Epistle Naso

Epistle Naso

John 8:31-59

Joh 8:31  Yeshua therefore said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you remain in my Word, then you are truly my talmidim.

As YHWH Incarnate, His Word is the entire Tanakh.  If you are outside the bounds of His written commandments, you are not His talmidi – just as the sorcerer Simon in the Talmidim portion of Naso.

John, continued:

Joh 8:32  You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

Joh 8:33  They answered him, “We are Avraham’s seed, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How do you say, ‘You will be made free?’”

Some people have a strange idea that freedom means anarchy – doing whatever you want.  But that is not real freedom.  Let my people go THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME.  That is true freedom, as defined by Elohim Himself (Exodus 8:1 et al.).

John, continued:

Joh 8:34  Yeshua answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, everyone who commits sin is the bondservant of sin.

Even so-called “believers.”  Grace is not license for sin (Rom 6).  Sin is the Transgression of the Torah (I John 3).  Egro, grace is not license for transgressing the Torah.

John, continued:

Joh 8:35  A bondservant doesn’t live in the house forever. A son remains forever.

Joh 8:36  If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Joh 8:37  I know that you are Avraham’s seed, yet you seek to kill me, because my word finds no place in you.

Joh 8:38  I say the things which I have seen with my Father; and you also do the things which you have seen with your father.”

Joh 8:39  They answered him, “Our father is Avraham.” Yeshua said to them, “If you were Avraham’s children, you would do the works of Avraham.

And what are the works for which Elohim so praised Abraham?  Why did Elohim love Abraham so much?  “Gen 26:5 because Avraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my mitzvot, my statutes, and my laws.”

John, continued:

Joh 8:40  But now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from Elohim. Avraham didn’t do this.

Joh 8:41  You do the works of your father.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father, Elohim.”

Joh 8:42  Therefore Yeshua said to them, “If Elohim were your father, you would love me, for I came out and have come from Elohim. For I haven’t come of myself, but he sent me.

Joh 8:43  Why don’t you understand my speech? Because you can’t hear my word.

Joh 8:44  You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Joh 8:45  But because I tell the truth, you don’t believe me.

Joh 8:46  Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

Joh 8:47  He who is of Elohim hears the words of Elohim. For this cause you don’t hear, because you are not of Elohim.”

Joh 8:48  Then the Judeans answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Shomroni, and have a demon?”

Joh 8:49  Yeshua answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

Joh 8:50  But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.

Joh 8:51  Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”

Of course, Yeshua meant the second death – at the judgement seat at the Resurrection.

John, continued:

Joh 8:52  Then the Judeans said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Avraham died, and the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’

Joh 8:53  Are you greater than our father, Avraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”

Joh 8:54  Yeshua answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our Elohim.

Joh 8:55  You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him, and keep his word.

Joh 8:56  Your father Avraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.”

Abraham is considered to be a prophet who could see the future, and understood the coming Kingdom. Yeshua here confirms those traditions.

John, continued:

Joh 8:57  The Judeans therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Avraham?”

Joh 8:58  Yeshua said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Avraham came into existence, I AM.”

Joh 8:59  Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Yeshua was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Probably in the same manner that Philip and Elijah disappeared and then reappeared at a different location.

Next:  Kollel Naso