Today we head back to the Temple with Jesus for *ding ding* ROUND 2 with the Scribes and Pharisees! Come and see how it all plays out. Today's events and yesterday's combined were really the turning point of this week....unfortunately the fun is over y'all. Jesus means business as we head into the latter part of the week.
Carly's Spotify "Holy Week" playlist - https://tinyurl.com/f9bt38wr
Songs for Today: “Man of Sorrows”, “Isaiah 52/53”, “Sign of Jonah”, “Calloused Hearts”, “The Narrow Way”, “Narrow Road”, “So Will I”, “Isaiah 50” and “Holy”
Hebrew Pronunciation and Glossary:
-"kohanim" (koh-hah-neem) - means, religious leaders, priests, Levites. Different from Pharisees, who were the very educated class of normal folks who often traveled around with their students teaching God's Word.
-"ADONAI" (Ah-dohn-eye), means LORD, only ever used when referring to God, not like Lord, which could be referring to Royal or rich human land owner. This word was used in place of saying the True name of God, Yahweh (yah-way), given to God by He Himself when He first introduced Himself to Moses from a tree covered in Holy Eternal Fire. The Ancient Jews and Jews today had so much respect for Name of God that they would not dare write it or utter it, at all, ever! You might also hear God referred to as ha'shem meaning "The Name".
-"Pharisees" (Fair-ah-sees) and "Sadduccees" (Sad-you-sees), these were 2 of the main political and religious factions of Jesus's day in Israel. They each had their own unique characteristics and beliefs. You might find it interesting to know that Sadduccees did not believe in the afterlife, which makes their question to Jesus today all the more interesting.
-Torah (tor-ah), literally means Instruction, and refers to the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) including Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Attributed to Moses as Author.
-tefellin (teh-fell-een), singular or plural, also called phylacteries in English, refers to a small box containing a mini scroll with scripture on it attached to leather straps and worn either wrapped around the arm or on one's forehead. This was a practice of the ultra-pious of Jesus's day in response to God's command in Deuteronomy 11:18.
-tzitziyot, plural or tzitzit, singular (zeet-zee-yote or zeet-zeet), also called fringes in English, refers to the blue and white tassels worn by Ancient (and some modern) Jewish men tied to the hem of their garment as a reminder of the 613 laws or instructions from God in the Torah. Commanded by God in scripture in Numbers 15:38-39.
-Gehenna (geh-hen-ah), a literal place, The Valley of Geh-hinom (geh-hee-nohm), also a cultural idea that those around Jesus would have understood as referring to a place of death and suffering, VERY culturally and historically significant. Check out the video below for more!
-tzaddikim (zah-de-keem), means righteous ones, specifically in today's passage Jesus is referring to the righteous Prophets (men whom God used to speak to Israel directly) of old. Think Zechariah, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah etc.
-Ruach ha-kodesh (roo-akh hah koh-desh), means literally holy breath and refers to God's Spirit, or the Holy Spirit, or Holy Breath of God.
-ADONAI Elohim (ah-dohn-eye el-oh-heem), means LORD God. Elohim is actually often used to refer to just any god, not necessarily Yahweh.
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Resources to Diver Deeper:
Video: Explainer for Tefillin and Tzitzit (5 mins) - https://tinyurl.com/nbw6uk4k
Video: Word Study "Gehenna" (1 min) - https://tinyurl.com/y6ayfdk5
Podcast: BibleProject "God's Wrath in the Teaching of Jesus" (43 mins) - https://tinyurl.com/mr3acuvw
Article: DesiringGod.com "Some Love Stings" (12 mins w/ audio option) - https://tinyurl.com/bdhy6k5y
Article: DesiringGod.com "The Making of a Modern Pharisee" (13 mins) - https://tinyurl.com/3h5efm75