Parasha Shoftim - JUDGES

2 Corinthians {6:14} "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? {6:15} What harmony is there between Messiah and Belial ? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?"

Few things are more vital to our spiritual well being as Believers than not being unequally yoked. Yet many Believers give it little regard. Yes, we live in the world, but Yeshua said, we are not of the world. By necessity we need to be in contact with unbelievers and sinners, but we are not to become like them. Yes, it is impossible for us to isolate ourselves in a world filled with unbelievers but even though we move, work and live among them, we must not be contaminated by them. Yeshua was a friend of tax collectors and He ate with sinners, yet He was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from them.So, right here lies the problem, a problem of relationships; how to be a friend of sinners and yet at the same time remain separate from sinners. By-the-way, this issue of not being unequally yoked is not only for marriages, it is actually wider reaching than that. In fact, in the passage we read marriage is not the primary issue. Unequally yoked takes in a whole spectrum of relationships and partnerships and reminds us, that as Believers our first loyalty is to the Lord and being separated unto Him is essential to us walking with Him and knowing Him in a deeper and more intimate way. 

Being unequally yoked has to do with our relationships. Notice what the Scripture says, “14) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” So, the principle of unequal yoking affects our relationships with all unbelievers. It is about our interpersonal relationships, it is about the limits we need to place on our fellowship, friendships, partnerships and any other personal contact we have with unbelievers.

The idea of an unequal yoking comes from a farming analogy where two animals of differing kinds and strength are coupled together in order to plough a field; a practice which was forbidden in Torah. A yoke is a harness which joins two animals' side by side and obviously if a stronger more dominant animal is joined with a weaker one both animals are going to suffer. In particular the weaker animal is going to be damaged by the pull of the stronger. In the spiritual sense, unequally yoked is speaking about Believers forming a bond with unbelievers. That is what the text says; “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.”  The word unbeliever in the Greek, the language Paul used to write this scripture, means; “someone who is faithless, someone who is skeptical of the things of God, someone who is not trusting in Messiah Yeshua.” That is what is in view here, and the idea is that a Believer is not to enter into any formal arrangement, any kind of binding partnership, any covenant or contract or tie with those who are in unbelief. Why? Because the relationship according to the Word of God will be damaging to their spiritual life. You see an unequal yoke equals an unbalanced relationship.

Surely one of Satan’s greatest devices for the crippling of Believers has been "The Unequal Yoke principle." His one object is to drag Believers down from their higher road in Messiah Yeshua to the lowest levels of the world. Take heed, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers…” but rather… “come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” 

 

CLICK: https://youtu.be/2B446isTqMs To view the Torah commentary on Parasha “Re'eh" by Adin (Job) Azgad and the Haftarah commentary by Naomi Mwangi. 

CLICK: https://youtu.be/Red7amW3DK8 To view the Torah commentary on Parasha “Re'eh” by Rabbi Jack.   

CLICK: https://youtu.be/Ao3ZantG8pE To view the YouTube video of the sermon "I Am The Light" by Rabbi Jack 

CLICK: https://youtu.be/cNlnu07RDPc To view the YouTube video of the "Shabbat Service" at Etz Chaim Kenya, August 8, 2026.   

  

VISIT our blog: https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com  

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EtzChaimKenya  

CHECKOUT our website and visit when in Kenya: www.etzchaimkenya.com  

  

If you are being blessed by the teachings, sermons and commentaries we share, please consider supporting the ministry. Contact us for more information: daatbina@gmail.com  

  

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No PayPal?  No problem! Contact us for other options.  

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Titus 2:13 "…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.”  

D’VAR TORAH

SHOFTIM – JUDGES

DEVARIM (DEUTERONOMY) 16.18-21.9

Deuteronomy {16:18} “Judges and officers shall you make in all your gates, which the Lord your GOD gives you, according to your tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgements. {16:19} You shall not wrest justice: you shall not respect persons; neither shall you take a bribe; for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. {16:20} That which is altogether just shall you follow, that you may live, and inherit the land which the Lord your GOD gives you. {16:21} You shall not plant an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the Altar of the Lord your GOD, which you shall make. {16:22} Neither shall you set up a pillar; which the Lord your GOD hates.”

This week’s Parasha begins with the Lord giving the commandment to always be impartial in our judgements and never accept a bribe. I think we all know all too well, and it goes without saying, that a bribe or gift can and will cloud judgement. I was extremely cautious, as a rabbi not to encourage anyone to give me large gifts, especially money. I emphasize the word large because small gifts can be expressions of appreciation and sometimes that is acceptable in an appropriate situation. However, I can see how a large gift or one given with the wrong motives could have clouded my judgement and perhaps caused me not to properly correct or discipline someone.  Righteous judgements and the giving of bribes are very important subjects and I could certainly write an entire commentary on them. However, they are not what struck me as I read through this Torah Parasha. These are the verses that stood out:

Deuteronomy {16:21} “You shall not plant an Asherah of any kind of tree beside the Altar of the Lord your GOD, which you shall make. {16:22} Neither shall you set you up a pillar; which the Lord your GOD hates.”

We can see that the Lord is adamant about not setting up Asherah of any kind of tree or to set up any kinds of pillars next to His Altar of burnt offerings. An Asherah pole or pillar is a symbol of pagan worship. The pagan nations Israel was going to dispossess, especially the Canaanites, used to set up these carved trees and poles in their religious locations as part of their pagan reverence for their satanic gods. The Lord does not want His people to have anything to do with this or any other type of pagan practice. He especially does not want us to mix pagan practices with our worship of Him. 

What significance does this commandment have for us today? Much I would say, because sadly, most Christian denominations mix pagan practices with the worship of the One True God. For one, they have incorporated the pagan symbol of a decorated tree (Christmas tree) and have associated it with the worship of the birth of our Messiah Yeshua. In addition, many Christian denominations have incorporated Easter eggs, a symbol of the Mesopotamian goddess of sexual love and fertility into the worship of the resurrection of Yeshua. There are even some denominations that have incorporated polytheism into their beliefs through the practice of praying to saints. Unwittingly they falsely believe that these “saints” can intercede for them with God when in truth they are praying to dead people, something practiced by Taoism.  

However, Christians are not the only guilty ones. Judaism has incorporated the ancient Egyptian symbol associated with the moon goddess Tania into their belief system. The “hamsa hand” also known as the “hand of Mary and the hand of Miriam,” along with the symbol of the “all seeing eye” which are both of pagan origin, and have made them a part of Judaism to this day. Judaism has also incorporated the teaching and practicing of kabbalah: a form of Jewish mysticism that, among other abominations, teaches astral projection and reincarnation. However, kabbalah does not stop with Judaism! Even Messianic Jews have allowed kabbalah practices to creep into their teachings. As well, countless Believers keep copies of the Koran, the Book of Mormon and other books that teach abominations, in their homes and think nothing of it. Then there is the practice of keeping statues of Buddha and other satanic, pagan deity symbols in homes as decorations. 

 

Deuteronomy {7:26} “Neither shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be a cursed thing like it: but you shall utterly detest it, and you shall utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”

We cannot be double minded. We either worship God with all our soul, with all our might, with all our hearts and Him only or we pervert our worship of Him by incorporating foreign pagan practices into our worship.  

Matthew {7:13} “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {7:14} But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to salvation and only a few shall find it.”

Parashot Nitzavim-Vayeilech (YOU ARE STANDING—HE WENT)

Genesis {2:18}  “It is not good for the man to be alone.” 

            

Note: What I am about to share is applicable to all men and women: young, old, married and single.  

            

Romance is God’s idea! God created the two sexes with a “need” for each other. The entire book of Song of Solomon discusses romance, marriage and sex. God created marriage and sex to be great and satisfying. Sex is the reason each of us is alive and here today reading this! God created us with romantic desires and He wants us to fulfil those desires in the correct way. Going our own way causes tons of problems; divorce, unplanned pregnancies, STDs and damaged children.    There are God given rules for sex, following them produces the best and most satisfying sex possible. It provides the security and stability needed for a truly satisfying relational, emotional, spiritual, physical and progressive sex life. Sex within marriage is safe and actually contributes to the overall relationship. Premarital sex typically pulls people apart. Doing it God’s way draws couples together. 

            

Attraction plays a big role in relationships. You can be attracted to a kitten and a puppy but that does mean you get sexually involved with them. The same goes for attraction to a guy or a girl. You will be attracted to many different individuals but attraction does not equal romance or sex. Letting attraction lead you will get you into more trouble than you can imagine. Attraction is a feeling which can be good or bad depending on who is in  control. Attraction should never lead you; you lead it. You need to decide what and who you will allow yourself to be attracted to. If attraction controls you, you lose your self-respect. You jeopardize an abundant life with God, freedom, fulfilment, reputation, confidence, purity and the satisfying sex that God intended for you and your spouse. You will lose your life calling, purpose and the fruitfulness God had planned for you. The ripple effect of doing it your way outside of marriage will lead to guilt, shame, broken relationships and sexual frustration! Ultimately you will lose eternity with God. Do it God’s way and you win the abundant life, freedom, fulfilment, your reputation, confidence, purity and the satisfying sex God intended for you within your marriage.  

            

1 Corinthians {6:19-20} "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." 

            

The idea that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit means that they are sacred and should be treated with respect and dignity. This passage also reminds us that we were "bought at a price," referring to the sacrifice Yeshua made for us. Reflecting on this immense sacrifice should inspire us to strive for purity and self-control, recognizing that our bodies are valuable and worthy of being honored in every way, including how we manage our sexual desires. This does not mean that the struggle with sexual temptation is not real or that overcoming it is easy. It acknowledges the challenge but also points to a higher calling of living in a way that honors God. 

Shabbat Shalom 

Rabbi Jack 

 

CLICK https://youtu.be/KsjvoEV-a8w To view the Torah commentary on Haftarah Parasha “Ki Tavo" by Mirriam Minayo. 

CLICK: https://youtu.be/EuVZt3QFeLA To view the Torah commentary on Parasha “Ki Tavo” by Rabbi Jack.   

CLICK:https://youtu.be/-YtcAKqS5ik To view the YouTube video of the sermon "Hope In God" by Rabbi Jack 

CLICK: https://youtu.be/nBtiW2qocFI To view the YouTube video of the "Shabbat Service" at Etz Chaim Kenya, August 29, 2026.   

  

VISIT our blog: https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com  

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EtzChaimKenya  

CHECKOUT our website and visit when in Kenya: www.etzchaimkenya.com  

  

If you are being blessed by the teachings, sermons and commentaries we share, please consider supporting the ministry. Contact us for more information: daatbina@gmail.com  

  

DONATE using PayPal: https://paypal.me/kenyamission   

No PayPal?  No problem! Contact us for other options.  

*We are not a 401K organization and can not give tax receipts.  

  

Titus 2:13…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.”  

D’VAR TORAH

NITZAVIM- VAYEILECH 

YOU ARE STANDING—HE WENT

DEVARIM/DEUTERONOMY {29:10} - {31:30}

NITZAVIM

Deuteronomy {29:10} “You stand this day all of you before the Lord your GOD; your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, {29:11} your little ones, your wives, and your sojourner who is in the midst of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water; {29:12} that you may enter into the covenant of the Lord your GOD, and into His oath, which the Lord your GOD makes with you this day; {12:13} that He may establish you this day to Himself for a people, and that He may be to you a GOD, as He spoke to you, and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. {12:14} Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, {12:15} but with him who stands here with us this day before the Lord our GOD, and also with him who is not here with us this day….”

If you are a Born-Again Believer in Messiah Yeshua then Moses is speaking about you! Because you are connected to the covenant made by the Lord to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, since you are connected to the covenant you are also connected to the people and the land of Israel. As Believers our citizenship and home are in heaven, but our earthly, physical homeland is Israel. Why is Israel our homeland, because Yeshua is going to rule and reign from Israel for one thousand years, and we are told that where He is we will be also? 

Revelation {20:6} “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.”

 

It does not matter what country in the world you are now living in, or where you were born. Every time you read in the Torah (the first five books of Moshe) and apply the covenants to your life and make them applicable in your life, you connect yourself to the God of Israel. Your connection with the covenants connects you with the people and the land of Israel and, therefore Israel is your homeland! 

Today, if you were not born into a Jewish family by a Jewish mother, Israeli law does not allow you to become a citizen of Israel. But that will all change when Messiah Yeshua returns. What I am saying here does not apply to the Christian Church in general, many have rejected their connection to Israel, but it does, in my opinion, apply to any Believer, Jew or Gentile who has embraced Yeshua their Lord and Savior and are walking in the light of Torah and its commandments, as they are applicable today. It is especially true of Believers in Messiah Yeshua who have associated themselves with a Messianic Jewish congregation (both Jew and Gentile), and are living a Torah centered lifestyle.  

You are connected to the covenant because you were standing with the children of Israel when they received the Divine Covenant from God at Mount Sinai as described in the scripture passages, I quoted. Remember not all who came out of Egypt with Moses were Israelites, a mixed multitude of slaves of other nationalities including Egyptians came out with them, and they were all standing together when Moses proclaimed:

Deuteronomy {29:14} “Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath, {29:15} but with him who stands here with us this day before the Lord our GOD, and also with him who is not here with us this day…”

As a non-Jew who has embraced the God of Israel and has aligned yourself with the covenants of Torah, one day you will be able to pick which tribe you want to belong to and receive your inheritance in the land of Israel: 

Ezekiel {47:23} "And it will come about that in the tribe with which the alien stays, there you shall give him his inheritance," declares the Lord GOD.”

VAYEILECH 

Deuteronomy {31:26} “Take this Book of the Torah, and put it by the side of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your GOD, that it may be there for a witness against you. {31:27} For I know your rebellion, and your stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, you have been rebellious against the Lord; and how much more after my death? {31:28} Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. {31:29} For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do that which is evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

This is quite the rebuke Moses gave to the children of Israel. They were not thrilled with Moses in the first place because he had often rebuked them for their irresponsible, rebellious, stiff-necked behavior. Now, in his old age and just weeks away from his death, he calls the children of Israel, their elders and leaders together, to rebuke them again.  

You would be hard pressed to find many leaders today that are as blunt and honest to their flock as Moses was to the children of Israel. Some leaders I have encountered try their hardest to placate their members so as to keep peace within the congregation. They think that the Renewed (New) Covenant requires them to always be kind, compassionate and loving. However, their motives may not always be so altruistic. Many, because they do not want their attendance to decrease, resulting in their tithing going down, are not prone to rebuke. So, they become peacemakers for reasons of compromise and not really because of kindness and love. However, sometimes being kind, compassionate and loving to someone does require being blunt and in some cases being brutally honest, just like Moses. 

Revelation {3:19} “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

These are the words of Yeshua. In addition, read these Scripture passages written by Paul:

1 Timothy {5:20} “Those that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”

2 Timothy {4:2} “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

Titus {2:15} “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.”

 

Was Yeshua cold, unfeeling or lacking in love; never! Was the Apostle Paul lacking in love when he said these things to Timothy and Titus? Of course not! Sometimes loving someone requires telling them the truth about themselves?

What if you were invited into the office of your rabbi or pastor and he told you something the likes of what Moses told the children of Israel; how would you react? Suppose he said you were being rebellious and stiff-necked, but you rejected his warnings, labeling him cruel, unloving, harsh and unkind. Suppose he then came straight out and told you that because of your attitude you were going to utterly corrupt yourself and that all kinds of evil would befall you because you refused to listen to the voice of wisdom and reason. Would you continue to choose your own path and simply ignore what you were told? Well, that is exactly what the children of Israel eventually did! They refused to listen to reason and Scripture is replete with what happened to them because of it. 

Sometimes we need to be rebuked in order to get back on the right path. I do not know about you, but I would much rather have a leader that told it to me like it is, than one that wanted to placate me so as to maintain peace. That kind of peace is not from God; it is a false peace that would ultimately lead both to destruction. 

Blessings, Rabbi Jack

Parasha Ki Tavo (When You Enter In)

 

Isaiah {28: 9-10}: “Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10} For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”:

The first thing that is absolutely necessary in the education of a child is for the child to have a “teachable attitude”. If any of you have ever had the opportunity to be in a classroom setting and teach, you could not help but notice that there are some children who have a teachable attitude and there are some who do not. The fact is, you cannot teach anyone anything unless they are willing to listen, hear, learn, and put what they have learned into practice. 

Where are you on the scale of having a "teachable attitude"? I want you to look at where you are spiritually because I am going to give you a picture of not only where the body of Mashiach is today, but also give you a picture of what the attitude is of most Believers in Messiah Yeshua. 

If you are attending Etz Chaim Kenya or any other congregation that is rightly dividing the Word; coming week after week, service after service, listening to the sermons but it is having no effect on your life (that is you are not changing or growing), then you are displaying an "unteachable attitude". You are not willing to learn, hear, listen or change your life to be more like Yeshua. So why are you coming? If the sermons and teachings are not affecting change in you for the better, then you might just as well get one of the kids out of the nursery and let them preach to you. You would get just as much out of what they had to say as you are out of what God has to say. That is what God was saying about Israel and I believe He is still saying the same thing about some of us today; to those of us whose lives do not seem to be affected by the preaching of the Word.

God has done all that He can to simplify His message. He brings us through the growth process of spiritual maturity one step at a time. As beginners He starts with the Ten Commandments so we can see we have fallen short of His standard and into sin. He does this so that we might know we need a Saviour. Then He takes us a step further in our maturity to tell us that there is a Saviour who died in our place for our sin, but He does not stop there. He fills us with His Holy Spirit who imparts His wisdom and knowledge into us so that we can live Spirit filled, sanctified lives. He teaches us to be faithful, committed and dedicated to Him. Line upon line, God repeats His message over and over again in the simplest way possible, all the while taking us deeper into understanding His Will.

God has given us a way to escape judgment, but for those who remain stuck, with an "unteachable attitude", believing the way they are living or what they are doing for the Lord is good enough; to them Yeshua is going to be their Judge. 

Self-righteousness will not measure up! Good works are not good enough! Just learning the basics and then playing around in the world will not work! You need to have a "teachable attitude"; to grow in Yeshua and be all that you can be to measure up to God’s standard, to God’s Word and learn to be like Yeshua. Your life has to produce the fruit and the works that come from a heart of true repentance. You can either stay stuck as a beginner and face the judgment of God and His wrath for your disobedience, or you can grow to maturity in the Messiah.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Jack

CLICK https://youtu.be/4I94f-cU-Dc To view the Torah commentary on Parasha “Ki Teitzei" by Hillel Azgad.

CLICK: https://youtu.be/jq4G_ka2I84 To view the Torah commentary on Parasha “Ki Teitzei” by Rabbi Jack.  

CLICK: https://youtu.be/BYQopr mc3mc To view the YouTube video of the sermon "How To Be An Overcomer" by Rabbi Jack

CLICK: https://youtu.be/Nn_wKMiRC8w To view the YouTube video of the "Shabbat Service" at Etz Chaim Kenya, August 22, 2026.  

VISIT our blog: https://weeklyparasha02.blogspot.com 

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@EtzChaimKenya 

CHECKOUT our website and visit when in Kenya: www.etzchaimkenya.com 

If you are being blessed by the teachings, sermons and commentaries we share, please consider supporting the ministry. Contact us for more information: daatbina@gmail.com 

DONATE using PayPal: https://paypal.me/kenyamission  

No PayPal?  No problem! Contact us for other options. 

*We are not a 401K organization and can not give tax receipts. 

{Titus 2:13} "… while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.” 

D’Var Torah

Ki Tavo / When You Enter In

Devarim / Deuteronomy {21:10} - {25:19}

Deuteronomy {26:1-10}: “It shall be, when you have come into the land which the Lord your GOD gives you for an inheritance, and possess it, and dwell therein, {2} that you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you shall bring in from your land that the Lord your GOD gives you; and you shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which the Lord your GOD shall choose, to cause His name to dwell there. {3} You shall come to the High Priest who shall be in those days, and tell him, “I profess this day to the Lord your GOD, that I have come to the land which the Lord swore to our fathers to give us.” {4} The High Priest shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before the Altar of Offerings of the Lord your GOD. {5} You shall answer and say before the Lord your GOD, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father; and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous. {6} The Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid on us hard bondage: {7} and we cried to the Lord, the GOD of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression; {8} and the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror, and with signs, and with wonders; {9} and He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. {10} Now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which You, Lord, has given me.” You shall set it down before the Lord your GOD, and worship before the Lord your GOD”:

When you give your tithes, do you give out of guilt, out of obligation or out of gratitude? Sadly, many of us give out of guilt or obligation; they feel, "God commanded me to give so I give!" In fact, over the years there has been so much false teaching on giving that many people give, expecting to receive double or triple back in return. However, we can see from our Scripture passage this week that we are to give out of gratitude not guilt or obligation and definitely not expecting anything in return. We are to give and give generously out of our appreciation for what the Lord has given for us. 

God has done so much for us; He heard our cries, He saw our tears, He witnessed our sleepless nights and He grieved at how Satan oppressed us. So, He had pity on us and redeemed us from the slavery of sin to the freedom of worshiping Him. Commandments which we once thought as oppressive became, through Yeshua the Messiah, who now lives inside of us, a joy and a blessing to follow. Yes, as promised by the prophets of old, God reached down to us and with His mighty right hand, He saved us and we were reborn as His children. Yet many of us still tithe because we feel obligated to. 

Through Messiah Yeshua we have been Born Again into the Kingdom of God, a place of true blessing. God’s Kingdom is not somewhere far off in the distant future; it is right here, right now living inside of us. We, Believers in Messiah Yeshua, are the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we contain in ourselves the Kingdom qualities: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the fruits of God’s Spirit which took up residence inside of us upon our salvation. God’s Kingdom is alive and well living right here on earth and we are it. 

One day, some time after the return of Yeshua, there will be a judgement of the wicked. Those found to be unworthy will be consigned to a place of spiritual darkness, a place of hopelessness, a place without God. However, those judged to be righteous will be saved and take up residence in heaven, a place filled with God’s love. At that time the Kingdom of God will encompass the entire earth. Until that time, however, it is limited to those of us who believe. We owe tremendous gratitude to the Lord for all He has done for us and for that reason He has warned us in His Word: 

Deuteronomy {8:11-18}: “Beware lest you forget the Lord your GOD, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgements, and His statutes, which I command you this day: {12} lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and lived therein; {13} and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; {14} then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your GOD, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage; {15} who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, [in which were] fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint; {16} who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know; that He might humble you, and that He might prove you, to do you good at your latter end: {17} and [lest] you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” {18} But you shall remember the Lord your GOD, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth; that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as at this day.”

I think we need to examine our hearts as we bring our tithes and offerings to the Lord. In fact, perhaps we should modify and personalize the portions of Scripture quoted and remember in our hearts as we give, that, "We were once debtors in bondage to sin, and that sin dealt harshly with us and afflicted us and laid hard bondage on us. Then we cried to the God of our forefathers and He heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. And The Lord reached down to us and brought us out of our trouble by the blood of Messiah Yeshua which He shed for us at Calvary. He has brought us into a place of joy and peace. Now, we can bring the first fruit of our labour, not out of guilt or obligation but with “thanksgiving and appreciation."

So next time you give to the Lord, instead of just placing your gift into the collection basket or sending it electronically, remember who you were then, and who you are now, and give in thankfulness and appreciation. What a difference it will make in your giving and in your life..

Parsha Shelach

(See Parsha Shelach commentary below)

From Rabbi Jack

1 Timothy {4:8} "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."

Many of us are spiritual weaklings and the devil is kicking sand in our faces and he is humiliating us. We need to turn it around; we need to be kicking sand in the devil’s face. We have forgotten that we are the undefeatable champions of the world through Messiah Yeshua who strengthens us In fact you are going to be amazed at how simple it really is. Here are some steps for becoming spiritually strong. Call it your spiritual fitness program: 

In the physical realm people think if they get a new type of weight machine they are going to get physically fit. Trouble is those machines do not work on their own. No matter how high-tech the machine is, until you commit to using it on a regular basis, nothing is going to happen to your body. You have to put the effort in, in order to get anything out. So how do you solve the problem of not exercising? You have to choose to exercise. You have to do the same thing with God, you have to choose to get serious with God, to commit time and effort to Him. In other words you have to decide that you do not want to be a spiritual wimp,  

When you start a physical fitness program you never start-out bench pressing 136k. You start at your level, whatever that may be. If you start at too high of a level you will not succeed, you will get discouraged and quit. Always start at your level, and then slowly work your way up. Meet God where you are at, it is the only way to succeed. Taking just one step in the right direction is the beginning of a great journey in the right direction.  

In the physical, before you get into exercising, you have to stretch your muscles otherwise you may hurt yourself. Well in the spiritual you have to stretch your spirit before you enter into any heavy work for the Lord. You have to prepare yourself at a lower level and then work your way up into what God finally wants you to do for Him. Too many people take on more than they can handle and then get discouraged and end up doing nothing. It is better to start small with the Lord and be committed then to start big and be a quitter.  

We grow spiritually stronger simply by exercising and it involves resistance! The more resistance you can push, pull or lift, the stronger you become. Barbells and weights are what constitute resistance in the physical. What constitutes resistance in the spiritual? Problems, challenges, troubles, things you don’t want to do; difficulties, hard times and disappointments. The more resistance you have the more effort you exert to push through and the stronger you become spiritually. It works physically and it works spiritually. The more trouble and persecution you go through and get through, the stronger you are spiritually. We spend so much of our lives trying to avoid resistance when it is resistance that makes us stronger.  

God will provide you with all the exercise equipment you will ever need, and whatever resistance you may need in the future He will provide that also. Do you want to be a spiritual wimp or do you want to be victorious? Commit yourself to excellence; commit yourself to being a champion and start kicking sand in the devils face! 

CLICK https://youtu.be/3YddE9BHMX8 for the Torah commentary on Parsha "Vayeshev" by Gilbert Shilaho. 

CLICK https://youtu.be/-SFySSyA2SE for the Torah commentary on “Vayeshev” by Rabbi Jack. 

CLICK https://youtu.be/n0MiOapZN2w to watch the full Shabbat Service of December 13, 2025. 

CLICK https://youtu.be/Ud8L7acJVik for the video of sermon “The Ministry of Angels” by Rabbi Jack. 

 

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Titus 2:13…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua.”

Yours in Messiah Yeshua,

Shabbat Shalom

Jack & Ellen

D’VAR TORAH

SHELACH / SEND

BAMIDBAR / NUMBERS 13:1-15:41

Numbers {13:1-2; 17-20} "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, {13:2} Send you men that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel: of every tribe of their fathers shall you send a man, everyone a prince among them. {13:17} Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan, and said to them, Get you up this way by the south, and go up into the hill-country: {13:18} and see the land, what it is; and the people who dwell therein, whether they are strong or weak, whether they are few or many; {13:19} and what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad; and what cities they are that they dwell in, whether in camps, or in strongholds; {13:20} and what the land is, whether it is fat or lean, whether there is wood therein, or not. Be you of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first-ripe grapes."

It is obvious here that The Lord set this whole “spy out the land” affair as a test for Israel. Read again what Moses asked of them: “…what the land is that they dwell in, whether it is good or bad…” The Lord was asking Moses to send a leader from each tribe to go and check whether the land He was giving them was good or bad! If that was not a test I do not know what is. Why do I see it as a test, because of what The Lord told Moses and the children of Israel previously when He was coming to remove them from the land of Egypt.

Exodus 3:8 "I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the place of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite."

So, The Lord already told Moses and the children of Israel that the land He was giving them was a land flowing with milk and honey, which to me means it was a good land. Then why would The Lord now be telling them to go and check out the land and see “whether it was good or bad,”? Because it was a test! These Scriptures are a real encouragement to me. The Lord has made many “Promise Land” type promises to me, yet I am always finding myself having to go in and spy out the land before I receive anything. Some of you might be saying, “What is he talking about?” Well, let me give you an example of what I mean. When I was a new Believer (Born Again), and attending a Messianic congregation, I was invited to join the congregation’s evangelism team. I was new and never publicly spoke about Yeshua to strangers, so it was something scary but I said yes on the condition that I could just go as an observer and “spy out the land,” so-to-speak. We went to the parking lot of a large department store in our community and when I saw all the different people from different walks of life; Jews, Muslims, Hispanics, African Americans, fear started to grip me. I felt that this was something I just could not do; walk up to some total stranger and talk to them about the Jewish Messiah. All types of negative scenarios were running through my mind. At my word, would Muslims be open to a Messianic Jewish oriented Gospel? I thought, "never in a million years would they accept a Jewish Messiah";. As it happens, The Lord had previously spoken to me to step out into the community to share my faith. So, I knew it was because of Him I was there, yet it was still scary.

I could have come back with a bad report and declined to continue going out with the evangelism group or I could choose to believe and trust The Lord to work out the mechanics of reaching this community for the Mashiach, despite what I saw and felt and despite the fact that we are Messianic Jews with a Messianic Jewish oriented Gospel.

Each of us regularly face tests similar to the one The Lord imposed on the children of Israel. As Believers in Messiah Yeshua, we read God’s promises in the Bible, we believe God’s promises, but when we are tested on them do we, instead of seeing the victory The Lord has promised us, see the giants in the land?

Life would have been so much simpler for this generation of Israel if they would have only believed God when He said that the land He was giving them was a good land flowing with milk and honey. Then when Moses asked them to go and “spy-out the land” they could have just said, “There is no need for us to do what you are asking Moses. The Lord has already told us that the land is a good land, and He said that He was going to give it to us as a possession. What God has said is good enough for us; we are ready to go up and take the land now.” Life can and will be so much simpler for us as well, if we

would only say and do the same when we are tested by The Lord.