Category: Biblical Basics
Drive Time Friday
Posted by Mark Call | Sep 26, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Drive Time Friday - Mark Call, News, Who Are We? | 0 |
Now Is The Time w/Rabbi Steve Berkson | Love & Torah | Part 19
by nittpodcast | Oct 6, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Now Is the Time - Steve Berkson, Old Testament & New Testament, Understanding Torah, Who Are We? | 0 |
Love and Torah – what’s love got to do with it? This series explores the “Two Great Commands’:...
Read MoreMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Ha’azinu”
by Mark Call | Oct 4, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Come Out of Her My People - Mark Call, News, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Shabba Shalom Mesa - Mark Call, Understanding Torah, Weekly Torah Portion Reading, Who Are We? | 0 |
Parsha “Ha’azinu” (Deuteronomy (chapter 32) is the second-to-last reading in the...
Read MoreTorah Teachers’ Round Table – Special Edition: Two Houses – Part II
by Mark Call | Oct 1, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Torah Teachers Round Table, Understanding Torah, Who Are We? | 0 |
Torah teachers Pete Rambo and Mark Call continue the special series of round table sessions on one...
Read More“Come out of her, My people” Show
by Mark Call | Oct 1, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Come Out of Her My People - Mark Call, News, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Shabba Shalom Mesa - Mark Call, Understanding Torah, Who Are We? | 0 |
Because host Mark Call and his house will be observing the Biblical High Holy Day of Yom Kippur...
Read MoreNow Is The Time w/Rabbi Steve Berkson | Love & Torah | Part 18
by nittpodcast | Sep 29, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Now Is the Time - Steve Berkson, Old Testament & New Testament, Understanding Torah, Who Are We? | 0 |
Love and Torah – what’s love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great...
Read MoreDr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 167 (A Host of Troubles)
by Hollisa Alewine | Sep 28, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Torah Class - Hollisa Alewine, Understanding Torah, Weekly Torah Portion Reading | 0 |
A Host of Troubles
Then the LORD sent Nathan to David. And he came to him and said,
“There were two men in one city, the one rich and the other poor.
The rich man had a great many flocks and herds.
But the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb which he bought and nourished; and it grew up together with him and his children. It would eat of his bread and drink of his cup and lie in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.
Now a traveler came to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take from his own flock or his own herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him; rather he took the poor man’s ewe lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.”
Then David’s anger burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, surely the man who has done this deserves to die. He must make restitution for the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no compassion.”
Nathan then said to David, “You are the man!
The rich man was quite a host! The hospitality he offered his guest was not real hospitality at all. He faked his compassion for the weary traveler. He was so stingy that he killed another man’s beloved pet and passed it off as his own sacrificial gift for the guest’s benefit.
This would be a prime place for a political commentary on the current state of affairs in the United States’ political situation, but the reader is intelligent enough to understand that facet of the parable. Fake hospitality deceives people into thinking the host really cares and has compassion. What the wicked host offers is nothing more than someone else’s hard work and property.
To review from last week’s text in this heavenly hospitality series, a righteous guest seeks a righteous home for hospitality, and he/she has the authority to bless that home with peace:
“Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.” (Mt 10:9-15)
Yeshua sent out his disciples as his messengers. They were to practice what they’d seen Yeshua do: teach, preach, immerse, comfort, exhort, rebuke, heal, and so on.
“Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (He 13:1-2)
These are not random strangers who visit, but “brothers” in the faith. No doubt the rich man had some level of acquaintance with the poor man he robbed. He knew where and when to steal the poor man’s lamb, perhaps while the poor man was working or gone to the market. A lamb who was raised like his own daughter would not have been left unguarded very often. The rich man’s act was premeditated, cunning, a masquerade of righteousness over a filthy act of cruel robbery.
Strangely, Scripture links two concepts in the same neighborhood, called smikhut (placement). Those two concepts are lack of hospitality and fornication/adultery.
In David’s case, he was the adulterer “rich man” who slaughtered the poor man’s lamb to prepare for the guest. This was also in the neighborhood of hospitality to strangers and “angels” in Hebrews Thirteen. Just skip one verse down:
“Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (He 13:4)
A wicked person may seem to offer hospitality, but the real motive is self-serving. They are not really serving the traveler or needy person; they are enhancing their own appearance of kindness. The hospitality is not for the benefit of the guest, but for himself. In the following account, the Messiah calls out fake hospitality.
While the host had the means to extend genuine hospitality toward Yeshua, he’d only invited him out of curiosity to hear a new word, listen for something with which to entrap his guest, or to look hospitable to the rest of the townspeople. Instead, an unwelcome visitor extends hospitality that Simon did not:
“Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair…’ “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Lk 7:44-47)
The sinful woman understood the principle of hospitality better than the man who simply was curious to hear an insightful word from the teacher. Like many interactions in the Body of Messiah today, it would feed the host’s pride or critical skepticism, both of which fuel false feelings of self-worth. The repentant woman’s hospitality was of the kind that welcomed the Bridegroom to the Garden with incense of sacrifice.
Simon was thinking Yeshua didn’t know what kind of woman anointed his feet. What Simon didn’t acknowledge was it was the woman she used to be. She was repenting, bringing a sacrifice of her own, perhaps all she could afford, not someone else’s hard work of repentance. If she had been a loose woman, this was not the generous, hospitable woman who washed Yeshua’s feet intimately with her hair. She wanted a new relationship with Heaven through the Sent One, not a fake one. She wasn’t faking her interest in Yeshua. She wanted to change. She had more than a little love.
One way we signal this desire to truly repent is with generosity, especially to the needy and poor righteous. This is one of the “Big Three”: prayer, repentance, charity leading up to Yom HaKippurim.
Real charity.
Love much, be forgiven much. Real charity doesn’t care about who is in the room judging what kindnesses we give to a brother or sister. It wants a genuine relationship with Heaven. It doesn’t offer someone else’s work as their own. It does not seek its own reward for that gift. Any human being on earth can do an act of kindness that connects himself only to the recipient. One who desires to restores hospitality with the Presence of Elohim will see the face of the recipient as the face of Yeshua even if it is one of the “least of these.”
One who does not attribute his or her act of kindness to Heaven is usurping the very source of kindness inside every human being. This compassion is the stamp of the Creator! Even wolves will raise orphan pups and feed the wounded in their pack; how much more should human beings acknowledge that our Creator Elohim created us with a desire to help one another?
If that’s not plain enough, then consider this: A person who takes credit for being compassionate and charitable is offering someone else’s gift as his own. Compassion was something planted in us by our Creator. Gifted. We are all re-gifting generosity to bring Heaven down among us.
Sodom and her four satellite cities were known for lewd behavior. In rebuking Israel, Ezekiel points out another symptom of their wickedness:
“Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.” (Ezek 16:49)
Likewise, the Tribe of Benjamin was nearly wiped out for rapacious inhospitality.
Likening Israel to Sodom recalls Sodom’s lack of hospitality to visitors. They were beyond inhospitable and stingy, they were lewd and murderous. They moved the Presence of Adonai farther away from the cities, not closer to it. Ever wonder why one of the “angels” didn’t continue on to Sodom with the other two (Ge 19:1)? Perhaps the one Avraham called YHVH wouldn’t set foot in it.
And like Yeshua told Simon, gratefulness to Heaven for our own undeserved gifts should affect how we receive and love guests.
Avraham had already rescued the Sodomite cities in order to recover his nephew Lot when they were carried away as spoils of war. Were they grateful and generous to others in need after their rescue? No, they did not become grateful hosts to righteous guests. They became worse. And dared anyone to judge them for it.
Yet, the Day of Judgment arrived for Sodom and for King David’s adultery and manslaughter of another for his own sin. Later, David repents and writes,
“Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.” (Ps 51:4)
May we repent before Yom HaKippurim if we have mistreated brothers who are the face of Yeshua at our table. (Mt 25:45)
Read MoreMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Vayelekh”
by Mark Call | Sep 28, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Come Out of Her My People - Mark Call, News, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Shabba Shalom Mesa - Mark Call, Understanding Torah, Weekly Torah Portion Reading, Who Are We? | 0 |
Parsha “Vayelekh” (Deuteronomy (chapter 31) is one of the final chapters in the Torah,...
Read MoreTorah Teachers’ Round Table – Special Edition: Two Houses
by Mark Call | Sep 26, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Torah Teachers Round Table, Understanding Torah, Who Are We? | 0 |
Torah teachers Pete Rambo and Mark Call, after the summer hiatus, return for a special series of...
Read MoreDrive Time Friday
by Mark Call | Sep 26, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Drive Time Friday - Mark Call, News, Who Are We? | 0 |
David Justice and Mark Call take a look back at the most important stories, the most lied-about...
Read MoreNow Is The Time w/Rabbi Steve Berkson | Love & Torah | Part 17
by nittpodcast | Sep 22, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Now Is the Time - Steve Berkson, Old Testament & New Testament, Understanding Torah, Who Are We? | 0 |
Love and Torah – what’s love got to do with it? This study series is based on the “Two Great...
Read MoreDr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 166 (Idols or Angels?)
by Hollisa Alewine | Sep 21, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Torah Class - Hollisa Alewine, Understanding Torah, Weekly Torah Portion Reading | 0 |
Idol or Angel?
Scripture commands us not to make images of things in the earth or in the heavens to worship them. This means different things to different people, even within the Jewish community. It is one of those commandments that drives the reader to its multiple other mentions in Scripture to make full sense of it: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.” (Ex 20:4)
Some may not possess any figured images, applying the mitzvah very strictly. Others may give their children dolls or have animal sculpture for decoration, applying additional context for the mitzvah, which is having an image for the purpose of worshiping it or acknowledging its power:
You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God. (Le 26:1)
In this application, a person avoids images of known gods, demons, or symbols denoting such, but does not avoid having photographs, artwork, or objects in the shape of animals or heavenly bodies, etc. The Tabernacle and Temple were decorated with images of both heavenly and earthly objects according to a Divinely-prescribed pattern.
The range of interpretations is not unusual, and it lends itself to investigation so that one can learn more about the mitzvah by tracking down every mention of images as idols. This week, we’ll take a look at a song traditionally sung on Erev Shabbat to usher in the Divine Presence on Shabbat, for Shabbat is a moed, an appointed time when the Creator of the Universe promises to visit those who tend His Garden. Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) 5:1 has been our working text for understanding the repopulation of the Garden when the Bride and Bridegroom join the Divine Presence at the wedding feast of resurrection:
I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;
I have gathered my myrrh along with my balsam.
I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Eat, friends; drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.
This sumptuous wedding meal inaugurates the reign of Messiah Yeshua, for he will return to earth with his holy ones to rule and restore the earth to the purpose for which the Father created it. What we have learned the last few weeks is that earthly hospitality to the righteous brother or sister is the Torah’s pattern of preparation for the restoration of all things. Following our lesson on Avraham and the angels last week, let’s pick up this week with Yeshua’s reiteration of hospitality. A righteous guest seeks a righteous home for hospitality, and he/she has the authority to bless that home with peace:
“Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two coats, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is worthy of his support. And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.” (Mt 10:9-15)
Yeshua sent out his disciples as his messengers. They were to practice what they’d seen Yeshua do: teach, preach, immerse, comfort, exhort, rebuke, heal, and so on. The disciples were messengers, sometimes called shliachim in Hebrew for “sent ones.” Another word for messenger in Hebrew is malak:
???????? m?l?âk; to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher):—ambassador, angel, king, messenger
Last week’s lesson on Sodom was important to Yeshua’s instructions to his disciples, who were being commissioned to function like the three “men” (anashim) in Genesis 18:2 who visited Avraham. One was called LORD (YHVH) in 18:13, and then when they approached Sodom, the two angels were called malakim (Ge 19:1).
Although the LORD said He was on a mission to investigate the cries of the righteous, poor, and needy in Sodom, Scripture specifies “two angels” continued on to Sodom. Even if YHVH did not continue on after His bargaining session with Avraham to spare Sodom, those He sent functioned on His behalf.
Some scholars say each of the three performed a specific task. The LORD blessed Avraham and Sarah and revealed the plans to them; one angel destroyed the cities; and one angel oversaw the deliverance of the Lot’s family. Although they worked together, each focused on one aspect of the mission. This is a good example of an “angel” representing the Most High. They acted on His behalf, and anything done to them for good or bad was as if it were done to the Holy One Himself.
So why did Scripture call the angels “men”? It demonstrates the importance of hospitality as a preparation for the reign of King Messiah and the return of the Presence of Adonai to His holy city Jerusalem. It is the Garden precept, an opportunity for human beings to show their Creator that they are ready for the return to the Garden. They will do and be the things for which the Creation was prepared for them.
The Holy One enjoys visiting and walking with His unique creation, mankind. As a result, He visits them on this earth while they prepare, both through heavenly malakim and earthly malakim. Because we aren’t always sure which is which, we treat what we think are earthly malakim with the same hospitality we would heavenly ones, for they represent Yeshua himself:
“Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (He 13:1-2)
These are not random strangers who visit, but “brothers” in the faith. What does this have to do with worshiping idols?
It brings us back to that beautiful Erev Shabbat song, “Shalom Aleichem.” Some believers might object to singing the song, saying that it is the worship of angels or speaking to spiritual beings we are not supposed to address. I think this is a basic misunderstanding of the hospitality principle of the Kingdom and the meaning of malak, a messenger of the Most High, whether heavenly or earthly guest bringing the Presence with him/her by virtue of their faithful walk in the Word. Servants of the Most High sent with a blessing from Heaven for the Shabbat home they visit.
By hosting the righteous guest to the Shabbat table, the host has opened his home to the Most High Himself. The host is now part of the work Heaven sent that malak to do even though all the host did was prepare his or her home for the guest with good food and drink, a place to rest comfortably and safely, and a place to wash up from the journey.
Knowing what you know now about Yeshua’s instructions to greet a host’s home with shalom and to bless it with shalom before leaving it, read the song:
Peace be unto you, ministering angels, angels of the Most High, coming forth from the King of kings, the holy One, blessed be He.
May your coming forth be in peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High, coming forth from the King of kings, the holy One, blessed be He.
Bless me with peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High, coming forth from the King of kings, the holy One, blessed be He.
May your departure be in peace, angels of peace, angels of the Most High, coming forth from the King of kings, the holy One, blessed be He.
We sing the song not just for the blessings promised to the host home, but for the opportunity to welcome the Divine Presence to fellowship with us at the weekly moed. How Shabbastic is that?
And about those blessings…if your righteous guests are not aware they have the authority to bless your home when they enter and leave, do mention it! Just like honoring one’s father and mother comes with a promise, a righteous host can expect the guest to speak specific blessings that bring shalom, or completeness, to his household. Don’t let that guest leave without blessing you! Be like Jacob, and hang on until they give up that blessing! (Ge 32:26)
You might say, well, you know what? When I go to somebody’s house, I probably won’t heal anybody, or teach a Torah portion. I may not lead somebody to salvation and immerse them.
It doesn’t matter. Your very presence is a blessing of peace, for you are the stand-in messenger of Yeshua. The King of Kings. So be an angel, a malak. Speak what that family needs to make them whole spiritually and physically.
Read MoreMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Nitzavim”
by Mark Call | Sep 21, 2025 | Biblical Basics, Biblical History, Come Out of Her My People - Mark Call, News, Old Testament & New Testament, Personal Improvement, Shabba Shalom Mesa - Mark Call, Understanding Torah, Weekly Torah Portion Reading, Who Are We? | 0 |
Parsha “Nitzavim” (Deuteronomy (29:9-thru chapter 30) is the parsha that Mark Call...
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