning.
8-minute read
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Political Factions Gear Up for September Election, Hamas Calls for Diaspora Attacks
As Israel’s political factions gear up for the September elections, talks between the leading parties are discussing the possibility of a future government without Netanyahu. This and more in our Weekly Israel News Recap (Without the Rhetoric).
8-minute read
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The Fast of Tammuz
Three weeks before the fast of Tisha b’Av is the Fast of Tammuz. This is traditionally associated with the “fast of the fourth month” in Zechariah 8:19 and takes place on the seventeenth of the fourth month. It is said that this day is the anniversary of Moses breaking the first set of tablets at Mount Sinai upon seeing the Golden Calf.
4-minute read
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Do Not Be Led Astray
The Didache begins chapter 6 with a warning against false teachers who lead people away from God and the Way of Life. This is a continuation of the exhortation at the end of 5.2: “Children, may you be rescued from all of these!” All that has been taught so far is to be carefully guarded, and new Gentile disciples are to watch out for those who would lead them astray from the Way of Life.
5-minute read
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Second “Son of Hamas” Leaves Terror Group, Police Shooting Roils Israel in Protests
The second son of a Hamas founder has left the terror group with some harsh criticisms for the organization. Israel is facing large protests after a police shooting. Plus, Israel reacts to Iran’s nuclear violations.
9-minute read
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The Way of Death
In chapter 5 the Didache, as it continues the Two Ways section, turns from illustrating the Way of Life to expounding the Way of Death. What is striking is the stark contrast between the amount of space it gives to the Way of Death and that given to the Way of Life.
6-minute read
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Palestinian Economic Plan Update, Russia Blamed for Israel Airspace GPS Jamming
An update on the White House economic plan for Palestinians after the Bahrain conference, Russia blamed for GPS jamming in Israel and the weekly Gaza border update in the Weekly Israel News Recap (Without the Rhetoric).
7-minute read
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Rosh Chodesh Tammuz and the Summer Harvester
As the summer month of Tammuz begins, we look to the fruit trees expecting an ample harvest. Yeshua instructed us to see the growth of new fig branches as a prophetic sign of apocalyptic events, but this seems like a strange comparison. Insights from Ezekiel and first-century Hebrew provide a new interpretation of Yeshua’s parable.
7-minute read
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A Different Kind of Hypocrite
By commanding us to hate “hypocrisy,” the Didache warns us not to perform good deeds for the sake of receiving praise from men. Rather, we should observe the commandments because they are God’s will and, through their performance, we bring godliness into this world and honor to his name.
5-minute read