Thursday, April 26, 2018

The Community of the Kingdom of Heaven

By Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Moed Ministries International



The video version of this teaching is available at:
Scripture readings:
Mark 9:14-50-13 (Matthew 17:14- 18:35; Luke 9:37-50, 17:1-10)

After the transfiguration, the disciples recognized that they were truly disciples of the long-awaited Messiah. Peter, James and John had seen their Master Yeshua shining with light in the presence of the great prophets Moses and Elijah. I can imagine that they could hardly wait for Yeshua to declare Himself and set up His kingdom. Surely they would have positions of authority in the Kingdom. But Yeshua would demonstrate and teach them that the Kingdom of Heaven does not operate the way world does starting with the inability of the other nine disciples to cast out a demon, continuing with Yeshua’s repeated assurance that He came to suffer and die, and finally, turning the whole hierarchy of greatness on its head.
As soon as Peter, James and John returned with Yeshua from the mount of transfiguration, they were confronted by the multitude along with a disgruntled father.
Mark 9:17-18 NKJV 17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 "And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."
Yeshua responds with what seems to be rather harsh criticism.
Mark 9:19 MKJV 19 He answered him and said, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me!
Even though the disciples weren’t able to cast out this demon, they cast out many other demons as well as healed the sick. But, like with the earlier accounts of healing the deaf-mute and the blind man, this situation was more than casting out a demon from this one man. Notice that Yeshua wasn’t addressing the disciples, he was addressing the entire generation! First Fruits of Zion in The Chronicles of the Messiah write:
“Instead, Rabbi Yeshua’s complaint applied not merely to that specific situation but more broadly as a commentary on the general malaise of the Master’s generation. … His exasperated denouncement of the generation alludes directly to the Song of Moses which describes the generation doomed to exile as “a perverse and crooked generation” (Deuteronomy 32:5)””[i]
We can see that this man, who was possessed since childhood represents Israel. In Hosea, God calls Israel His son and goes on to describe how He found and cared for Israel from its childhood.
Hosea 11:1-3 NKJV 1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son. 2 As they called them, So they went from them; They sacrificed to the Baals, And burned incense to carved images. 3 "I taught Ephraim to walk, Taking them by their arms; But they did not know that I healed them.
The father of the demon possessed man asks Yeshua to help if He can!
Mark 9:22b-23 NKJV 22 But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." 23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Yeshua did not promise that if we believe, then God would automatically do what we want. Yeshua’s answer is simply that all things are possible. In fact, in this case, it would take more than belief; it would take preparation to cast out the demon. Yeshua would later explain to His disciples that this type of demon required preparation in prayer and fasting to cast out.
When, then, did Yeshua prepare with prayer and fasting? The answer to that may be in the days leading up to the transfiguration. Any time God appeared in a significant event, He told His people to prepare ahead of time. At Mt. Sinai, God told them to prepare ahead of time by washing and abstaining from sexual relations for three days. The whole preparation for this event was six days from the time the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai to the time that God spoke His ten Words from the mountain. The idea of the Sabbath is that the six days leading up to the Sabbath are always in preparation for the Sabbath. This concept is extended to the idea that six millennia are the preparation for the seventh millennia reign of Messiah.[ii] The phrase “after six days” in Mark 9:2 could refer to six days of preparation in prayer and fasting, leading to a seventh day or a “Sabbath” of transfiguration!
This expands the significance of the demon possessed man to include mankind who as a child succumbed to the temptations of this world, giving his soul over to Satan. As a result, mankind has become susceptible to the self-destruction incited by the enemy and, since he was mute, unable to sing the praises of His creator! The release of mankind from the hold that Satan has on it cannot be achieved except through prayer and fasting. The kingdom of heaven will not be achieved by military might or by a simple declaration; it will require preparation.
Yeshua goes on to explain to His disciples that He must first suffer and die.
Mark 9:30-32 NKJV 30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day." 32 But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.
Yeshua first began to explain this to His disciples right before the transfiguration. It seems that this idea was so foreign to them, that they couldn’t even begin to grasp it and were afraid to even ask Yeshua what He meant. Instead they focused on what they perceived their role would be in the kingdom. When they arrived at Peter’s home in Capernaum, Yeshua brought the issue out in the open.
Mark 9:33-34 NKJV 33 Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
The rabbinical system of master and disciple had a hierarchy within the followers of a rabbi. The disciples of a master were ranked from “greatest” to “least” where those with the lower rank were referred to as “Little Ones.”[iii]
Yeshua took a child, a little one, and began to demonstrate the true hierarchy of the kingdom.
Mark 9:35-37 NKJV 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." 36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."
The literal understanding of this verse is that we are to treat children with the same importance and respect as an adult. In the context of rabbinic hierarchy, the littlest disciple is in no way lesser than the greatest disciple.
Matthew records more about this conversation. Not only are children to be accepted and respected, but we are to be “converted” and become like children.
Matthew 18:2-5 NKJV 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
The word translated as “converted” is the Greek word “strepho”, #4762 in Strong’s Concordance, meaning to twist, turn around, or reverse. The seventeenth century theologian, Matthew Poole explains:
Converted here, strepho, doth not signify the change or conversion of a soul from a state of sin unto God, (so the apostles were already converted), but the turning of their souls from a particular lust or error, into the opposite right way of truth and holiness: except ye repent of your pride and ambition, ye cannot be saved.[iv]
The twelve disciples had been thoroughly rebuked for their pride in seeking to be the greatest in the kingdom! But John was not willing to let the issue go. Even though Yeshua made it plain there was not to be a hierarchy of greater or lesser among the twelve, did Yeshua intent that to include those not in their immediate group?
Mark 9:38 NKJV 38 Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."
John is seeking Yeshua’s approval of their actions in protecting Yeshua’s exclusive right to cast out demons. John objects that this man didn’t follow “us”; John did not object that he didn’t follow Yeshua. There was an earlier situation between John the Baptist’s disciples and Yeshua’s disciples. In that instance, both John and Yeshua’s disciples were baptizing in the Jordan. John’s disciples were outraged at the presumption of Yeshua’s disciples and complained to John. John refuses to support their jealously.
John 3:26-27 NKJV 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified--behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!" 27 John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
Similarly, when Moses appointed the seventy elders and called them to appear before the tabernacle, two of those called remained in the camp. When the Holy Spirit caused those gathered at the tabernacle to prophesy as a witness of their calling, even the two who remained in the camp prophesied. Joshua was outraged that this would occur away from the tabernacle. Joshua’s words sound a lot like the apostle John’s words of reproach.
Numbers 11:28-29 NKJV 28 So Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his choice men, answered and said, "Moses my lord, forbid them!" 29 Then Moses said to him, "Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD'S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!"
Yeshua’s response to John’s protest affirms the right of those who were not disciples to cast out demons in Yeshua’s name.
Mark 9:39-40 NKJV 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 "For he who is not against us is on our side.
These words seem to contradict Yeshua’s words in Matthew 7:22-23:
Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
However, these two situations of casting out demons in Yeshua’s name are quite different. The passage in Matthew is about attaining admittance to the kingdom of heaven. Prophesying and casting out demons in the name of Yeshua is not a means for attaining citizenship in the kingdom. Matthew Poole states that, “It is evident that the casting out of devils was no saving effect of the Holy Spirit.”[v] The situation in Mark’s gospel is a matter of who is the greatest within the kingdom. Clearly, Yeshua did not see this man as seeking to profit from his actions as did Simon, a magician newly converted to belief in Yeshua.
Acts 8:18-19 NKJV 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Also, this man was not attempting to cast out demons without the protection of Yeshua’s name, and perhaps speaking evil of Yeshua, as did the sons of the priest Sceva.
Acts 19:13-16 NKJV 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches." 14 Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
Matthew Poole explains that this man that John and the other disciples told not to cast out demons in the name of Yeshua may have been one who received the gospel but didn’t physically follow the master. He, also, may have been one of John the Baptist’s followers who received the truth. However, the issue here is not really this man’s identity; it is John’s reaction to someone outside their group who is acting in the name of Yeshua. Matthew Poole explains:
“So as John and the rest, forbidding him, seemed to be guilty of two no small errors:
1. Envying for Christ's sake, as Joshua did for Moses's sake, Nu 11:28, as John's disciples did for their master's sake, Joh 3:26, willing that Christ, and those whom he sent out, should have all the honour of those miraculous operations.
2. Limiting the grace of Christ to that congregation which followed Christ, and the twelve; a thing that good men are too prone unto.[vi]
In contrast to the exclusionary statement of John, Yeshua summarizes His point by stating that the least kindness done in His name is worthy of a reward.
Mark 9:41 NKJV 41 "For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Yeshua warns that His disciples, great or little, need to receive one another in humility and be careful not to cause one of new or one of weaker faith to sin.
Matthew 18:5-7 NKJV 5 "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 6 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!
In the context of this particular teaching of Yeshua’s about who is great in the kingdom, causing a little one to sin could very well be by projecting an attitude of “I’m greater than you.” This can be very damaging to a child or to a new believer. Yeshua specifically says not to despise or think down on a little one.
Matthew 18:10 NKJV 10 "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.
These little ones are so important to the Father that the angels that watch over these little ones always have access to God the Father. Yeshua, then, relates the parable of the lost sheep to emphasize how important each little one is to Him.
Matthew 18:12-14 NKJV 12 "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 "And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Again, this conveys the antithesis of the attitude of the disciples’ who were arguing about who would be the greatest in the kingdom. The Father values and rejoices over the return of each little one!
But what should a follower of Yeshua do if a fellow believer does stumble and sin, or if he gives offense? The Father is not willing to let them go from the fellowship and the kingdom and, as a result, die! Yeshua explains how to handle the situation by an established sequence of judgment or jurisprudence first spelled out in the Torah.
Matthew 18:15-17 NKJV 15 "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.' 17 "And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
The effort of reconciliation must be judged by two or three witnesses. If reconciliation cannot be made, then the person causing the offense is to be removed from the camp or the congregation. The decision by the congregation to “bind” or forbid fellowship or to “loose” or permit fellowship to continue is a legal one following the accepted jurisprudence.
Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV 18 "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Whenever we make a ruling about a fellow believer, Yeshua is there in the midst and we must be careful to hear His voice. Yeshua’s voice is one that encourages forgiveness and compassion.
Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
After illustrating His point with a parable, Yeshua concludes that as we forgive others, so will the Father forgive us.
Matthew 18:35 NKJV 35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
It seems strange that the Father would humble Himself and forgive offenses against Him! So surely, we are to forgive our brothers. We are not to be arrogant and exalt ourselves above other believers, but we are to value them, caring for each other, serving each other and forgiving each other. We are not to be concerned with how great or how humble a position we may have in the kingdom of Heaven.
Study Questions:
1. What new insight did you gain by watching this video? How do you respond to this new insight? How will you realign your life based on this new understanding?

2. In what way does Yeshua’s statement that the generation that saw the acts he performed was a faithless generation (Mark 9:19) refer to the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:5?

3. First Fruits of Zion summarizes Matthew 17:19-21  to read,  “Do you think you failed because of the littleness of your faith? … But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”  Is this consistent with the rest of the passage? Compare with Matthew 21:21 and Luke 17:6.

4. Paul addresses a similar issue to the one of the man who cast out demons in Yeshua’s name ( Mark 9:38) yet was not a disciple in Philippians 1:15-18 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-3. What is Paul’s understanding of this issue?

5. The sequence of jurisprudence for a person who does evil is outlined in Deuteronomy 17:2-11. How does that compare to the sequence Yeshua described in Matthew 18:15-20? How does Yeshua say that forgiveness factors into this judgment in Matthew 18:21-35? How does Paul deal with the situation in the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 5?

6. Yeshua offers a frightening warning to those who are tempted to stumble in Mark 9:43-47 quoting Isiah 66:24. What is the warning issued in Isaiah 66:15-24?


© 2018 Moed Ministries International.  All Rights Reserved




[i] The Chronicles of the Messiah, Volume 3. Lancaster, D. Thomas. First Fruits of Zion. 2018. Page 835.
[ii] Benjamin W. Bacon. “After Six Days: A New Clue for Gospel Critics”. The Harvard Theological Review Vol. 8, January 1915. P. 94. (as referenced by The Chronicles of the Messiah, Volume 3. Lancaster, D. Thomas. First Fruits of Zion. 2018. P. 866.)
[iii] David Bivin. “The Kingdom’s ‘Little Ones’”. Pipeline Vol 2:1. January 2002 (as referenced by The Chronicles of the Messiah, Volume 3. Lancaster, D. Thomas. First Fruits of Zion. 2018. P. 867)
[iv] Poole, Matthew. English Annotations on the Holy Bible.  Commentary on Matthew 18:3-4. 1683
[v] Ibid Commentary on Mark 0:38-40.
[vi] Ibid.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Shabbat Service 3-21-2018

Join us each Shabbat at 10:00 am Pacific time for our weekly service. Watch our mid-week video teaching on Wednesday nights, download the discussion questions from our midweek teaching and be ready to join in the discussion on Shabbat. We live stream our service on livestream.com and on our Moed Ministries International Facebook page.

 

On the High Mountain

By Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Moed Ministries International

The video version of this teaching is available at:
https://youtu.be/k52hyExkzgE

Scripture readings for this teaching:
Mark 9:2-13 (Matthew 17:1-13; Luke 9:28-36 
Last week we saw Yeshua healing two blind men and again feeding a multitude of people with what appeared to be meager provisions only to find that there was plenty of leftovers.  After most such busy times, Yeshua would go to a hill or mountain to spend time in prayer.  He sometimes took several disciples with him.  On this occasion he took three, Peter, James and John.  But this time was different; this time something extraordinary happened. 
Mark 9:2-4 from the Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels.  After six days, Yeshua took Petros, Ya’akov, and Yochanan, and brought them up along with him on a high mountain, and he was changed before their eyes.  His clothes shone and became very white like snow; a launderer on earth would not be able to make something so white. Then Eliyahu (or Elijah) and Mosheh (Moses) appeared to them and they were speaking with Yeshua.
On this mountain, on this day, the disciples encountered the very Glory of the divine Yeshua; transfigured before their eyes!  Mountains are a common place for Yeshua and the disciples to find solitude to pray and to seek out divine revelation. The scriptures have many examples.  But what is the significance of this encounter with Moses and Elijah?  What was the purpose of these specific disciples being allowed to see a glimpse of the kingdom of God and the glory and majesty of Yeshua that was yet to come?
Christian church tradition places this transfiguration of Yeshua on Mount Tabor, located at the eastern end of the Jezreel Valley, not far from Yeshua’s home town of Nazareth.  In the fourth century and later, the Christians made pilgrimages to Mount Tabor.  In the Byzantine era, many churches and monasteries were built on top of Mount Tabor.
But it is unlikely that Mount Tabor would be the actual location of this transfiguration for a number of reasons. One; Yeshua was, just before this event, in the northern Galilee, in or near the city of Bethsaida.  And immediately following was again in the Northern Galilee region.  Mount Tabor is many days journey to the south.
At the time of Yeshua, Mount Tabor was the location of many hundreds of Roman troops as well as the location where the Sanhedrin would place one of the many large bonfires signaling the sighting of the new moon at the beginning of the Biblical months.  Mount Tabor would be quite crowded and not the place to find an isolated spot to pray, as was the custom of Yeshua.  In addition, Mount Tabor was in the territory under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas whom Yeshua was going out of His way to avoid; Yeshua hadn’t entered his territory since the execution of John the Baptist.
The most likely location for Yeshua’s transfiguration would be Mount Hermon, above the city of Caesarea Philippi. Mount Hermon was ell know for mystical associations in Jewish literature.  The Book of Enoch references the patriarch Levi having a vision of seven heavens while at the top of Mount Hermon.[1] The book of Psalms makes some Messianic connections to Mount Hermon.
Psalms 133:1-3 NKJV 1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-Life forevermore.
As we read in Mark 9:2, Yeshua was transformed before the disciples.  The Greek word translated as “transformed” is number 3339 in the Strong’s Dictionary, metamorphoo; where we get the English word, metamorphosis.  It means to transform or change.  Matthews gospel describes what this change or metamorphosis was like.
Matthew 17:2 NKJV 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
The prophets describe the glory of God as like bright, visible light.
Isaiah 60:1 NKJV 1 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
Also in Ezekiel:
Ezekiel 1:3-4 NKJV 3 the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there. 4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
Moses reflected this same radiance of God after spending forty days and nights on the mountain.
Exodus 34:29 NKJV 29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
According to Jewish tradition, Adam and Eve were not naked in the Garden before their sin but were clothed in God’s glory and radiance.  Quoting from the Talmud:
“Adam’s heel outshone the globe of the sun; how much more the brightness of his face”[2] And “Adam’s garments blazed like a torch”[3]
Yeshua told his disciples that at the time of His return, we, too, will be changed and shine like the sun!
Matthew 13:41-43 NKJV 41 "The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 "and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
But what is the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing at this time with these three disciples being witnesses?  Moses and Elijah may serve the function as two witnesses.  The Torah speaks of the need for more than one witness to establish a matter. Matthew records Yeshua’s own words regarding the necessity of two or more witnesses.
Matthew 18:16 NKJV 16 "But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.'
Also, in one sense, Moses and Elijah may be representing the Torah and the Prophets respectively as suggested by Malachi.
Malachi 4:4-5 NKJV 4 "Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, Which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, With the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Yeshua Himself referred to the dual testimony, or witness, of the Torah and the Prophets.
Luke 24:27 NKJV 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
In another sense, Moses and Elijah represent the witness of both life and death.  Moses, as recorded at the end of the book of Deuteronomy, went up on Mount Nebo in the land of Moab and died.  Elijah, on the other hand, did not die.  He was taken up in a whirlwind as recorded in second Kings 2:11. Both Moses and Elijah were the only ones to climb Mount Sinai and hear God speak!
Luke’s gospel records that Moses and Elijah came to bring a message to Yeshua about the path of suffering that He would take.
Luke 9:30-31 NKJV 30 And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Along with the appearance of Moses and Elijah, Mark’s gospel, in chapter nine verse seven, relates that a cloud enveloped Yeshua and the two guests.  This was reminiscent of the cloud of God’s glory followed the Children of Israel and enveloped the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
Exodus 40:36-38 NKJV 36 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
This same cloud appeared at the dedication of the Temple which Solomon built.
1 Kings 8:10 NKJV 10 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
Jewish tradition associates the cloud of God’s glory with the festival of Sukkot.  In fact, according to an Aramaic Targum, the festival of Sukkot is referred to as the Festival of the Clouds.  The Aramaic word used in reference to Sukkot is Metalaya, which also means “clouds.”
Out of the cloud which surrounded Yeshua, Moses and Elijah came the voice of God!
Matthew 17:5b-6 NKJV 5 … behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
The Hebrew term for the voice out of Heaven is “bat kol”, which literally translated would be “daughter of the voice.”  It is used most often to describe an echo.  The Talmud uses the term for the voice of an unseen speaker.  There are two other accounts of a voice speaking from heaven in the gospels, one at Yeshua’s baptism, and the other at the triumphal entry.  The apostle Paul heard a voice from heaven speak to him;
Acts 9:3-4 NKJV 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"
John also heard the voice from heaven:
Revelation 1:9-10 NKJV 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet,
The voice from heaven here on the Mount of Transfiguration carried the same message as that voice which spoke at the time of Yeshua’s baptism by John in the Jordan river.  The gospels record the exact words a little differently as does Peter in his second epistle, but the message is the same.
Matthew 17:5 NKJV 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
The words, “my beloved son,” invokes a memory of God’s instruction to Abraham.
Genesis 22:1-2 NKJV 1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
The heavenly voice on this night on the mountain instructed then to “listen to him.”  In Deuteronomy 18, Moses told the people that in the future the LORD would raise up a prophet like him from among His people and that they should listen to that prophet.
Deuteronomy 18:18-19 NKJV 18 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 'And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.
The voice from heaven certainly frightened Peter, James and John. So much so that they fell prostrate on the ground. Surely their belief in Yeshua as the Son of God was confirmed and strengthened that night!
As they headed back down the mountain, Yeshua instructed them to tell no one of their experience on the mountain until after he was resurrected.
Matthew 17:9 NKJV 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead."
The disciples assumed that Yeshua wanted them to keep quiet about the experience on the mountain that night until the resurrection of the dead. They questioned Yeshua on their way back down.
Mark 9:11-13 NKJV 11 And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" 12 Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 "But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."
The three disciples had just seen Elijah so hadn’t he already come?  The common Jewish understanding is that Elijah will come first and usher in the Messianic age.  But they also saw Elijah depart.  Shouldn’t Elijah be busy at work announcing the arrival of the Messiah?
Yeshua explained as they descended the mountain that Elijah, in his role as a for runner of the Messiah at the onset of the Messianic Age, would also be a forerunner in the suffering of the Messiah as we just read in Mark 9:12-13.  Yeshua was telling them that John the Baptist was Elijah in the role as the forerunner of the suffering Messiah.
Matthew 17:12-13 NKJV 12 "But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.
But Elijah’s work is not finished.  He returns a second time as the avenger before the return of Messiah. The largely lost ancient work “The Apocalypse of Elijah,” which was commonly known among the Jewish people and the disciples of the time, speaks directly of Elijah’s return prior to Messiah’s coming to fight against the enemies of Israel and the forces of evil.  First Fruits of Zion in their work, The Chronicles of the Messiah quotes from a fragment of this ancient writing.
Then when Elijah and Enoch hear that the shameless one has revealed himself in the holy place, they will come down and fight with him… The shameless one will hear, and he will be angry, he will fight with them in the market place of the great city. And he will spend seven days fighting with them. And they will spend three and one half days in the market place dead, while all the people see them. But on the fourth day they will rise up and they will scold him saying…[4]
The early Christian historian Tertullian comments:
Enoch was translated and so was Elijah. They did not experience death; it was postponed and only temporarily. They are most certainly preserved for the purpose of suffering of death so that, by their blood, they may extinguish the Antichrist.[5]
As Yeshua, Peter, James, and John rejoin the other disciples at the base of the mountain, they didn’t speak of their experience that night. It was several years later that Peter recounts his experience in his second epistle.
2 Peter 1:16-19 NKJV 16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
At the time, even Peter didn’t fully understand the lessons which the Master Yeshua was trying to teach him.  Like many of us, he was stubborn and thick skulled.  But like a good, well written mystery, as we read the gospels, we see a critical character, in this case Peter, being given all the clues.  We can see them, but he does not.  It was not until after Yeshua’s resurrection and ascension that Peter put it all together and became the powerful witness for the coming kingdom of God.
Study Questions:
1. The gospel reading from Mark opens with a statement that the Transfiguration event took place six days later, but six days after what?

2. In this account, we see Yeshua climbing a mountain as He often did to pray and consult with God the Father. He also often takes His closest disciples with him. Compare this practice with that of Moses going up Mount Sinai to seek out God. What other time, or times, did Yeshua take these same three disciples along to pray? Compare those events as well.

3. Most Christian teaching and tradition says that the two witnesses who stand guard in the Holy Place during the reign of the Antichrist are a resurrected Moses and Elijah. But as we have seen, evidenced by the ancient writing The Apocalypse of Elijah, an earlier popular understanding is that these witnesses will be Elijah and Enoch. Discuss this interpretation and the implications of the two witnesses being Elijah and Enoch.

4. What is the Biblical, historic, and perhaps spiritual significance of Mount Hermon as the location of the transfiguration as opposed to Mount Tabor? What other Biblical events took place at these locations?

5. In our natural world, we associate clouds with darkness or subdued light. At the Transfiguration, we read of the cloud and exceedingly bright light along with the voice of God coming out of the cloud, discuss the significance of the association of the cloud with bright light and the presence of God? What other places in the Bible describe similar circumstances and manifestations of God?
© 2018 Moed Ministries International.  All rights reserved


[1] 1 Enoch 6:6. Also found in “The Testament of Levi” 1-3
[2] Leviticus Rabbah 20:2
[3] Genesis Rabbah 20:12
[4] “Apocalypse of Elijah,” in Charlesworth, The old Testament Pseudepigrapha, 747-748
[5] Tertullian, Treatise on the Soul, 50.

Friday, April 13, 2018

Who Do You Say I Am?


By Dan & Brenda Cathcart
Moed Ministries International

The video version of this teaching is available at:

Scripture readings for this teaching:
Mark 7:31 – 9:1 (Matthew 15:29-16:28; Luke 9:18-27)

As Yeshua’s ministry progressed, the crowds around Him grew larger and larger. It became more difficult for Him to take His disciples apart from the multitude to teach them. Yeshua first took His disciples to the region of Tyre and Sidon. When He was inevitably found, He healed the daughter of a Canaanite. Afterwards, Yeshua moved through the wilderness area of the Decapolis region to approach the Sea of Galilee from the east side.

Mark 7:31 NKJV Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.

What was Yeshua’s primary goal during this phase of His ministry? How did Yeshua accomplish this goal?

When Yeshua healed the daughter of the Canaanite woman, He got the attention of His disciples. The disciples’ attitude when the woman approached Yeshua reveals their prejudice and narrow focus.

Matthew 15:22-23 NKJV And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."

The woman is persistent however and begs even for the “leftovers” of Yeshua’s attention.

Matthew 15:26-28 NKJV But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Even the “leftovers” from Yeshua’s table have the power to heal! Even the Canaanites can exhibit faith and receive from the master. Yeshua had previously healed the servant of a Roman centurion who was described as a friend of the Jewish people, but now, Yeshua healed the daughter of the hated Canaanite race. This definitely got the attention of the disciples and sets up Yeshua’s agenda for the next days. The disciples’ ears were ready to hear and their eyes were ready to see what Yeshua wanted to show them!

When Yeshua arrived back at the Sea of Galilee, a deaf and speech impaired man was brought to Him.

Mark 7:32-34 NKJV Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. 33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

Yeshua took the man aside from the multitude. He wasn’t interested in making a big display. In fact, after healing the man, Yeshua will instruct him to say nothing about his healing.

Mark 7:36 NKJV Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.

Yeshua, also, didn’t just speak to heal the man; He put His fingers in the man’s ears and put His spit on the man’s tongue. I’m reminded of how we use hand motions to illustrate songs or sayings. In particular, when we speak the saying, “Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,” we first cover our ears, then our eyes and then our mouth or tongue. Yeshua is not closing this man’s ears and mouth; He is opening them to hear and to speak. Those who witnessed this healing marveled!

Mark 7:37 NKJV And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."

The crowds are seeing that Yeshua is fulfilling the words of the prophet Isaiah about the time when God would send salvation to His people.

Isaiah 35:4-5 NKJV Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

Yeshua opened the ears of the deaf, but He didn’t open his ears so he could ear, Yeshua looked to heaven and He sighed as He healed the man. Why did Yeshua look to heaven and sigh? Why is this detail included in Mark’s account? There is a parallel between this healing and Yeshua’s instructing His disciples. He took His disciples aside just like He took this man aside. He was teaching His disciples about who He was and what His mission was. At that time, although Peter had confessed that he believed Yeshua had the answer to eternal life after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, they were still missing something. Their ears were not opened and they did not hear.

The story of Yeshua opening the ears of the deaf man quickly spread through the region and the crowds once more found Yeshua and gathered around Him.

Mark 8:1-2 NKJV In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat.

This was a familiar situation! Yeshua had dealt with this before when He fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. The disciples ask Yeshua how He will feed such a large group of people with only the resources they have with them.

Mark 8:4-5 NKJV Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?" He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven."

It seems that the disciples had already inventoried their supplies and were ready with an answer. Perhaps, their question was not one of doubt, but of hope that He would duplicate the miracle of the feeding the five thousand. This even of feeding the four thousand followed the same pattern as that of feeding the five thousand. Yeshua had the multitude sit on the ground. He took the bread and the few small fish that they had, gave thanks to God, broke the bread and had the disciples pass out the food.

Mark 8:6-10 NKJV So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

As with the feeding the five thousand, everyone was able to eat until they were satisfied and there was ample food leftover. This event was not too long after the Canaanite woman said she was satisfied to eat the crumbs that fell from the master’s table. The “crumbs” leftover after Yeshua fed and satisfied the hunger of the four thousand amounted to seven baskets full! The number seven is the number of spiritual completion. The fact that there were seven baskets leftover may imply that even after satisfying the spiritual hunger of the Jews, there is still a spiritual completion leftover. Others have connected the seven baskets with the number seventy which is the number of the nations symbolizing that Yeshua extends His feeding to the Gentiles after satisfying the hunger of the Jews. Paul writes that salvation is for both the Jew and the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 NKJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

The parallels with feeding the five thousand continue. After providing food for the multitude, Yeshua left the area by boat. Then, after arriving at His destination, He is confronted by a group of people demanding a sign. This time, it is a group of Pharisees who confront Him.

Mark 8:11-12 NKJV Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. But He sighed deeply in His spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."

There is that sigh again! After all the signs that Yeshua had already done, they seek another sign. Yeshua refuses their demand for a sign. Matthew records that Yeshua chastised them for their inability to recognize the signs they have been given.

Matthew 16:2-3 NKJV He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; "and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

Yeshua did give them signs, many signs, but the Pharisees did not recognize a single one. John states that there were so many signs, he couldn’t write them all in his book!

John 21:25 NKJV And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

They were given signs, but they didn’t see or hear. The prophet Isaiah says that they would continue to miss the signs as long as their hearts were hard.

Isaiah 6:9-10 NKJV And He said, "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' "Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed."

Yeshua goes on to tell them that the only sign they will receive is the sign of Jonah, the sign of His resurrection.

Matthew 16:4 NKJV "A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed.

Yeshua and His disciples get back in their boat to journey to Bethsaida. On their way they seem to have gotten hungry and realize that they didn’t bring any bread to eat. Yeshua sees this as a teachable moment.

Mark 8:14-15 NKJV Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat. Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

Unfortunately, the disciples totally miss the point! They think Yeshua is chastising them for forgetting to bring bread. But Yeshua is referring to the conversation they had just had with the Pharisees.

Mark 8:17-18 NKJV But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

He questions whether they are as blind and deaf as the Pharisees and as hard of heart. Don’t they see the signs that Yeshua has done? Don’t they hear the words of Isaiah as Yeshua fulfills them? Yeshua reminds them of feeding the five thousand and the four thousand.

Mark 8:19-21 NKJV "When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." "Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?" And they said, "Seven." So He said to them, "How is it you do not understand?"

He reminded them that He provided abundantly above their needs with first twelve and then seven baskets left over!

Before feeding the four thousand, Yeshua had opened the ears and loosened the tongue of a man who couldn’t hear or speak. Now, Yeshua will heal a blind man.

Mark 8:23-25 NKJV So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, "I see men like trees, walking." Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.

The Thomas Nelson NKJV Study Bible comments on these verses:

Jesus’ healing of the blind man in stages paralleled the disciples’ imperfect perception of Jesus. Like the man, they were no longer blind, but they could not see clearly either. Only the Holy Spirit could clear the vision.[1]

After this event, Yeshua wanted to know if the disciples had begun to see. Did they see the fulfillment of Isaiah yet?

Isaiah 32:1-4 NKJV Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice. A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The eyes of those who see will not be dim, And the ears of those who hear will listen. Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.

Yeshua begins the conversation asking who the people say He is. Then He asks who they say He is.

Matthew 16:15-17 NKJV He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

Yeshua’s answer reveals that this understanding is now deeper than it was when Peter first proclaimed that Yeshua was the Messiah. Yeshua declares that He will build His congregation on Peter. Or does He? Let’s look a little closer!

Matthew 16:18 NKJV "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Peter’s name is really Simon but Yeshua calls him Peter or “Petros” in the Greek and “Kefa” in Aramaic. The name “Petros,” #4074 in Strong’s Concordance means a piece of rock. There is that interesting word play between Peter’s name and the rock upon which Yeshua will build His congregation. But why does Yeshua declare at that time the Simon’s name is now Peter or Petros? It is in response to Peter’s declaration of faith!

In the Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua talks about two builders. One builder is wise and builds his house on the rock while the other builder is foolish and builds his house on the sand. The one who is wise is described as hearing Yeshua’s words and doing them.

Matthew 7:24-25 NKJV  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

Peter finally really heard the words of Yeshua; his ears had been opened. He responded to Yeshua’s words in faith, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

Isaiah also spoke of a rock. That rock was Abraham, the father of faith. The rock was the promise that through Abraham all nations would be blessed!

Isaiah 51:1-2, 4-5 NKJV "Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.  Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him."… "Listen to Me, My people; And give ear to Me, O My nation: For law will proceed from Me, And I will make My justice rest As a light of the peoples. My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait upon Me, And on My arm they will trust.

The rock Yeshua referred to was not Peter; it was his profession of faith in the Messiah, the Comfort of Israel, the Righteous King; God’s salvation! It was a faith grounded on the rock that tribulation and trials could not cause to fall!

Yeshua states that the gates of Hades could not prevail against His congregation founded on such faith! Hades is a Greek word for the Hebrew concept of the place of the dead. In Hebrew, this word would be “Sheol” #7592 meaning the world of the dead, or the grave. Yeshua is stating the those with this faith, like Peter, cannot be kept in the grave. Peter had earlier confessed the Yeshua had the words of eternal life.

John 6:68 NKJV But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

Yeshua has now achieved His purpose. His disciples have a deeper understanding of who He is and are now ready to hear how Yeshua will achieve that purpose. But Yeshua tells His disciples not to tell anyone that He is the Messiah. It is not yet time for everyone to know. The reason for that is, of course, that He is not coming as the conquering king. He is coming to suffer and die.

Matthew 16:21 NKJV From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

This stage of Yeshua’s ministry is now complete and the final stage is about to begin. Yeshua begins to teach His disciples that He must become the suffering servant Messiah before He can be the reigning King. This is a truth that they will not fully understand until His resurrection. Yeshua has begun His final journey to the cross.

Study Questions:

2. How do the events of healing the deaf man and the blind man “bookend” feeding the 4000?

3. In Ruth 2:14-18, Ruth ate until she was satisfied, then gave to Naomi and she ate and was satisfied. The Hebrew word in these verses is #7646.  obs saba`, saw-bah' meaning to sate, i.e. fill to satisfaction (literally or figuratively):--have enough, fill (full, self, with), be (to the) full (of), have plenty of, be satiate. Compare this situation to the 4000 eating until they were satisfied and having abundant leftovers.

4. Matthew 16:19 says that Yeshua gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter. The context of the teaching in Matthew 7 about the house built on the rock is in the context of who can enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 7:21-27) In what way, then does Peter have the keys to the kingdom of heaven?

5. Yeshua goes further in Matthew 16:19 and says that Peter has the authority to bind or loosen. In the context of the kingdom of heaven, what is Yeshua referring to?

6. We quoted from Isaiah 35 and Isaiah 51 in this teaching. Read Isaiah 35:1-1-10 and Isaiah 51:1-11. How does the comparison of these two passages connect Yeshua healing the deaf man and the blind man with Peter’s declaration of faith and Yeshua declaring that His congregation will be founded on the rock?


© 2018 Moed Ministries International. All rights reserved



[1] NKJV Study Bible, Earl D. Radmacher, Th.D, Ronald B Allen, Th.D, H. Wayne House, Th.D. ©1197, 2007 Thomas Nelson, Inc. Page 1566.