Parsha “Re’eh,” (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) may just be THE “go-to” Torah portion for those that have friends or relatives that ask questions like, “Just what is it that’s DIFFERENT about a First Century understanding of ‘the Messiah,’ or “the Way,” or maybe “Hebrew Roots,” than what we have been taught in ‘sun-dog-day school?

Among other things, this week, Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship tackles not only a few questions like that, but — and he will suggest, even more importantly, how practical is it, when people are rightfully concerned about famine, medical martial law, and the sound of jackboots on the streets, to worry about what Yah Himself says about idolatry?

This one,too, includes more than one vitally-important command, which also turns out to be an undeniable ‘proof text’ for why so many of us who seek to “come out of” the whore church (or synagogue!) and return to ‘the Way’ want nothing to do with pagan, well, er, ‘crap’. Because He doesn’t just merely ‘hate’ it…

The Erev Shabbat reading and outline:

The Sabbath teaching is in many respects a departure from ‘normal’. Certainly its addresses what certainly SEEM like a lot of contradictions. Between ‘judaism’ and ‘xtianity’…between “love” and “law”…

and what was supposed to be, and what instead IS.

But this one — for reasons that will hopefully be clear — is more “speculative” than many, because what might otherwise sound ‘spiritual’ is in fact about as practical as it can be. Even a matter of life and death. And more than anything, hopeful.

NOTE: Given the warnings in this parsha, and the lateness of the hour, there are some times in this teaching where Mark uses very blunt descriptions and language. Albeit, perhaps not as blunt as He does, which is the point.


“Re’eh: The Place Where He Puts His REAL Name”

The combined two-part podcast is here: