SALVATION

Do you know why we need to confess our sins?  (1John 1:9)

To answer this we need to understand from a biblical perspective what is the definition of sin.  So, what is sin?

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” (1John 3:4)

Sin is the trangression of the law.   Sin means to miss the mark.  The definition of SIN=LAWLESSNESS. 

In archery you point the bow then shoot to hit the bull’s eye.  If you miss it, you have missed the mark.  The Law/Scriptures help one to reach the mark and not miss it.  

Without the LAW we would not know how to reach the mark!

The reason we still must confess our sins is because the law is still in effect. We just read in the Renewed Covenant, New Testament this fact.

THE LAW IS GOOD, PURE AND HOLY.

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”                (Romans 7:12,13)

 It is still in effect. It was never done away with.

Our Messiah so clearly said that He didn't do away with His Father's Law or Holy Days or Ways!  That heaven and earth would pass away before His law did. 

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 11:17-19)

In fact, He showed us the way to carry it out with LOVE.

The Word pretty much clearly sums it up in one word.  No getting around that, huh?! No beating around the bush.  Without the law we would not know what sin is. It is for us to learn and to know how to obey our Maker's ways.  How else would we know what pleases Him?

It doesn't stop with the ten commandments.  It extends into guarding His Holy Days and eating the food that He designed to be good for our bodies and wearing the clothes that He said would keep our bodies in top shape.

Why else did He pay so much attention in His Scripture to us about revealing His ways? He gave us details because they are important to Him that we His creation honor Him in this.

SALVATION IS BY FAITH.  EVEN THE PATRIARCHS WERE SAVED BY FAITH!

How, you ask?  It has been taught that salvation by faith is a New Covenant concept.  That simply is not true.  Patriarchs of old were saved by faith by holding onto the same promise of the Messiah as we are today.  They were looking forward to the coming promise of Messiah by faith and we today are looking back on what Messiah has already now accomplished; both then and now all of us as a total body are believing in the promise of Messiah fulfilled.

SALVATION IS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THE SCRIPTURES! It includes both the Tanakh (commonly referred to as the 'Old' Testament and the Brit HaDasha - the RENEWED Covenant or commonly referred to as the 'New' Testament).

AFTER WE ARE SAVED THROUGH FAITH WE ARE CALLED TO SHOW OUR FAITH- TO WORK OUT OUR SALVATION.   Ya'akov (James) said faith without works is dead being alone.  Messiah said you will know my disciples by their fruit.  Abraham who lived before the Jewish people were a nation was JUSTIFIED BY FAITH BUT THEN HE SHOWED HIS FAITH BY WHAT HE DID.

“Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James, Ya’akov 2:17-20)  “And he (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Bereshiyt, Genesis 15:6 And James 2:23)

The Messiah and Paul taught us to put away MAN'S laws.  They never said to put away the FATHER'S laws!  In fact, they themselves kept our Father's ways and laws to the death. We must study books like Galations and Colossians with the proper mindset of the audience being written to, as well as, the Hebraic context within which it was written.

When Paul wrote to the Corinthians he admonished them not to use Egypt's ways to honor the Father for that displeased Him. Egypt is typified as a type of 'worldly ways living' for our understanding.  So, therefore Paul is letting us know that just as the Father didn't want the Israelites to use Egypt's ways to worship Him back then, neither does He want us to Christianize pagan, heathen, worldly ways to worship Him today.  Our heavenly Father shared in great detail how to use HIS WAYS to honor Him and those ways are His Holy Days that He set aside from the very beginning.

The Word says we must honor Him in Spirit and in TRUTH.  How do we do that?  Well, we need to hide (meditate, study and commit to memory) His Word, the Bible. 

 YHWH's WORD=TRUTH=LIVING WORD=MESSIAH YAHSHUA.  His WORD is SPIRITUAL.  The Living Word is Messiah.  When His Word is in us we follow it thereby worshipping Him in Spirit and in Truth.

The Truth is the Way the Messiah lived-honoring Abba's ways from a heart of love and CARRYING IT FORTH IN LOVE is what makes all the difference.

We are called to walk in obedience. Obedience to what? If the law were done away what would we obey?

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted Him, saying, Rabbi, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?  He said to him, What is written in the Torah?  How do you read it?  And he answering said, You shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke, 10:25-27)

WOW!  Do you see this?  YAHSHUA REFERRED TO THE TORAH AS HAVING THE WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE! YES!  The answers to our questions are found in TORAH!  That is why it is IMPERATIVE THAT WE HIDE HIS TORAH IN OUR HEARTS!  LIFE IS FOUND IN HIS LAW!  YAHSHUA IS THE LIVING TORAH!   

He is our example, He shows us the way to the Father.  He always points us as does the written Torah to the Father!  He does not negate His Fathers ways.  No, but rather He most humbly and honorably and notably upholds His Father's ways.

“And one of the scribes came, and having heard them questioning together, and perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, Which commandment is the first of all? And Yahshua answered him, The first of all the commandments is Hear, O Yisrael, YHWH our Elohim, YHWH is One:  And you shall love YHWH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength:  this is the first command.  And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself,  There is none other commandment geater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

In this particular reference Yahshua is actually reciting the SHEMA!!  HalleluYAH!  This commandment Yahshua spoke on is a prayer that is prayed regularly in synagogues around the world.  This is the Scripture that is hung inside the Mezuzah on the doorposts of our homes symbolizing that we fear YHWH.  This prayer is recited avidly, fervently in synagogues around the world.  Our heavenly Father's ways have been preserved through the Jewish people for so long. Halleluyah!  They have held onto His ways and have preserved His ways.  May the church be one with them in honoring our Father's ways and may the synagogue be one with the church in accepting that Messiah has already come as the suffering servant son of Joseph and is coming again as the conquering king son of David!

Messiah said that loving the Father and one another is what ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS HANG ON. The law is all about loving the Father and one another.

 “Y’shua said unto him, Thou shalt love YHWH Eloheynu with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

It is really about Him wanting to establish relationship with us!  It is about Him loving us!

We are called to walk in the ancient paths- the way that is good! (Yirmayahu 6:16)

FREEDOM OF LIFE IS FOUND IN ONLY ONE PLACE!

A great biblical patriarch said it best- that freedom of life is found in the Father's Law.

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” (Ya’akov, James 1:25)

We are set free from the law of sin and death and are MADE ALIVE UNTO THE LAW OF LIFE which is His Word -it is life giving through the Spirit!  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2)

We see we are free from the law of sin and death. We are made alive to the law of life. You see? There are different laws. Which one are you living unto? The law of life is the law of obedience.

The Word says we can only worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH! The Scriptures are perfect for the converting of the soul according to the Psalmist! HalleluYAH!! 

“The LAW of the LORD is PERFECT, CONVERTING the SOUL: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” (Tehillim, Psalm 19:7)  "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and Truth." (Yochanan, John 4:24)

The Father's Holy Days we are told are Jewish, but that is not true- for His Holy Days were in effect before the Jewish people were a nation!

The 7th day Sabbath was from the first week of Creation. Not only that- but get this - each of the Father's Holy Feast Days point to major events in the Messiah's life and in our lives:

#1) Pesach/Passover & Unleavened Bread-Messiah is the Passover Lamb & The Unleavened Bread This is also called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and certain sayings of the Messiah during what is typically referred to as 'The Last Supper' are in fact exactly what a groom says to his betrothed!! How much we learn once we grasp the Hebraic context! He is our bridegroom and we are His bride.  He is the one without sin, but upon whom all our sin was laid.  He bore our sin before we accepted Him. What faith is this that He has shown us?!  What love is this that He has commended toward us?!

#2) Bikkurrim/Firstfruits-He is the firstfruits from the dead; so are we with Him when we accept Him as the only begotten of the Father, walking with Him; our example of a holy life pleasing unto Abba.

#3) Shavuot/Pentecost- while the Son lived on earth He prayed Abba to send the comforter, the Holy Spirit who came as tongues of fire upon His disciples. Oh, may we experience this in our day! This is also the Latter Fruits Feast. And it is when the Torah was given to Moses on the mount.  The written Torah and the Holy Spirit who teaches us the Torah is given on this day.

#4) Yom Teruah/ Trumpets-He will come at the last trump (The Hebrew idiom that says no man knows the day or the hour is specifically referring to this day-we in the western thought have not understood this- so important to know and understand the Hebrew-holy language that we may understand the Word in proper context.  Also, the Greeks did preserve the Scriptures, but they were first written in Hebrew and in Hebraic mindset, perspective.  Interesting fact here is that in the Passover meal-seder, there is a Greek word used-Afeikomen-referring to the hidden piece of Matza - Y'Shua.  Even in the meal it is hinted how the Greek would be used to preserve the Scriptures.)

#5) Yom Kippur/Atonement-when the LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE is opened and those of us who have believed will hear our name read from it!  HalleluYAH!

#6) Sukkot/Tabernacles-we tabernacle with him. So shall we ever be with Adonai.

#7) Shabbat/Sabbath-He Is Master of the Sabbath. Those who keep His 7^th day Sabbath will have names better than sons or daughters.  Keeping His Sabbath is His Seal, Mark on us.  Never in Scripture is the first day called the Sabbath Day.  Always the 7^th Day we are called to rest. (Isaiah 56)

Also observed as significant:                                                                                                             Chanukkah/Feast of Lights, Dedication- He is the Light of the world!  He is the Lamb Who Is The Lamp!  On this day the Tabernacle in the wilderness was complete, the Temples is dedicated.  Our temples are to be dedicated unto Him and full of His light, His Word and lit ablaze by His Holy Spirit!

Purim/Lots-As Esther was put into a prominent position to honor the Father by a heroic act of faith through fasting and prayer allowing the Jewish people to know survival and defense, so we must realize we are where we are to preserve His ways.  May we be found not wanting in the scales.

The Father's very name points to the salvation message through His Son Y'shua!! I share this in one of the songs I wrote -EliMelek YHWH My King.  Yod Hey Waw Hey  :  Yod-My Hands, Hey-Behold, Waw-the nail marks, Hey-Behold.   Y'Shua said this very phrase to doubting Thomas.  He was speaking the spelling of the Father's name when He said My hands behold, the nail marks, behold.  This is ancient Hebrew pictographic letter symbols.

The Father's Holy Days also point to His Son! And the Son always points the Way right back to His Father-a wonderful example how to bring the fullest meaning of walking in love to His Father's ways-we too are called to walk as He walked! What a privilege and blessed opportunity we have to do this in our lives! Therein we find freedom and grace by walking in His Truth -in His Ways, by following THE WAY!   Salvation is found throughout the entirety of the Scriptures!

Y'SHUA SAID Matthew 5:17-19 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

How can our righteousness surpass that of the pharisees?  The KEY IS LOVE!  Not head knowledge, but heart knowledge.  We can do all things right but according to 1 Corinthians 13  if not done with the intention of love then it means nothing.  CARRY FORTH THE COMMANDMENT IN LOVE.

“The message is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.  This is the message of faith that we proclaim:  If you confess with your mouth, “Yahshua is the Messiah,” and believe in your heart that YHWH raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.  Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Master of all is rich to all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of Yahshua will be saved.” (Romayim, Romans 8:10-13)

The hebrew language shows that there is a relationship between the mouth and the heart.  Your mouth will speak what your heart believes!   The Hebrew word for heart is LEV.  It has a gematria of 32.  An adult mouth has 32 teeth.  Even in this simple observation we see a divine connection and understanding.  As Messiah said that it is what comes from the heart that defiles man.  He wasn't negating YHWH's food regulations when saying this; He was speaking as to the importance of a pure heart.   Even today in medicine science is discovering that the heart has a brain.  Heart transplant patients are experiencing thoughts that they unlike before; they are finding out that they are the thoughts of their heart donors.

“Wherefore as you have always OBEYED...WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION...SHINE AS LIGHTS in the world, holding forth the WORD OF LIFE” (Philippians 2:12, 15-16)  He receives each of us right where we are, then teaches us precept upon precept.  Don't be discouraged if you have not been taught this way; they may not have understood either.  But the day is at hand that we know and walk right.  As the generations come closer to His return His Ruach HaQodesh draws us closer and shows us more where we lack.  Our children will understand more than we us.   I encourage you to not feel overwhelmed when you begin to understand the truth.  Baby steps.  He loves us and knows we love Him when He sees us responding to His Holy Spirit!  In obedience to the admonition from Ya’akov, James the brother of Y'Shua, may we show our faith by our works!

Thanks be to Y'Shua HaMashiach, we are covered by His blood for the remission of sins that He may present us without blemish before Abba who sends His Ruach to teach us all things that we have need to know! FOR ABBA IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US OUR SINS WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SINS.  Guess what JUST means?!  JUST means based ON TRUTH WHICH IS THE LAW.    

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, Ruach HaQodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”  (John 14:26)  “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

May our hearts be pure before Him that we may see Him in all His esteem, in all His Glory!            With Great Love!  ~Leslie Ann

 

Matthew 5 KJV  5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: ² And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, ³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. ¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. ²¹ Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: ²² But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. ²³ Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; ²⁴ Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. ²⁵ Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. ²⁶ Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. ²⁷ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: ²⁸ But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ²⁹ And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. ³¹ It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: ³² But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. ³³ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: ³⁴ But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: ³⁵ Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. ³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: ³⁹ But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰ And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. ⁴¹ And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ⁴² Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. ⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? ⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? ⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

 

Mattityahu 5 Orthodox Jewish Bible  5 When Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw the multitudes, he Alah Hahar (went up the mountain, Shemot 19:3) and when he sat down, his talmidim came to him. ² Then Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach began to speak, and gave them this torah (teaching), saying, ³ Ashrey Aniyei Haruach (Blessed, Happy are the poor in spirit, Yeshayah 66:2) for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim. ⁴ Ashrey are the Av (the ones mourning, Yeshayah 61:2), for they will be comforted. ⁵ Ashrey are the Anavim (humble, Yeshayah 29:19; Zefanyah 2:3), for Yireshu Aretz (they will inherit the land, Tehillim 37:11). ⁶ Ashrey are the ones hungering and thirsting for Tzidkat Hashem (Tzedek Olamim, Everlasting Righteousness, Daniel 9:24), for they will be satisfied. ⁷ Ashrey are the merciful, for they will be shown rachamim (mercy). ⁸ Ashrey are those of Lev Tahor (pure heart, Tehillim 51:12 [10]), for they will see Hashem. ⁹ Ashrey are the peacemakers, for they will be called bnei haElohim (sons of G-d). ¹⁰ Ashrey are the ones being persecuted because of Tzidkat Hashem (righteousness, Daniel 9:24), for theirs is the Malchut HaShomayim. ¹¹ Ashrey are you when they reproach you and persecute you and speak all kinds of lashon horah against you, speaking sheker (falsehood, lies) because of me [Moshiach]. ¹² Have simcha (joy) and lev sameach (glad heart), for your sachar (reward) is great in Shomayim, for thus they persecuted the Neviim before you. ¹³ You are the melach haaretz (salt of the earth), but if the salt becomes tasteless, in what way will it become salty again? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled by men. ¹⁴ You are the Ohr HaOlam (the Light of the World). A city lying on a mountaintop cannot be nistar (hidden). ¹⁵ No one, after lighting a menorah, places it under a measuring basket, but on the shulchan (table), and it gives ohr (light) to kol anshei habais (all in the house). ¹⁶ In like manner, let your light so shine before Bnei Adam, that they may see your maasim tovim (good works) and give kavod (glory) to your Av shbaShomayim (Father in Heaven). ¹⁷ Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Neviim. I did not come to abolish but to complete. ¹⁸ For, omein, truly I say to you, until Shomayim and haaretz pass away, not one yod, not one tag (ornamental flourish), will pass from the Torah until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever annuls one of the least of these mitzvot (divine commandments given by Hashem to Moshe Rebbenu) and so teaches Bnei Adam, shall be called katon (least) in the Malchut HaShomayim; but whoever practices and teaches them, this one will be called gadol (great) in the Malchut HaShomayim. ²⁰ For I say unto you that unless the Tzedek (Righteousness) of you exceeds that of the Sofrim and Perushim, you will certainly not enter the Malchut HaShomayim. ²¹ You have heard that it was said to the ancients, Lo Tirtazach (Do not murder, Shemot 20:13; Devarim 5:17), and every rotzeach (murderer) shall be liable before the Bet Din (Court). ²² But I say to you, that everyone who harbors kaas (anger) against his Ach [b’Moshiach], his chaver, shall be subject to mishpat (judgment); and whoever shall say to his Ach [b’Moshiach], Reyka! (Good for nothing!) will be subject to the Sanhedrin; and whoever shall say Shoteh! (Fool) shall be subject to Eish Gehinnom (Fire of Hell). ²³ Therefore, if you bring your korban (sacrifice) to the Mizbeach (altar), and there you remember that your Ach [b’Moshiach] has something against you, ²⁴ leave your korban there before the Mizbeach, and go and first be reconciled to your Ach [b’Moshiach]; and then come offer your korban. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your ish riv (opponent in a lawsuit), while you are a fellow-traveler on the derech eretz, lest the ish riv might deliver you to the shofet (judge), and the shofet might deliver you to the shoter (law official), and the shoter might deliver you to the beit hasohar (prison house). ²⁶ For, omein, truly I say to you, you may never come out from there until you repay the last peruta (small coin). ²⁷ You have heard that it was said, LO TINAF (Do not commit adultery, Shemot 20:14). ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone looking upon a woman with taavah (lust) for her has already committed niuf (adultery) with her in his heart. ²⁹ And if your right eye causes you to commit chet (sin), tear it out and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not your whole basar (body, flesh) be thrown into Gehinnom. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to commit chet, cut it off and throw it from you, for it is better for you that one of your evarim (members) be lost and not that your whole basar may go into Gehinnom. ³¹ It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give to her a “get,” a Sefer Keritut (bill of divorce, Devarim 24:1). ³² But I say to you that everyone divorcing his wife, except for the Dvar (indecent thing, Devarim 24:1) of zenut (fornication), makes her become a noefet (adulteress), and whoever marries a gerusha (divorcee) commits niuf (adultery). ³³ Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, You shall not break your nederim (vows), but you shall repay your vows to Hashem.[T.N.See Vayikra 19:12; Bamidbar 30:3; Devarim 23:22] ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not swear shevuot (oaths) at all, neither by Shomayim, for it is the kes malchut of Hashem (throne of G-d), ³⁵ nor by haaretz, for it is the hadom (footstool) of his feet, nor by Yerushalayim, for it is the kiryat melech rav (city of the great king, T 48:3[2]). ³⁶ Neither are you to swear by your rosh, for you are not able to make one hair turn white or black. ³⁷ But let your word be ken, ken (yes, yes) or lo, lo (no, no), but anything beyond this is lashon horah. ³⁸ You have heard that it was said, Ayin Tachat Ayin, Shen Tachet Shen (An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth Shemot 21:24). ³⁹ But I say to you, Do not set yourself against the rasha (evil person), but whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other cheek. ⁴⁰ And the one wishing to sue you and take your tunic, give to him also your kaftan. ⁴¹ And whoever will force you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² And the one asking you to give and the one wishing to borrow from you, from these do not turn away. ⁴³ You have heard that it was said, Vahavtah Lrelachah (You shall love your neighbor, Vayikra 19:18) and you shall hate your oyev (enemy). ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies, and offer tefillos (prayers) for the ones bringing redifah (persecution) upon you. ⁴⁵ Do this so that you may become banim of your Av shbaShomayim, for His shemesh (sun) He makes to rise on the ra’im (evil ones) and the tovim (good ones), and He sends His geshem (rain) upon the tzaddikim (righteous ones) and the resha’im (unrighteous ones). ⁴⁶ For if you have ahavah (love) for the ones who have ahavah for you, what sachar (reward) do you have? Even the mochesim (tax collectors) do that, don’t they? ⁴⁷ And if you give Drishat Shalom (greetings) only to your Achim [b’Moshiach], what extraordinary thing are you doing? Don’t even the Goyim do the same? ⁴⁸ Therefore, be shlemim (complete), even as is your Av shbaShomayim.