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Weekly Parashah |
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| Torah: Lev. 12:1–13:59 | Haftara: 2 kings 4:42-5:19 | Brith Chadashah: John 6:8-13 Matt. 8:1-4 Luke 2:22-35 |
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| Tazria (She Conceives) |
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Scripture: |
Lev. 12:1–13:59 |
Torah |
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Niddah Rest for New Mothers12 Then Adonai spoke to Moses saying: 2 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael, instructing: If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she will be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her niddah she will be unclean. 3 In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin is to be circumcised. [a] 4 She must wait during the blood of purification for 33 days.[b] She is not to touch any holy thing, nor come into the Sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as in her niddah, and she is to wait in the blood of purification for 66 days. 6 “When the days of her purification are completed for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring to the kohen, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, a year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove, for a sin offering. 7 He is to present it before Adonai and make atonement for her. Then she will be cleansed from the discharge of her blood. This is the Torah for her who gives birth, whether to a male or a female child. 8 If she cannot afford a lamb, then she is to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons,[c] one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. Then the kohen will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.”
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Scripture: |
2 Kings 4 : 42 – 5 : 19
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Haftarah |
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42 Now a man came from Baal-shalishah, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits—20 loaves of barley bread and fresh ears of corn in his sack. Then he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat.” 43 But his attendant said, “What? Will I set this before a hundred men?” But he said, “Give them to the people that they may eat, for thus says Adonai, ‘They will eat and will have left over.’” 44 So he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of Adonai. 5 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man in his master’s sight and highly esteemed, because through him Adonai had given victory to Aram. Though the man was a mighty man of valor, he had tza’arat. 2 Aram had gone out in bands, and had taken captive a young girl from the land of Israel. So she served Naaman’s wife. 3 Then she said to her mistress, “If only my lord went before the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his tza’arat.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his master, saying, “Thus and thus spoke the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 5 The king of Aram said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothes. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel saying, “When this letter comes to you, behold, I have sent my servant Naaman to you, so you may cure him of his tza’arat.” 7 Now when the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending to me to cure a man of his tza’arat? But please consider, and see how he is seeking a pretext against me.”
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Scripture: |
John 6:8-13 |
Brit Chadashah |
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John 6 : 8 – 138 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9 “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what’s that for so many?” 10 Yeshua said, “Make the people recline.” There was much grass in the area. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. 11 Then Yeshua picked up the loaves. And having given thanks, He distributed bread to everyone who was reclining. He did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When the people were full, Yeshua said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftovers, so nothing is wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had finished eating. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+6%3A8-13&version=TLV
Matthew 8 : 1 – 4Healing Those who Trust8 When He came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a man with tzara’at came to Him and bowed down before Him, saying, “Master, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” Immediately his tzara’at was cleansed. 4 And Yeshua said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go show yourself to the kohen and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”[a] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matt.+8%3A1-4&version=TLV
Luke 2 : 22 – 3522 And when the days of their purification were fulfilled,[a] according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present to Adonai. 23 As it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Adonai.” [b] 24 So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the Torah of Adonai: “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”[c] 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel.[d] The Ruach ha-Kodesh was on him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Ruach ha-Kodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Anointed One of Adonai. 27 So in the Ruach, Simeon came into the Temple; and when the parents brought the Child Yeshua to do for Him according to the custom of the Torah, 28 Simeon received Him into his arms and offered a bracha to God, saying, 29 “Now may You let Your servant go in peace, O Sovereign Master,[e] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A22-35&version=TLV |
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Parashah in 60 seconds |
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Bible Translations
I've been asked many times, "Pastor what translation are you using?"
hmm, not that easy to answer, as my first reaction is every bible translation is a politically correct version. hmm, what do you mean with this statement.
If we look for example to the King James Version, it states Authorized Version. Authorized by whom, meaning the the authorizing authority needed to be in agreement and not be offended by the translation. This is stated maybe a little exasurated, and black and white, but further down this article it will make sense, I promise.
A better question is, what kind of translations will you not use?
There is a diverse array of Bible translations available, each with its own unique approach to rendering the ancient texts into modern languages. These translations can generally be categorized into three main types: literal, dynamic equivalence, and paraphrase.
Literal Translations
These translations aim to provide a word-for-word rendering of the original text into the target language, often prioritizing accuracy and fidelity to the original languages. Examples of literal translations include the King James Version (KJV), the New American Standard Bible (NASB), and the English Standard Version (ESV). Literal translations are favored by many scholars and those who value close adherence to the original languages.
Dynamic Equivalence Translations
Also known as thought-for-thought translations, these versions seek to convey the meaning and intent of the original text in a more contemporary and idiomatic manner. Dynamic equivalence translations prioritize readability and accessibility over strict adherence to the exact wording of the original languages. Examples of dynamic equivalence translations include the New International Version (NIV), the New Living Translation (NLT), and the Contemporary English Version (CEV). These translations are often preferred for personal and devotional reading due to their clarity and ease of understanding.
Paraphrase Translations
Paraphrase translations take a more interpretive approach, aiming to convey the concepts and ideas of the original text in a highly accessible and colloquial style. These versions may take greater liberties with the wording and structure of the text in order to convey its meaning in a modern context. Examples of paraphrase translations include The Message, The Living Bible (TLB), and The Amplified Bible (AMP). Paraphrase translations are often used for casual reading and for gaining fresh insights into familiar passages.
Within these broad categories, there are also variations and hybrid approaches that combine elements of literal and dynamic equivalence translation methods. Additionally, there are translations specifically tailored to certain audiences, such as children, teens, or speakers of specific dialects or languages.
What to use
Out of these diverent groupings I prefer the Literal Translations seen from a Jewish Perspective as in the Tree of Life Version, however there are often times that I will be using translations from the Paraphrase or thought for thought categories, as in the Amplified Bible, or the Common English Bible (which are most commonly used by me including the complete Jewish Bible). Also the Tanach and Torah from the Jewish Publishing Society are frequently included. When using the NIV I personally only do this from the 1984 Edition for reasons mentioned in the next paragraphs.
As I stated earlier all versions are politically correct versions, I do not adhere to one or another. My believe is that am guided by the Holy Spirit on what version to use and how to write or translate the text.
Within the Second Section the Dynamic Equivalent Translations the NIV is mentioned.
NIV Version
As stated earlier concerning the NIV I do only use the 1984 edition, as I believe that with the TNIV and the 2011 editions they went completely of on the looney side with not just politically correct, but also woke and worse translated text.
The “New International Version” (NIV) was conceived in 1965 and after several years of study by committees from the Christian Reformed Church and the National Association of Evangelicals, it was felt there was a need for a new translation in contemporary English. The first printing of the entire Bible was in 1978, and it became one of the largest selling bible translations on the market.
All well and good until 2005 when Zondervan published the “Today’s New International Version” (TNIV), a more gender-inclusive translation of certain terms. Because of its controversial gender inclusiveness, the TNIV was the subject of a great deal of criticism from the evangelical world and went out of print in 2009. In March, 2011, Zondervan once again published a new edition, the “2011 New International Version.” This edition will totally replace the 1984 NIV, which will no longer be published.
Like its predecessor, the TNIV, the 2011 NIV was translated using gender-neutral translation rules, resulting in the replacement of gender-specific words (e.g. man, woman, he, she, son, daughter) with gender-neutral words (e. g. person, they, child). In many cases these replacements are made even when the original language clearly intends a specific gender. Further, the 2011 NIV alters key verses that define the roles of women (See I Timothy 2:12 and Nahum 3:13), which may allow for interpretation consistent with our culture today, but which do not accurately reflect the original language of the Scriptures.
It has over 3600 Gender neutral phrases and worse that I cannot support and thus will under no circumstance use this version or suggest it for use. My favorite version is indeed the Tree of Life Version.
Tree of Live Version (TLV)
The Tree of Life Version (TLV) of the Bible is a relatively recent translation that seeks to provide a fresh and accurate rendering of the Scriptures for English-speaking readers, while also incorporating Jewish cultural and linguistic elements. The Tree of Life Version is a unique translation that seeks to bridge the gap between Jewish and Christian readership by presenting the Scriptures in a way that honors both traditions while remaining faithful to the original texts. Its basis in the Masoretic Text and the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, along with its focus on Jewish cultural and linguistic elements, makes it a valuable resource for those seeking a deeper understanding of the Bible from a Jewish-Christian perspective.
for more infomation on the TLV check out the TLV Bible Society
Pst. Chris
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Bel Air 1950
Spring is here, but then again, what does this mean for you? For most of us living in the south and in the country, it means, besides rain, which we so desperately need, lambs, calves, 
and birds being born, bees starting to buzz around, blossoms in the orchard, and bluebonnets and Indian paintbrushes popping up all over southern Texas.
Bing Crosby's love songs play on the radio, bringing smiles to people's faces. Hmm, that Bing thing might be just with a select bunch of enlightened people, though.
Okay, to continue, all in all, this weather puts a spring in your step and a circle around your work schedule. It's time to go and work outside, take in the fresh air, and be ready to start planting. Can you imagine that there are not just kids, but even adults in inner cities who have never touched a goat's kid or a lamb before? I know I've spoken about this before, but if the news channels would just start reporting 15 minutes of positive news each day, crime rates would drop dramatically, maybe even by 5 percent. There have been several studies over different universities on this topic, and there is a report of 4219 pages that can be read from the University of British Columbia on this topic too.
But you Christians always have something to complain about, I can hear people say. That Bible of yours is filled with horror, murder, war, and betrayal. What these attackers and complainers, however, do not see and most likely do not know is that this is not the red thread that is woven by God in His word. Because that red thread that keeps it all together is God's covenant, His, I would almost say, His yearning to have a relationship with mankind. All those wars, all that killing, all that whoring around, all that wrongdoing, all that is brought forth out of the behavior of mankind. Mankind who possesses a will of its own and a mind to choose to have this relationship with God, or not.
"Oh yeah, but God is not always good," you might hear too. He had Israel in Egyptian captivity for 400 years. Yeah indeed, He also had announced that it would happen so that the people would know that this was a punishment from God. Can you imagine 318,9 million people suddenly having their pants dropped, man, woman, and children alike?
Then all standing bent over and receiving 3 swats.
Okay, I know this is truly silly, but you get the picture.
The person we elect, the person that acts on our behalf, does something that goes against the principles of the covenant that this country had made in the past with God and through which this country had received many blessings. Then this elected person, let's call him, the president. Okay, let's say it was our president, Barack Hussein Obama. Let's say he tells Israel that they need to give land away that not America, but God had provided to them. How would your dad react?
Your dad has 3 cars, a truck that he drives to work back and forth, a nice sedan, and an antique 1950's Bel-Air. Now we also have a problem, there is a railroad track dividing our neighborhood with another neighborhood. They really don't like us over on this side, we have three cars, they have a bicycle. We have a garage, they have a carport. We have nice yards and gardens, they have a concrete playground. But you know there is that girl, that cute one, just on the other side of the tracks. And Joey, our neighbor's son, is always looking at her. Sometimes he sits with me on the roof of our garage, looking at her, because ours is just against the tracks. Joey came up with a plan. He said to me, "Now to make things right with the people on the other side of the track, and to give me a chance with this beautiful girl, I'm going to tell your dad that he needs to give this piece of land with the garage and the 1950's Bel Air to the people on the other side of the track. This way the track can be moved over to the other side of your garage, and they will be happy and I can date the girl, because we all have peace."
Now I start, of course, to get a little agitated about all of this. Joey has his eye on this girl, he wants something from the railroad track people. And to get that, he wants my dad to give some of his land, including the Bel Air, just to swoon the girl. And the protection for what is his, the cars and the garage, he wants that to be given away so that he can get what he wants under the umbrella that it would be better this way. Do you think my dad would go for that? No, I don't think so. It is not Joey's to give away in the first place. I surely think that Joey can no longer be my friend.
This is, however, a very simplistic way of telling you what has been happening in the Middle East, with in the role of Joey, the United States of America, the Track People, the West Bank and the Palestinians, and in the role of Me and My Dad, the land of Israel. If I would agree with this, what do you think my dad would do to me? Joey, he would chase away, and say not to come back anymore, or with some justice from the 40's, he would switch his behind. My dad is the Lord God Almighty who has the land and the Bel Air. God has all the land and has given a large tract to the tribes of Israel, and we will read about this in a minute.
So then, do we now see everyone suddenly bent over with their pants dropped, or do you think other events have transpired over the last 100 years as we went against the will of God the Father? Indeed, we all know the answer, because I've never witnessed 318.9 million people bent over at the same time, screaming in agony. The problem is that people keep repeating the same mistakes, and we fail to learn from our errors. How can we be part of this change? How does God want us to be different and make a difference? Where does it all start? I believe the simplest and most truthful answer would be:
- Give your life to Christ.
- Accept Him as your Lord AND Savior.
- Accept His Holy Spirit as your guide and conscience.
- Then, when this choice is made:
- Repent, move away from, and cease doing what is not in God's will.
- Study God's will, the Holy Bible.
With this, become a better person, or in other words, grow progressively in holiness.
Be better, get better, eat better, live better, work better; in other words, stand out because you are better.
Why will you be better? Because God's best way of living is all described in His Holy Word, the Bible. When this happens, you will be able to share this success and this success story with others, convincing them that a life with Christ is not just for a better life now, but that it is a covenant that lasts throughout eternity.
Then, after addressing these three topics, what do they have in common? God is a God of relationships, and we are created to be in this relationship, singing His praises.
Psalm 67 from the Tree of Life Version "Let All Peoples Praise You" states:
For the music director, with stringed instruments, a psalm, a song.
May God be gracious to us and bless us. May He cause His face to shine upon us— Selah
So that Your way may be known on earth, and Your salvation among all nations.
Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples fairly, and guide the nations on the earth. Selah
Let the peoples praise You, O God. Let all the peoples praise You.
The earth has yielded its harvest— God, our God will bless us.
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
From this psalm, we hear the words echoing back: When the praises go up, the blessings come down.
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Why is it, then, that the biggest complainers are filling the pews in the church?
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Wow, today a message of questions.
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But are we, and when, how, are we receiving the answers?
So then, tell me, is this a negative message, written by someone down and not looking up to all that is bright and good? I really do not think so. I believe that today's message is a realistic look at the situation. The land-for-peace deal, or the Bel Air exchange that we talked about earlier, is just an example of how people keep repeating mistakes from the past, and when you look at it clearly, how foolish it is.
The story before that about the news broadcasting is true and tested, and it shows us how people are influenced by what surrounds us. Isn't it true that our languages are filled with proverbs that tell us this? Like father, like son. The apple does not fall far from the tree. A man is known by the company he keeps. From nothing, nothing will come. Words disturb the air, but deeds bring success. He's putting new wine in old skins. And with that last word of wisdom, we see that we do as we are raised, not just by our parents, but by society as a whole. And we never learn because we keep on putting new wine in old wineskins, and most of it will be lost again. Then, of course, we will be sitting down and out, asking ourselves how it is possible that we have lost so much of that great and delicious wine.
What I'm saying with this, through those proverbs that are hundreds of years old, is that people still have not changed a bit. We are still pessimistic and still counting on the actions of others, instead of our own actions. "Why would I do this for God? Let Him do something for me first." Yes, we do not learn from history, because He has already done for us. Genesis 12:3 tells us how we can receive a blessing while we are still lost and not part of His people. Psalm 122 tells us how we can have peace within our walls by praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Then, in the good news of the Gospels, announced in the words of Isaiah, He gives His son, as John 3:16 states, to die on the cross to create a blood covenant with us so that we can be His adopted children and be part of the whole, complete deal. The forgiveness of ALL our sins and transgressions. Entrance into the Kingdom of heaven, and supper with our Lord at the wedding supper of the lamb.
So those last two questions were not answered yet.
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Why is it, then, that the biggest complainers are filling the pews in the church?
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But are we, and when, how, are we receiving the answers?
Back to those proverbs again, because most of our people that sit in the church these days—yes, I say it and am going to say it again—MOST of our people that sit in the church these days sit there because of a combination of any or all of the three reasons:
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It is expected of them to be in church.
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"My parents raised me in the church, so I go."
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"It is the right thing to do and a good place to go to."
NOT because they have received THE life-altering, life-touching, Holy Spirit overpowering experience of a full surrender to Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha'Mashiach. If you are going to church because your parents did, and because you are reformed and you are Dutch, you are now Dutch Reformed. Or because your parents had you baptized and John was a baptizer, that is why you are a Baptist. Or, or, or—those are all the wrong reasons, filling up the pews with people not truly willing to change the world. Not truly willing to lose it all because Jesus, Yeshua, wants THEM to make a difference. "No, no, no, not me, Lord, I'm not good enough, take him, he sits on the first pew."
Are you by now receiving the answer, and are you by now receiving it clearly? When you surround yourself with people filled with the ideas, words, music, movies, language, foods, and thoughts of this world, then what goes in must come out. And when it is not good in the eyes of the Lord that goes in, then what is not good in the eye of the Lord WILL come out. Surround yourselves with the word of God, for all your senses—taste, eyes, ears, for your feet, your hands, your body, your soul. Then what comes in, must come out.
"Oh, I don't care if I do this right or not, as long as I make my eight hours." It will then indeed come out as poor quality for your boss, and he will see that what you provide for him is subpar. BUT those who give it all they have, because they are filled with the Holy Spirit Power of our Lord, will provide a top-of-the-line quality product and will be seen by their employers as the providers of top-of-the-line quality products. They will move on, and they will move up. Better position, better pay, better pay, better food, better food, better health, better health, better quality work. Circle complete, life gets better and better. The Bel Air is in your garage, and the other side of the track is still driving the old beaters like they have in Communist Cuba. Why? Because you are God's people, that is why you are envied, but that is also why you are better. When you have nothing to live for, there is also nothing to enjoy. But when you have everything to live for, you can stop that Bel Air beside the road and be in wonder at how that nice-looking heifer is giving birth to that calf.
Oh, my God is good, life is good.
Amen.
Sermon Notes by Pastor Christiaan J. de Ruiter are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Note: The content provided here represents the foundational notes for a sermon or teaching, and should not be misconstrued as a complete transcript or a fully articulated sermon.
It is our profound belief that the Holy Spirit operates through the preacher, guiding and inspiring the delivery to resonate with the needs and convictions of the congregation.
These notes typically form the basis for a 30 to 45-minute sermon or teaching, allowing the Holy Spirit's guidance to shape the specific message and application to the gathered believers. The essence of these teachings is not merely in the written words but in the inspired delivery and connection with the congregation, led by the Spirit.
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