Showing posts with label Matthew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matthew. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Was Matthew a False Prophet? - Ron Cantor

Was Matthew a False Prophet?

November 17, 2014 — MAOZ ISRAEL MINISTRIES

Ron CantorBy Ron Cantor
In Matthew 2:23 the gospel writer makes a confusing claim. He suggests that Yeshua’s going to live in Nazareth was a fulfillment of an Old Covenant prophecy:
[Joseph] went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that [Yeshua] would be called a Nazarene. (Matt. 2:23)

Anti-Messianics have sought to use this verse to confuse young Jewish believers, by claiming that the New Testament is false. After all, there is no prophecy from the Hebrew Scriptures that claims that Yeshua would be called a Nazarene… Or is there?
First of all, what is a Nazarene? In the context of the Matthew verse it would be someone who lives in Nazareth. However, one must look deeper to see the wordplay—something that was very common in Hebrew literature.
The word for Nazarene that is use in the Hebrew New Testament is natsri (נַצְרִי). The root of this word is natsar (נַצַר). From this root we get the Hebrew word netser (נֵצֵר). And a nester is a branch.
With this information, let’s see if there is anything regarding a Branch and the Messiah in the Hebrew prophets:
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” (Jer. 23:5)
“In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land.” (Jer. 33:15)
“Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.”
(Zech. 3:8)
“Tell him this is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is theBranch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the LORD.’” (Zech. 6:12)
Ok problem solved, right? Not exactly, you see in all these verses the Hebrew word for branch istsemach (צֶמַח), not netser. In Modern Hebrew tsemach means plant, but since virtually every English translation of the Bible uses the word branch for tsemach, we can be quite sure that branch is the proper meaning in the Old Covenant. So despite being two different words with the same meaning, it could still be a clever wordplay between the name of the city and the Messianic prophecies:
  • Yeshua is from Nazareth,
  • So he is a Nazarene (natsri),
  • Which is the same as netzer (branch),
  • And the prophets spoke of a tsemach (branch) coming forth to be the Messiah and King.

Well, that is enough for me to see that Matthew was referring to these prophetic passages when he said that Yeshua would be called a Nazarene according to the prophets. But isn’t there even one verse that uses the same word netser for branch and refers to the Messiah? Yes!
One of the most famous Messianic prophesies of all is in Isaiah 11:
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch (netser/נֵצֵר) will bear fruit. (Is. 11:1)
So if we had any doubts about Matthew’s use of the word natzri meaning branch, they should be definitely be put to rest. And most scholars believe that Matthew had the deepest knowledge of Old Covenant prophecies. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology states, “Matthew has a special fondness for the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah and other prophets.” It is noteworthy that they point out Isaiah from all the prophets, the book where we find the branch/netser verse.
Scholars agree Matthew was writing to Jews. He uses prophecy from the Old Covenant 62 times. It makes no sense to add the verse about the Nazarene, if it wasn’t clear to his Jewish readers what he meant. If he is making it up to hoodwink his readers, he has no need with 61 other prophecies. It would only cut at his credibility. Clearly he was referring to Isaiah 11:1 and possibly the other verses that we mentioned as well.
An interesting footnote is that the same root is used in the verb l’natser (לְנֵצר) which means to guard, to keep, to maintain. Yeshua was the only human that was able to l’natser the Law of Moses completely. So not only is Matthew not mistaken, who quotes Yeshua as saying that He “came not to destroy the Law of Moses, but fulfill it” (Matt. 5:17), he also comes across as brilliant in his ability to write in such a way that was very common in his day, and do it masterfully.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Ahava Love Letter (#49) - "Fill My Heart"


"Fill My Heart"


"So when He came ashore, 

He saw a huge crowd; 

and, filled with compassion for them,

He healed those of them who were sick.” 

(Matthew 14:14)

Complete Jewish Bible


Dear family of friends,

The red light on the clock radio shone a bright 3:00. As in “a.m.” As in “early in the morning.”

As He has been doing these last four weeks, since that week of Passover in March, which was the same week as Resurrection Sunday, Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) woke me up. By now I was looking forward to it. Time with Him again  - in the quiet morning hours. No noise. No TV. No distractions from hearing and receiving instructions from Him. From His heart to mine.

I did the usual, just to further wake up - check the Blackberry for new messages. Yes, 12 e-mails, 31 Facebook postings. Even a Tweet appearance this morning from Wane.

After the birth of our 5th grandchild yesterday (April 20), the honorable Jack Andrew Blade, to our youngest daughter Christen and newly commissioned father Andrew, (making Jack the 4th grandson prince, with Dylan Joy still as the single Princess), there was a bit more clamor on my social media networks. I love connections!

When I finally sat down in my black, fake leather rocking chair, that has dutifully served as my place of prayer to meet with my loving Creator, I opened my Jewish New Testament Bible to the next chapter I was to read this day. It was Matthew 14.

When I got to verse 14, He touched my heart.

“ So when He came ashore, He saw a huge crowd; and, filled with compassion for them,
He healed those of them who were sick.” CJB” (Matthew 14:14)

As He sometimes does when He wants me to share something with others, my own heart started to beat a bit faster. I could sense the inspiration come into my spirit, as that “feeling” started to rise in my chest. (And I knew it wasn’t the cup of coffee.)

His words to me were to simply pray, “Fill my heart with those things that fill Yours.”

And so I did. And I repeated it again. And again. And again. (Even as I write this my spirit continues to flicker with His excitement building in me, and my vision increasing, for the nations, and love for His people.

He is also wanting to speak to you too. Maybe by having you pray this same enduring word. By speaking softly out His love for you and the crying nations. Speaking it purposefully out of your own heart.

“Fill my heart with those things that fill Yours.”

I know He will. By simply asking. And then see what happens! (I dare you!)

Ahava to my family of friends,

Steve Martin
Founder/President



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Ahava Love Letter #49   Date: In the year of our Lord 2031 (04/21/13 Sunday, 5:00 a.m. Charlotte, NC)




Prince Jack Andrew Blade (April 20, 2013)


My heart beats faster for my newest grandson!




Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Death of Jesus and His Disciples

The Death of Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) and His Disciples 
 
 



The Death of Jesus
 
For the next 60 seconds, set aside whatever You're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this.
THE (SCIENTIFIC) DEATH OF JESUS
 
At the age of 33, Jesus was condemned to death.
 
At the time Crucifixion was the "worst" death. Only the worst criminals were condemned to be crucified.
 
Yet it was even more dreadful for Jesus, unlike other criminals condemned to death by Crucifixion. Jesus was to be nailed to the Cross by His hands and feet. Each nail was 6 to 8 inches long. The nails were driven into His wrist. Not into His palms as is commonly portrayed.
 
There's a tendon in the wrist that extends to the shoulder. The Roman guards knew that when the nails were being hammered into the wrist that tendon would tear and break; forcing Jesus to use His back muscles to support himself so that He could breath.
 
Both of His feet were nailed together. Thus He was forced to Support Himself on the single nail that impaled His feet to the cross. Jesus could not support himself with His legs because of the pain so He was forced to alternate between arching His back then using his legs just to continue to breath.
 
 
 
Imagine the struggle, the pain, the suffering, the courage.
 
Jesus endured this Reality for over 3 hours. Yes, Over 3 hours!
 
Can you imagine this kind of suffering? A few minutes before He died, Jesus stopped bleeding. He was simply pouring water from his wounds. From common images we see wounds to His hands and feet and even the spear wound to His side... But do we realize His wounds were actually made in his body.
 
A hammer driving large nails through the wrist, the feet overlapped and an even larger nail hammered through the arches, then a Roman guard piercing His side with a spear. But before the nails and the spear Jesus was whipped and beaten. The whipping was so severe that it tore the Flesh from His body.
 
 
 
The beating was so horrific that His Face was torn and his beard ripped from His face. The Crown of thorns cut deeply into His scalp.
 
Most men would not have survived this torture. "He had no more blood to bleed out, only water poured from His wounds. The human adult body contains about 3.5 liters (just less than a gallon) of blood.        
 
Jesus poured all 3.5 Liters of his blood; He had three nails hammered into His members; a crown of thorns on His head and, beyond that, a Roman soldier who stabbed a spear into His chest.
 
All these without mentioning the humiliation He suffered after carrying His own Cross for almost 2 kilometers, while the crowd spat in his face and threw stones (the cross was almost 30 kg of weight, only for its higher part, where His hands were nailed).         
 
Jesus had to endure this experience, to open the Gates of Heaven, so that you can have free Access to God; so that your sins could be "washed" away.
 
All of them, with no exception! Don't ignore this situation.
 
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!
 
           
       I Love You
 
 
 He will return the 2nd time as the Lion of Judah
 
He died for you! It is easy to pass jokes or foolish photos by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to forward to others because you are worried of what they may think about you.
 
God has plans for you. Show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think about this! May God bless your life!
 
60 Seconds with God... For the next 60 Seconds, set aside what you're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this.
 
   
He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in heaven".
 
Yes, I love God. He is my source of life and my Savior. He keeps me alive day
and night. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him "I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13.
 
This is the simple proof. If you love God and you are a believer and trust in salvation through Christ Jesus, share this with all those you love if you want to.


And now for His disciples, Apostles in the faith.

 

1. Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.
 
2. Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt, after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.
 
3. Luke
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous peaching to the lost.
 
4 John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos.
 
He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve as Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully. 
       
5. Peter
He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross. According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died. 
       
6 James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle* of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a fuller's club. * This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.
        
7. James the Great
Son of Zebedee, was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.
 
8. Bartholomew
Also known as Nathaniel was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
 
9. Andrew
He was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: 'I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.' He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.
 
10. Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.
 
11. Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
 
12. Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot was stoned and then beheaded.
 
13. Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire.
 
These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament. Perhaps this is a reminder to us that our sufferings here are indeed minor compared to the intense persecution and cold cruelty faced by the apostles and disciples during their times for the sake of the Faith. "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: But he that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matthew 
 
Faith is not believing that God can; it is knowing that God WILL!


 
JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR YOU!
 
He died for you! It is easy to pass jokes or foolish photos by e-mail, but when it comes to God, sometimes you feel ashamed to forward to others because you are worried of what they may think about you.
 
God has plans for you. Show all your friends what He experienced to save you. Now think about this! May God bless your life!
 
60 Seconds with God... For the next 60 Seconds, set aside what you're doing and take this opportunity! Let's see if Satan can stop this.
 
All you have to do is:
 
1. Pray for the person who sent this message to you
2. Then, send this message to people, the more the better.
3. People will pray for you and you will make that many people pray to God for other people .
4. Take a moment to appreciate the power of God in your life, for doing what pleases Him.
 
If you are not ashamed to do this, please, follow Jesus' instructions.
 
He said (Matthew 10:32 & 33): "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before My Father in heaven; but whosoever denies Me before others, I also will deny before My Father in heaven".
 
Yes, I love God. He is my source of life and my Savior. He keeps me alive day
and night. Without Him, I am nothing, but with Him "I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13.
 
This is the simple proof. If you love God and you are a believer and trust in salvation through Christ Jesus, share this with all those you love if you want to.