Shepherd of Hermas Command #6: Choose right PATH (Good angel and bad angel)

CHAPTER 1

“I gave you,” he said, “directions in the first commandment to attend to faith, and fear, and self-restraint.”

Faith:

The biggest part about faith that the malach (angel) of repentance mentioned was believing that ELOHIM is ONE! If you have not read the “The Shepherd of Hermas command #1”, I would recommend reading that message when you can.

Habakkuk 2:4

“For his soul does not delight in iniquity, but the righteous man shall live by faith.’

Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith, a man cannot please ELOHIM. For he that draws near to ELOHIM must believe His existence and that He will recompense those who seek Him.”

Fear:

Proverbs 9:10

“The FEAR of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the righteous understanding.”

Psalms 111:10

“The FEAR of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom; and good understanding have all they that do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (Aramaic)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter; FEAR YAHWEH and keep His commandments; this is given by ONE MASTER to EVERY MAN (Now just Jews).”

Sirach 2:15-16

“Those who FEAR YAHWEH will not disobey His word; and those who love Him will keep His ways. Those who FEAR YAHWEH will seek that which is good and pleasing to Him; and those who love Him shall be filled with the Torah.” Those who FEAR YAHWEH will prepare their hearts and humble their souls in his sight, saying, we will fall into the hands of YAHWEH and not into the hands of men; for as His greatness IS, His mercy is the same.”

Self-restraint:

2 Timothy 1:7 (CJB)

“For ELOHIM gave us a Spirit who produces not timidity, but power, love and SELF-DISCIPLINE.”

Sirach 18:30-31

“Do not go after your lusts, but refrain yourself from your appetites. If you give your soul the desires that pleases her, she will make you a laughingstock to your enemies that malign you.”

2 Esdras 7:125-126

“Or that the faces of those who practiced SELF-CONTROL shall shine more than the stars, but our faces shall be blacker than darkness. For while we lived and committed iniquity, we did not consider what we should suffer after our death.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “Even so, sir,” said I. And he said, “Now I wish to show you the powers of these, that you may know what power each possesses. For their powers are double, and have relation alike to the righteous and the unrighteous. Trust you, therefore, the righteous, but put no trust in the unrighteous. For the PATH of righteousness is STRAIGHT…”

What is righteousness?

Deuteronomy 6:25

“And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe and do all these commandments before YAHWEH our ELOHIM as He commanded us.”

Psalms 119:142

“Your righteousness is righteousness forever and Your Torah is the truth.”

So, the straight PATH of righteousness means to walk in the commandments of the Torah!

Psalms 119:1

“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who WALK in the Torah of YAHWEH.”

In scripture the WAY and the PATH are similar and used interchangeably to represent walking in the Torah or walking in wickedness.

Proverbs 2:20

“Therefore you must walk in the WAY of good men and keep the PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS.”

Jeremiah 6:16

“Thus says YAHWEH, stand in the WAYS and see, and ask for the OLD PATHS and see where is the good way and WALK IN IT and find rest for your souls…”

Mathew 7:13-14 (Hebrew)

“YESHUA MASHIACH said unto His disciples, “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the way that leads man to destruction, and many are entering into it. But the gate and the WAY that leads to life, it is exceedingly narrow; and few are they who find it.”

2 Esdras 7:6-13 (Parenthesis mine)

“Another example: There is a city built and set on a plain, and it is full of all good things; but the entrance is narrow, and set in a precipitous place, so that there is fire on the right hand and deep water on the left; and there is only ONE PATH lying between them, that is, between the fire and the water, so that only ONE man can walk upon that PATH. (Notice how narrow this path is? Only one man can walk on it at a time). If now that city is given to a man for an inheritance, how will the heir receive his inheritance unless he passes through the narrow place? I said, “He cannot, master.” And he said to me, “So also is Yisra’els portion.” For I made the world for their sake, and when Adam transgressed my statues, what had been made was judged. And so the entrances of this world were made narrow and sorrowful and toilsome; they are few and evil, full of dangers and involved in great hardships. But the entrances of that coming world are broad and safe and yield the fruit of immortality.”

Now that we have defined what the way and path is, we must walk on the narrow straight path of righteousness which is the Torah and do not turn aside from the Torah neither to the left hand or right hand.

Jubilees 23:16-17 (Parenthesis mine)

“And in that generation the sons will convict their fathers and their elders of sin and unrighteousness (opposite of Deuteronomy 6:25), and of the words of their mouth and the great wickedness which they perpetrate, and concerning their forsaking the covenant which YAHWEH cut between them and Him, that they should guard and do all His commands and His judgments and all His Torot (plural form of Torah), without departing either to the right hand or left hand.”

Deuteronomy 5:32

“You must observe and do therefore as YAHWEH your ELOHIM has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

Deuteronomy 28:14

“And you shall not turn aside from any of the commandments which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, and you shall not go after the gentile elohim, nor serve them.”

Joshua 1:7

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the laws which Moses my servant has commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may succeed wherever you go.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “But that of unrighteousness is crooked. But walk in the straight and even way, and mind not the crooked. For the CROOKED PATH has no roads, but has many pathless places and stumbling-blocks in it, and it is rough and thorny. It is injurious to those who walk therein.”

Proverbs 2:10-15

“When wisdom enters into your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, intelligence shall preserve you, and the understanding of the pious men shall deliver you; that you might be delivered from EVIL WAYS, from men who speak perverse things, who forsake the PATH OF UPRIGHTNESS to walk in the WAY OF DARKNESS; who rejoice to do evil and delight in the perverseness of evil things; men whose ways are CROOKED AND WHOSE PATHS are perverse, wisdom shall deliver you from a strange woman who flatters with her words, who has forsaken the mother of her youth and forgotten the covenant of her ELOHIM. For she has forgotten the threshold of her house and the way of her PATHS. None who go to her return again, neither do they remember the PATH OF LIFE. Therefore you must WALK in the WAY OF GOOD men and KEEP THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and those who are unblemished shall remain in it. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth and the unrighteous shall be rooted out of it.”

Jeremiah 18:15

“Yet My people have forsaken Me and have burned incense to vanity and have stumbled in their WAYS, and have departed from the ANCIENT PATHS to walk in a WAY which was not trodden.”

Psalms 17:4-5

“Through the conversation of my lips You have kept me from EVIL WAYS. You have strengthened my goings in Your PATHS, that my footsteps slip not.”

Psalms 36:4

“He devises mischief upon his bed; he WALKS IN A WAY that is not good that he may do evil.”

Proverbs 1:15-16

“My son, do not walk in the WAY with them; but refrain your foot from their PATH; for their feet run to evil, they make haste to shed blood.”

Proverbs 16:25

“There is a WAY that seems right in the eyes of men, but the PATHS thereof are the PATHS OF DEATH.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “But they who walk in the straight road walk evenly without stumbling, because it is neither rough nor thorny.”

Why is it that those who walk on the righteous path do not stumble? Because you have the light of the Torah shining on the path so you will know where to go. Without the light of the Torah you stumble in unrighteousness which is the thorny and rough way.

Proverbs 6:23

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the TORAH IS A LIGHT, and the reproofs of instruction are the WAY OF LIFE.”

Psalms 119:105

“Your word is a LAMP to my feet and a LIGHT (TORAH) to MY PATH.”

Baruch 4:1-2

“This is the book of the commandments of ELOHIM and the law that endures forever; all those that keep it shall come to LIFE; but those who leave it shall die. Turn, O Jacob and take hold of it; WALK in the presence of its LIGHT (TORAH), that you may be illuminated.”

John 14:6

“YESHUA said to him. “I AM the WAY, and THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE. No man comes to the Father except by Me.”

Tsade in the Otiot is the number 18 and is a picture of a PATH and represents YESHUA Who is the WAY to eternal life and represents righteousness! So as we can see the righteous path is following the way of truth through the written Torah which is YESHUA the written Torah that became living flesh by the leading of the RUACH HA’KODESH!

Acts 24:14 (CJB)

“But this I (Paul) do admit to you: I worship the ELOHIM of our ancestors in accordance with THE WAY (which they call a sect). I continue to believe everything that accords with the Torah and everything written in the Prophets.”

Paul was following the WAY and YESHUA is the WAY, The Truth and the Life, so Paul was walking the narrow PATH of righteousness.

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “You see, then, that it is better to walk in this road.” “I wish to go by this road,” said I. “You will go by it,” said he; “and whoever turns to with all YAHWEH his heart will walk in it.”

CHAPTER 2

This next section reminds me of how the cartoons would always depict this scenario. There would be a good malach (angel) on one shoulder telling the person to do good; and then on the other shoulder would be the devil telling the person to do evil. So obviously in those early cartoons they had an understanding of the spiritual realm or were taking straight from the Shepherd of Hermas.

 “Hear now,” said he, “in regard to faith. There are two malachim (angels) with a man — one of righteousness, and the other of iniquity.” And I said to him, “How, sir, am I to know the powers of these, for both malachim (angels) dwell with me?” “Hear,” said he, and “understand them. The angel of righteousness is gentle and modest, meek and peaceful. When, therefore, he ascends into your heart, forthwith he talks to you of righteousness, purity, chastity, contentment, and of every righteous deed and esteemed virtue. When all these ascend into your heart, know that the angel of righteousness is with you. These are the deeds of the angel of righteousness. Trust him, then, and his works.”

The malach of righteousness is going to speak to you the things that the RUACH HA’KODESH wants to do while dwelling in you which matches Galatians 5 and they are similar.

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “Look now at the works of the angel of iniquity. First, he is wrathful, and bitter, and foolish, and his works are evil, and ruin the servants of ELOHIM. When, then, he ascends into your heart, know him by his works.” And I said to him, “How, sir, I shall perceive him, I do not know.” “Hear and understand” said he. “When anger comes upon you, or harshness, know that he is in you; and you will know this to be the case also, when you are attacked by a longing after many transactions, and the richest delicacies, and drunken revels, and divers luxuries, and things improper, and by a hankering after women, and by overreaching, and pride, and blustering, and by whatever is like to these. When these ascend into your heart, know that the angel of iniquity is in you. Now that you know his works, depart from him, and in no respect trust him, because his deeds are evil, and unprofitable to the servants of ELOHIM.

Colossians 3:4-10

“And when Messiah Who is our life will be manifested, then will you also be manifested with Him in esteem. Make as dead therefore your members that are on the earth; sexual sin, impurity and the passions and evil desire, and insatiable desire for wealth which is idolatry. For on account of these things the wrath of ELOHIM comes on the deeds of disobedience. And in these things you also formerly walked, when you lived in them. But now, put away from you all these: wrath, anger, malice, reviling, filthy talking; and lie not one to another but put off the old man with all his practices; and put you on the new man that is renewed in knowledge, after the likeness of his Creator.”

Galatians 5:16-21 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)

“What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants. For the old nature wants what is CONTRARY to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is CONTRARY to the old nature. These OPPOSE each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions. But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism (Oral Torah of Pharisees). And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and GETTING ANGRY; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue AND ENVY; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of ELOHIM!”

1 Peter 4:1-4 (Parenthesis mine)

“If then the Messiah has suffered for you in the flesh, do you also arm yourselves with the same mind; for everyone that is dead in his body (meaning died to self) has ceased from all sins that he may no longer be alive to the lusts of men while he is in the body, but only to do the will of ELOHIM. For the time that is past was enough when you pursued the WAY of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, and in sexual sin, and in drunken parties, and in the worship of demons. And lo, they now wonder and reproach you, because you do not run with them in the same former drunkenness; who must give account to ELOHIM who is to judge the living and the dead.”

1 John 2:15-16

“Love not the world nor anything in it; for whoever loves the world has not the love of The Father in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the body and the lust of the eyes and the pride of the world, which are not from the Father but from the world itself. And the world is passing away, both it and the lust thereof, but He that does the pleasure of ELOHIM abides forever.”

James 4:4 (Hebrew)

“O adulterer an adulteress, do you not know that whosoever loves this world, he hates YAHWEH? So, whosever wants to be a lover of this world, he himself will be a hater of YAHWEH.”

Mathew 5:28

“But I say to you that all who that looks at a woman as lustfully at once has committed adultery in his heart.”

“These, then, are the actions of both angels. Understand them, and trust the angel of righteousness; but depart from the angel of iniquity, because his instruction is bad in every deed. For though a man be most faithful, and the thought of this angel ascend into his heart, that man or woman must sin. On the other hand, be a man or woman ever so bad, yet, if the works of the angel of righteousness ascend into his or her heart, he or she must do something good. You see, therefore, that it is good to follow the angel of righteousness, but to bid farewell to the angel of iniquity.” “This commandment exhibits the deeds of faith, that you may trust the works of the angel of righteousness and doing them you may live to ELOHIM. But believe the works of the angel of iniquity are hard. If you refuse to do them, you will live to ELOHIM.”

My fellow brothers and sisters walk the narrow path of righteousness and guard your hearts against the unrighteousness that enters through the wrong malach (angel) who wants to lead you astray. As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

Shepherd of Hermas command #5: ANGER and BITTERNESS

“Be PATIENT,” said he, “and of good understanding, and you will rule over every wicked work, and you will work all righteousness. For if you be patient, the RUACH HA’KODESH (The Set-Apart Spirit) that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region, He will rejoice and be glad; and with the vessel in which he dwells he will serve ELOHIM in gladness

And what does the RUACH HA’KODESH want to do to serve YAHWEH with gladness while dwelling in us?

John 16:13-15 (Hebrew)

“But when that RUACH (Spirit) of truth will come, He will teach you all truth. For He will not speak of His own heart, only the words which He hears He will speak, and make known to you those words. He will esteem Me-from My Father He will take, and will make known to you all the things which are My Father’s-which are Mine-and He will make them known to you.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “having great peace within himself. But if any outburst of anger take place, forthwith the RUACH HA’KODESH, who is tender, is straitened, not having a pure place, and He seeks to depart. For He is choked by the vile spirit, and cannot attend on YAHWEH as He wishes, for ANGER POLLUTES Him. For YAHWEH dwells in long-suffering, but the DEVIL IS ANGER. The two spirits, then, when dwelling in the same habitation, are at discord with each other, and are troublesome to that man in whom they dwell.

Galatians 5:16-26 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)

“What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants. For the old nature wants what is CONTRARY to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is CONTRARY to the old nature. These OPPOSE each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions. But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism (Oral Torah of Pharisees). And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and GETTING ANGRY; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue AND ENVY; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of ELOHIM!” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self-control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things (because you are already walking out the requirements of the Torah in love.) Moreover, those who belong to Messiah YESHUA have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “For if an exceedingly small piece of wormwood be taken and put into a jar of honey, is not the honey entirely destroyed, and does not the exceedingly small piece of wormwood entirely take away the sweetness of the honey, so that it no longer affords any gratification to its owner, but has become bitter, and lost its use? But if the wormwood (Revelation 8:11 bitterness) be not put into the honey, then the honey remains sweet, and is of use to its owner. You see, then, that patience is sweeter than honey and useful to ELOHIM, and YAHWEH dwells in it.”

Jubilees 19:8-9

“This is the TENTH TRIAL by which Abraham was tried, and he was found FAITHFUL AND PATIENT in spirit. And he did not say a single word regarding the rumor in the land: that YAHWEH had said that He would give it to him and to his seed after him, and he begged a place there to bury his dead; for he was found faithful, and was recorded on the heavenly tablets as the friend of YAHWEH.”

Testament of Joseph 2:6-7

“In TEN TRIALS He showed me approved, and I endured them all. For endurance is a great medicine, and PATIENCE gives many good things.”

Proverbs 14:29 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“He who is SLOW TO ANGER is of great understanding; but he who is hasty of temper is exceedingly foolish.”

Proverbs 16:32 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“He who is SLOW TO ANGER is better than the mighty; and he who conquers himself than he who takes a city.”

Psalm 37:8 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“Cease from ANGER, AND FORSAKE WRATH; fret not yourself in any wise to do evil.”

Colossians 3:12 (CJB)

“Therefore, as ELOHIM’s chosen people, kodesh (set-apart) and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with feelings of compassion and with kindness, humility, gentleness and PATIENCE.”

Isaiah 30:18 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“Therefore YAHWEH will begin to be gracious to you, and therefore He will be exalted that He may have mercy upon you; for YAHWEH is a ELOHIM of judgment; blessed are all those who WAIT FOR HIM.”

Sirach 1:23

“A PATIENT man will cry for a time and afterward joy shall spring up to him.”

Sirach 2:3-4, 14

“Cleave to Him and do not depart, that you may be increased at your last end. Whatever is brought on you take cheerfully and be PATIENT when you are hanged to a low estate.” Verse 14 “Woe to you that have lost PATIENCE! And what will you do when YAHWEH visits you?”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “But ANGER IS BITTER and useless. Now, if anger be mingled with patience, the patience is polluted, and its prayer is not then useful to ELOHIM.”

Anger is useless which is why the malach of repentance use the wormwood reference in the honey, because patience is sweeter than honey but wormwood like anger is bitter, so don’t defile the honey.

Psalms 37:8

“Cease from ANGER, and forsake wrath; fret not yourself in any wise to do evil.”

Proverbs 14:29

“He who is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he who is HASTY OF TEMPER IS EXCEEDINGLY FOOLISH.”

Proverbs 15:18

“A WRATHFUL man stirs up contention; but he who is slow to anger appeases strife.”

Proverbs 22:24-25

“Make no friendship with a WRATHFUL MAN; and with a man given to ANGER you shall not go, lest you learn his ways and find a stumbling block to your soul.”

Proverbs 29:22

“And ANGRY man stirs up strife, and a FURIOUS man abounds in transgression.”

Ecclesiastes 7:9

“Be not HASTILY ANGRY, for ANGER rests in the bosom of the fools.”

Sirach 1:21-22

“The fear of YAHWEH drives away sins: and where it is present it turns away ANGER. And FURIOUS man CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED; for the sway of his fury shall be his destruction.”

Sirach 27:30

“HATRED AND ANGER even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “I should like, sir,” said I, “to know the power of anger, that I may guard myself against it.” And he said, “If you do not guard yourself against it, you and your house lose all hope of salvation. Guard yourself, therefore, against it. For I am with you, and all will depart from it who repent with their whole heart. For I will be with them, and I will save them all. For all are justified by the most holy malach (angel).”

CHAPTER 2

“Hear now,” said he, “how wicked is the action of anger, and in what way it overthrows the servants of ELOHIM by its action, and turns them from righteousness. But it does not turn away those who are full of faith, nor does it act on them, for the power of YAHWEH is with them. It is the thoughtless and doubting that it turns away. For as soon as it sees such men standing steadfast (loyal and committed), it throws itself into their hearts, and for NOTHING AT ALL the man or woman becomes embittered on account of occurrences in their daily life, as for instance on account of their food, or some superfluous word (going beyond what is needed, excessive) that has been uttered, or on account of some friend, or some gift or debt:

Luke 6:34

“And if you lend to whom you expect to be REPAID from, where is your blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners that they might likewise be repaid.” Makes sense because if you loan to someone without expecting it back it won’t bother you; and therefore will not cause bitterness to creep into your heart.

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “Or some such senseless affair. For all these things are foolish and empty and unprofitable to the servants of ELOHIM. But patience is great, and mighty, and strong, and calm in the midst of great enlargement, joyful, rejoicing, FREE FROM CARE, esteeming ELOHIM at all times:

Psalm 34:1-3

“I will bless YAHWEH at ALL TIMES; His praises shall CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH. My soul shall make its boast in YAHWEH; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify YAHWEH with me, and let us EXALT His Name together.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

“And in EVERYTHING BE THANKFUL: For this is the will of ELOHIM in YESHUA the Messiah concerning you.”

Paul says be thankful in everything, not sometimes! We are to praise YAHWEH when things are going good and when things seem to be falling apart, we should always bless His Name and be patient.

Psalms 69:30

“I will PRAISE the Name of ELOHIM with a song, and will MANGIFY Him with thanksgiving.”

Psalm 95:1-7

“Come, let us sing to YAHWEH; let us make a joyful noise to the ELOHIM of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise to Him with psalms. For YAHWEH is a great ELOHIM and a great King above all elohim. In His hands are the foundations of the earth; the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before YAHWEH our Maker. For He is our ELOHIM; and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today if you will hear His voice.”

Psalms 145:2

“Every day will I bless You; and I will praise Your Name forever and ever.”

Psalm 150:1-6

“Praise YAHWEH. Praise ELOHIM in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power. Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with psaltery and harp. Praise Him with timbrel and pipe; praise Him with sweet stringed instruments. Praise Him upon loud cymbals; praise Him with a mighty song. Let EVERYTHING THAT HAS BREATH PRAISE YAHWEH. Praise YAHWEH!”

 Shepherd of Hermas continued:” having no bitterness in her, and abiding continually meek and quiet. Now this patience dwells with those who have complete faith.”

Mathew 5:5

“Blessed are they who are meek because they shall inherit the earth.”

Psalm 37:11

“But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

Habakkuk 2:4

“For His soul does not delight in iniquity, but the righteous man shall live by faith.”

Luke 18:8

“I say to you that He will do their vengeance quickly. Nevertheless, the Son of Man will indeed come, and will He find faith on the earth?”

Hebrews 11:6

“But, without faith, a man CANNOT please ELOHIM. For he that draws near to ELOHIM must believe His existence and that He will recompense those who seek Him.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “But anger is foolish, and fickle, and senseless. Now, of folly (lack of good sense) is begotten bitterness, and of bitterness anger, and of anger frenzy. This frenzy, the product of so many evils, ends in great and incurable sin.”

Once you let bitterness set in your heart it turns to anger and then it begins to spin out of control and as the malach of repentance said it ends in great “And incurable sin”.

Shepherd of Hermas continued “For when all these spirits dwell in one vessel in which the RUACH HA’KODESH also dwells, the vessel cannot contain them, but overflows. The tender Spirit, then, not being accustomed to dwell with the wicked spirit, nor with hardness, withdraws from such a man, and seeks to dwell with meekness and peacefulness.”

Ephesians 4:30-32

“And do not grieve the RUACH HA’KODESH of ELOHIM whereby you are sealed for the day of redemption. Let all BITTERNESS and ANGER and WRATH and clamoring and reviling be taken from you along with all malice: and be affectionate towards one another and sympathetic; and forgive one another as ELOHIM by the Messiah has forgiven us.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “Then, when he withdraws from the man in whom He dwelt, the man is emptied of the righteous Spirit; and being henceforward filled with evil spirits, he is in a state of anarchy in every action, being dragged hither and thither by the evil spirits, and there is a complete darkness in his mind as to everything good.”

We saw this happen to Saul when the RUACH HA’KODESH departed from him and an evil spirit troubled him.

1 Samuel 16:14

“But the Spirit of YAHWEH departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from before YAHWEH troubled him.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “This, then, is what happens to all the angry. Wherefore do you depart from that most wicked spirit anger, and put on patience, and resist anger and bitterness, and you will be found in company with the purity which is loved by YAHWEH. Take care, then, that you neglect not by any chance this commandment: for if you obey this commandment, you will be able to keep all the other commandments which I am to give you. Be strong, then, in these commandments, and put on power, and let all put on power, as many as wish to walk in them.”

The malach of repentance says that if you can stay away from anger, bitterness, and wrath then you will be able to keep all the other commandments. Let this be a reminder to us all to walk in humility, love, and patience and live to ELOHIM!

As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

Shepherd of Hermas command #4 part 2: REPENTANCE/IMMERSION

I asked him again, and said, “Since YAHWEH has vouchsafed to dwell always with me, bear with me while I utter a few words; for I understand nothing, and my heart has been hardened by my previous mode of life. Give me understanding, for I am exceedingly dull, and I understand absolutely nothing.” And he answered and said unto me, “I am set over repentance, and I give understanding to all who repent. Do you not think,” he said, “that it is great wisdom to repent? for repentance is great wisdom. For he who has sinned understands that he acted wickedly in the sight of YAHWEH, and remembers the actions he has done, and he repents, and no longer acts wickedly, but does good munificently, and humbles and TORMENTS his SOUL because he has sinned.”

This is how you know that you love ELOHIM and fear Him because you don’t take sin lightly and it grieves you that you have disappointed ELOHIM; therefore, you repent and afflict your soul. Some Examples:

Testament of Rueben 1:6-9

“And behold I call to witness against you this day the ELOHIM of the heavens, that you should not walk in the sins of youth and whoring, in which I indulged, and defiled the bed of my dad Jacob. And I tell you that He struck me with a heavy wound in my loins for seventh months; and had my dad Jacob not prayed to YAHWEH for me, YAHWEH would have destroyed me. For I was thirty years old when I worked evil before YAHWEH, and I was sick to death for seven months. And after this I REPENTED with determination of my being for SEVEN YEARS before YAHWEH. And did not DRINK WINE OR STRONG DRINK, AND FLESH (no meat) entered not into my mouth, and I ate NO PLEASANT FOOD; but I MOURNED OVER MY SIN, for it was great, such as had not been in Yisra’el.”

Jubilees 41:23-24

“And Judah acknowledged the deed which he had done was evil, for he had lain with his daughter-in-law, and he considered it HATEFUL in His eyes, and he acknowledged that he had transgressed and gone astray, for he had uncovered the skirt of his son. And he began to LAMENT AND TO PETITION before YAHWEH because of his transgression.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “You see, therefore, that REPTENTANCE IS GREAT WISDOM.” And I said to him, “It is for this reason, sir, that I inquire carefully into all things, especially because I am a sinner; that I may know what WORKS I should do, that I may live: for my sins are many and various.” And he said to me, “You shall live if you keep my commandments, and walk in them; and whosoever shall hear and keep these commandments, shall live to ELOHIM.”

The malach of repentance told Hermas that repentance is great wisdom and others witness to support this are:

Luke 13:1-5

“Now at that time men came and told Him about those Galileans, those whom Pilate had mingled their blood with their sacrifices. And YESHUA answered and said to them, “Do you think that those Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they were killed thus? I say no to you, but that all of you if you do NOT REPENT also, you will likewise be destroyed. Or those eighteen who had the tower fall upon them and were killed in Shiloh, do you think that they were greater sinners than all the people who live in Jerusalem? I say no to you, but that unless you REPENT, all of you like them will be destroyed.”

2 Esdras 7:132

“I answered and said, I know, O YAHWEH, that the Most High is now called ‘merciful,’ because He has mercy on those who have not yet come into the world; and gracious,’ because He is gracious to those who turn IN REPETANCE TO HIS TORAH…”

Jasher 6:19-21

“And Noah, with a loud voice, answered them from the ark, saying, “Have you not all rebelled against YAHWEH, and said that He does not exist? And therefore, YAHWEH brought this evil upon you, to destroy and cut you off from the face of the earth. Is this not the thing that I spoke to you about, one hundred and twenty years ago, and you would not listen to the voice of YAHWEH, and now do you desire to live upon the earth?” And they said to Noah, “We are ready to RETURN TO YAHWEH; only open for us that we may live and not die.”

Teshuvah in Hebrew means to repent and turn away from sin and not go back to it and live for ELOHIM! Which those in the flood were willing to do only when they saw the end was near, don’t be like them. ELOHIM gave them a lifetime, 120 years to repent, but they chose death.

Hermas also asks what WORKS must he do that he may live and the malach of repentance says “You shall live if you keep the commandments”, so works is equated with works of the Torah which Christianity says no works are required and that is false.

Revelation 12:17

“And the dragon was enraged against the woman; and he went to make war upon the remnant of her seed who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF ELOHIM and have the testimony of YESHUA.”

Revelation 14:12

“Here is the endurance of the set apart believers who KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF ELOHIM, and the faith of YESHUA.”

2 Esdras 7:24

“They scorned His Torah, and denied His covenants; they have been unfaithful to His statutes, and HAVE NOT PERFORMED HIS WORKS.”

Mathew 5:16 (Parenthesis mine)

“Let your light (Torah) shine like this in front of the sons of man that they should see your good WORKS (Of the Torah) and they esteem your Father who is in heaven.”

Works of Torah includes loving your neighbor as yourself, so you will not only love them but you will also provide for what they need and not just professing it with your mouth, its action based as we see James say in his writings.

James 2:20:24

“Would you know, o weak man, that belief without works is dead? Abraham our ancestor, was not he justified by WORKS in offering his son Isaac upon the altar? Do you realize that his belief AIDED HIS WORKS, and that by the WORKS OF HIS FAITH was rendered complete? And the scripture was fulfilled which says: “Abraham believed in ELOHIM, and it was credited to him for righteousness” and he was called the friend of ELOHIM. You see that by WORKS A MAN IS JUSTIFIED AND NOT BY FAITH ALONE.”

James 1:22

“But be DOERS of the Word, and not HEARERS ONLY; and do not deceive yourselves.”

Romans 2:13 (Parenthesis mine)

“For not the HEARERS of Torah are righteous before ELOHIM; but the DOERS (Works) OF TORAH ARE BEING MADE RIGHTEOUS.”

Abraham had faith to leave his own country, he had faith to offer up his son which includes works, and also was circumcised out of obedience when he was 99 which is all works of Torah, Paul in Galatians 3 is saying the same thing as James regarding Abraham, and that is faith and works go together.

Then the malach of repentance says if you keep the commandments that you shall LIVE to ELOHIM:

Leviticus 18:5

“You shall therefore keep My commandments and My judgements, which if a man DO, HE SHALL LIVE IN THEM: I AM YAHWEH.”

Ezekiel 20:21

“Notwithstanding the children of Yisra’el rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My commandments, neither did they keep My judgements to DO them, WHICH IF A MAN SHALL DO, HE SHALL LIVE BY THEM; they have polluted My Shabbats: then I said, I will pour out My fury upon them and accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.”

Deuteronomy 30:19

“I call heaven and earth to bear witness against you this day, that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, blessings and cursing’s; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live…”

2 Esdras 7:129-131

“For this is the way of which Moses, while he was alive, spoke to the people, saying, ‘Choose for yourself life, that you may live!’ But they did not believe him, or the prophets after him, or even Myself who have spoken to them. Therefore there shall not be grief at their destruction, so much as joy over the life of those who did believe.”

CHAPTER 3 (Immersion)

And I said to him, “I should like to continue my questions.” “Speak on,” said he. And I said, “I heard, sir, some teachers maintain that there is no other repentance than that which takes place, when we descended into the water (immersion/baptism) and received remission of our former sins (sins before being immersed).” He said to me, “That was sound doctrine which you heard; for that is really the case. For he who has received remission of his sins ought not to sin any more, but to live in purity.

Firstly, the malcah of repentance confirms that immersion is a requirement just as YESHUA said in John 3 and as we saw the disciples doing in the Book of Acts, this destroys the argument that some make saying that you don’t have to be physically immersed in water.

Romans 6:1-6

“What will we then say? Will we continue IN SIN that favor may increase? Far be it: for if we are persons that have DIED TO SIN, how can we again live in it? Or do you not know that we who are immersed into YESHUA the Messiah are immersed into HIS DEATH? For we are BURIED WITH HIM IN IMMERSION to death; that as YESHUA the Messiah arose from the dead into the esteem of His Father, so also we, to walk in NEW LIFE. For if we have been planted together with Him into the LIKENESS OF HIS DEATH, so will we be also into His resurrection. For we know that our old man is PUT ON THE EXECUTION STAKE WITH HIM; that the body of sin might be abolished and we be NO MORE SERVANTS OF SIN…”

You are supposed to die to old self and your sinning ways and be spiritually reborn after immersion and the leading of the RUACH HA’KODESH, so this matches what the malach of repentance said is that you are to sin no more and live in purity.

John 5:14

“After some time, YESHUA found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold you are whole again. DO NOT SIN or else something that is worse than before should happen to you.”

John 8:11 (Hebrew)

“So she, she answered, “Master, here no stone was thrown after me.” Then YESHUA said to her, “Neither will I punish you; GO AND STOP SINNING—FROM NOW AND ONWARD.”

What is sin?

1 John 3:4 (Complete Jewish scriptures)

“Everyone who keeps sinning is VIOLATING TORAH—indeed, sin is VIOLATION OF TORAH.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: Since, however, you inquire diligently into all things, I will point this also out to you, not as giving occasion for error to those who are to believe, or have lately believed, in YAHWEH. For those who have now believed (already believe), and those who are to believe (those who will believe), have not repentance for their sins; but they have remission of their previous sins (once immersed). For to those who have been called before these days, YAHWEH has set repentance. For YAHWEH, knowing the heart, and foreknowing all things, knew the weakness of men and the manifold wiles of the devil, that he would inflict some evil on the servants of ELOHIM, and would act wickedly towards them. YAHWEH, therefore, being merciful, has had mercy on the work of His hand, and has set repentance for them; and He has entrusted to me power over this repentance. And therefore I say to you, that if any one is tempted by the devil, and sins after that great and kodesh (set-apart) calling in which YAHWEH has called His people to everlasting life, he has opportunity to repent but once. But if he should sin FREQUENTLY after this, and then repent, to such a man his repentance will be of no avail; for with difficulty will he live.”

This verse completely destroys Christianity where it’s believed that YAHWEH sees YESHUA in everything that we do; therefore, they can live however they want and repent for it later and never lose salvation. There is a difference between unintentional sin and willful sinning/practicing sin. I’ll give you an example, if you were reading scripture and had no clue that pork was unclean, it is still a sin, but it’s unintentional because you did not know better, but once you know the truth and disregard it and keep eating the pork that is willful sin. Or you are fornicator and you repent because you know that it is wrong, but then you go out and do it again a few days later, this is willful sin.

1 John 3:4 (Aramaic)

“And everyone that PRACTICES SIN, perpetrates iniquity (lawlessness) for all sin is iniquity.”

Hebrews 10:26-31

“For if a man sin VOLUNTARILY after he has received a KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH, there is no longer a sacrifice which may be offered for sins: but the fearful judgement impends, and the zeal of fire that consumes the adversaries. For if he who transgressed the Torah of Moses, died without mercies at the mouth of two or three witnesses; how much more, do you think, will he receive CAPITAL PUNISHMENT who has trodden upon the Son of ELOHIM (The Living Torah) and has accounted the blood of His covenant by which He is set apart, as the blood of all men and has treated the Spirit of favor in an insulting manner? For we know Him who has said, retribution is mine I will repay: and again, Master YAHWEH will judge His people. It is very terrible to fall into the hands of the living ELOHIM.”

Testament of Judah 19:3-4

“For the sake of money I lost my children, and had not my repentance and my humiliation and the prayers of my dad been accepted, I would have died childless. But the ELOHIM of my ancestors had kindness on me, BECAUSE I DID IT IN IGNORANCE. And the prince of deceit blinded me, and I sinned as a man and as flesh, being corrupted through sins; and I learned my own weakness while thinking myself to be invincible.”

Judah said the prince of deceit (Satan) blinded him and he acted out of ignorance, this matches what the malach of repentance said “. For YAHWEH, knowing the heart, and foreknowing all things, knew the weakness of men and the manifold wiles of the devil, that he would inflict some evil on the servants of ELOHIM, and would act wickedly towards them. YAHWEH, therefore, being merciful, has had mercy on the work of His hand, and has set repentance for them; and He has entrusted to me power over this repentance.”

Jubilees 41:23-24

“And Judah acknowledged the deed which he had done was evil, for he had lain with his daughter-in-law, and he considered it HATEFUL in His eyes, and he acknowledged that he had transgressed and gone astray, for he had uncovered the skirt of his son. And he began to LAMENT AND TO PETITION before YAHWEH because of his transgression.” And we told him in a dream that it was forgiven him because he petitioned earnestly, and lamented, AND DID NOT DO IT AGAIN.” No more WILLFULL sinning!

 1 John 2:1

“My children, these things I write to you that you DO NOT SIN. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, YESHUA the Messiah, the righteous.”

Proverbs 24:16

“For a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: And I said, “Sir, I feel that life has come back to me in listening attentively to these commandments; for I know that I shall be saved, if in the future I sin no more.” And he said, “You will be saved, you and all who keep these commandments.”

My brothers and sisters be born again through immersion/baptism and die to your old self and then walk in the newness of life and stop sinning! In doing so, we die to self in this world and to gain it in the world to come.

As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

First-Fruits 2022

We have already begun the spring moedim the Appointed Times of our ELOHIM and we just completed celebrating Pesach and The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now coming up on April 17th will be First-Fruits. First-Fruits is NOT a shabbat where we are commanded to do no work as the first day and seventh day of Feast of Unleavened were, this is to inform everyone of the events moving forward.

Leviticus 23:9-16 (Aramaic)

“And YAHWEH spoke to Moses, saying, “speak to the children of Yisra’el, and you shall say to them, ‘When you come into the land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest; and he shall wave the sheaf before YAHWEH to be accepted for you; on the morrow the priest shall wave it. You shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf of a male lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt offering to YAHWEH. And its meal offering shall be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to YAHWEH for a sweet savor; and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, a fourth part of a hin. And you shall eat neither bread nor parched wheat nor green ears until that same day, until the day when you have brought an offering to your ELOHIM; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. And you shall count to you from the morrow, that is, from the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Shabbats shall be complete; even to the morrow AFTER THE SEVENTH SHABBAT (The weekly 7th Day Shabbat) you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a meal offering of a new wheat to YAHWEH.”

Aviv in Hebrew means the month of green ears of barley when the barley is ripening. The children of Yisra’el would take the first-fruits of the barley harvest which is the earliest and best of their crops and tie them into a bundle and bring it to the high priest. The high priest would then wave the sheaf (omer) before YAHWEH to accept the future crops and then begin the 50 day count to Shavuot. They were not allowed to put the sickle to grain nor eat any of the harvest until after this ceremony was completed. This reminded the children of Yisra’el that ELOHIM gave them this land and all the harvest belongs to Him. As we see barley is the crop that matures faster than the other crops:

Exodus 9:31-32 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“And the flax and the barley were lost; for the barley was in the ear and the flax was bolled. But the wheat and rye were not lost; for they were sown late.”

As for the offering, YESHUA is the Lamb of YAHWEH who takes away the sins of the world and offered Himself with His blood and not the blood of bulls and goats. It is important to see what YESHUA’s blood did for us being that we do not have to sacrifice animals for atonement today. YESHUA fulfills the animal offerings for us with His blood and is the sweet fragrance that YAHWEH mentions:

Ephesians 5:2

“And walk in love, as Mashiach (Messiah) also has loved us, and gave Himself for us, a gift and an offering to YAHWEH for a SWEET-SMELLING FRAGRANCE.”    

 YESHUA is the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:20 meaning that those who are in the grave that lived for YESHUA will be resurrected as He was.

1 Corinthians 15:20-22

“But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those having fallen asleep. For since death is through a man, resurrection of the dead is also through a Man. For as all die in Adam, so also all shall be made alive in Messiah.”

2 Baruch 30:1-2

“And after these, when the time of the advent (the coming) of the Messiah will be fulfilled and He will return in esteem, then all those who have fallen asleep in HOPE OF HIM will rise. At that time, those reservoirs will be opened in which the number of the souls of the righteous have been preserved, and they will come out, and the abundance of the souls will appear in one assembly, of one mind. The first will rejoice, and the last will not be saddened, for they know that the time has arrived of which it is said that it is in the consummation of times.”

This is beautiful because Paul is using Old Testament terminology in the Torah as he always does, because he observed the Torah. As mentioned above first-fruits is when the earliest and best of the crops were brought to the priest to wave and then 50 days later would be the full harvest (Shavuot). Same applies with YESHUA, He is our first-fruits He is the best offering as He is the Son of YAHWEH, became flesh and died for our sins and rose on the third day, and in doing so we afterwards became the harvest ready for reaping, now we have to walk in Torah and believe in YESHUA and found to be wheat and not the tares.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

“Because the Master Himself shall come down from the heavens with a shout, with the voice of a chief messenger/angel, and with the trumpet of ELOHIM, and the dead IN Mashiach shall rise first. Then we, the living who are left over, shall be caught in the clouds to meet the Master in the air…”

Enoch 49: 1-3

“For wisdom is poured out like water, and esteem failed not before Him for eternity. For He is mighty in all the secrets of righteousness, and unrighteousness shall disappear as a shadow, and have no continuance; because the ELECT ONE (YESHUA) stands before YAHWEH of hosts, and His esteem is forever and ever, and His might unto all generations. And in Him dwells the spirit of wisdom, and the spirit which gives insight, and the spirit of understanding and of might, and the spirit of THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

So do we observe first-fruits and the counting of the omer during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?

Leviticus 23 reveals that YAHWEH never overlapped or mixed the Feasts. YAHWEH separates them by saying “AND then YAHWEH spoke to Moshe”. Calendars today are lumping First-Fruits in with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

This article will show that we are to begin counting on April 17th after The Feast of Unleavened Bread is completed to arrive at the 15th day of the THIRD MONTH which is June 5th on our Gregorian calendars. Keep the 15th day of the 3rd month in mind because the Scriptures below will show that is the day when Shavuot is to be celebrated.

The Appointed Times are separated and do not mix or overlap!

So, Passover is on the 14th day of 1st month (Abib), feast of unleavened bread is on the 15th-21st of 1st month (Abib). And First-Fruits is on the 26th day of the 1st month of (Abib) AFTER the Feast of Unleavened bread is completed; then that morrow after the Shabbat is first-fruits which is April 17th.  First-Fruits is tied to Shavuot so it cannot overlap with The Feast of Unleavened Bread, because they are separate.

 The problem is that many calendars have first-fruits fall on any day depending on what day they observed Passover, for example since the first day of Unleavened bread is a “High Shabbat” many interpret the next day after the first day of unleavened bread to be “Day after the Shabbat” and that is when they begin their count which could fall on the 3rd, 4th or 5th day of the week; whereas on the Zadok Priestly calendar it always falls on a Sunday after the completion of Unleavened Bread.

Leviticus 23:16 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“Even to the morrow AFTER THE SEVENTH SHABBAT (The weekly 7th Day Shabbat) you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a meal offering of a new wheat to YAHWEH.”

The Aramaic Peshitta clarifies that first-fruits is AFTER the 7th day Shabbat which is a Sunday and no other day; and this is when we begin the 50-day count, which matches the Book of Jubilees.

 Scriptural Timeline:

The Israelites left Egypt on 15th day of 1st month which is the first day of the feast of unleavened bread:

Exodus 12:17

“And you shall guard the Matzah (Feast of Unleavened Bread 15th Day of 1st Month), for on this SAME DAY I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. And you shall guard this day throughout your generations, an everlasting Law.”

And then almost exactly TWO MONTHS later on the 12th Day of the 3rd MONTH which was a Thursday the Israelites arrive at Sinai according the Zadok Priestly calendar.

Exodus 19:1

“In the THIRD MONTH after the children of Yisra’el had come out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.” For they departed from Rephidim, and had come to the Wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness. So Yisra’el camped there before the mountain.”

So basically, if we don’t start the count of First-Fruits on the 26th day of 1st month to get to the 15th day of the 3rd month, then Shavuot the beginning of the barley harvest will be celebrated too soon, before the Israelites even entered into Sinai. The Book of Jubilees confirms this:

By the Israelites arriving on the 12th day of the 3rd month would give them time to celebrate Shavuot on the 15th which is a Sunday, because YAHWEH spoke to Moses on the next day the 16th, which means that the tablets of stone were given to Moses on a Monday the second day of the week.

Jubilees 1:1

“And it happened in the first-year of the exodus of the children of Yisra’el out of Egypt, in the third month, on the SIXTEENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, that YAHWEH spoke to Moses, saying, “Come up to Me on the Mount, and I will give you two tablets of stone of the Torah and the command, which I have written, that you may teach them.”

Celebration of Shavuot on the 15th day of 3rd month:

Jubilees 15:1

“And in the fifth year of the fourth week of this Jubilee, in the THIRD MONTH, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH (15th Day) Abram celebrated the Festival of the First-Fruits (Shavuot) of the grain harvest.” The Book of Enoch says there are only 30 days in a month; therefore, the middle of the month is the 15th day.

Jubilees 16:13

“And she bore a son in the THIRD MONTH. And in the MIDDLE OF THE MONTH (15th Day) at the time of which YAHWEH had spoken to Abraham, on the Festival of the First-Fruits (Shavuot) of the Harvest, Isaac was born.”

So we see that Abraham celebrated Shavuot also known as First-Fruits in Jubilees because  the two are connected by the 50 day counting of the omer, which is why it’s important not to start counting during the Feast of Unleavened Bread because they are separated.

 The messenger/angel goes into great detail about the two-fold meaning of The Festival of Shavuot and First-Fruits together:

Jubilees 6:15-21

“And He gave to Noah and his sons a sign that there should not be a flood on the earth again. He placed a rainbow in the cloud for a sign of the everlasting Covenant that there should not be a flood again on the earth to destroy it all the days of the earth. For this reason it is ordained and written on the tablets of the heavens, that they should celebrate the FESTIVAL OF SHAVUOT IN THIS MONTH ONCE A YEAR to renew the Covenant every year.” Verse 19 “But Abraham observed it, and Isaac, and Jacob, and his children observed it up to your days, and in your days the children of Yisra’el forgot it until you celebrated it anew on this mountain. And you shall command the children of Yisra’el to observe this Festival in all their generations for a Command unto them; one day in the year in this month (3rd MONTH) they shall celebrate the Festival. For it is the Festival of Shavuot AND THE FEAST OF FIRST-FRUITS: This Feast is twofold and double nature: according to what is written and engraved concerning it, celebrate it.”

Again, we know that this Festival/Appointed Time is in the THIRD MONTH because the beginning of Jubilees 6 says:

Jubilees 6:1

“And on the new month of the THIRD MONTH he went out from the ark, and built an altar on the mountain.” And we have seen that Abraham celebrated Shavuot on the 15th day of the THIRD MONTH.

The Festival of Shavuot is the same festival Abraham celebrated and was called the Festival of First-Fruits because they are connected and twofold and we have to remember that we slaves in Egypt. Which I’ll cover as Shavuot approaches for us to celebrate, ELOHIM willing.

Jubilees 44:1-8

“And Yisra’el took his journey from Haran from his house on the new month of the THIRD MONTH, and he went on the way of Beersheba, and he offered an offering to the ELOHIM of his dad Isaac on the seventh of this month. And Jacob remembered the dream that he had seen at Beyth El, and he feared to go down to Egypt. And while he was thinking of sending word to Joseph to come to him, and that he would not go down, he remained there seven days, if it came to be he should see a vision as to whether he should remain or go down. And he celebrated the HARVEST FESTIVAL OF THE FIRST-FRUITS with old grain, for in all the land of Canaan there was not a handful of seed, for scarcity of food was over all the beasts and cattle and birds, and also over man.” And on the sixteenth (16th) YAHWEH appeared to him, and said to him, Jacob, Jacob.” YAHWEH spoke to Jacob on the 16th after he celebrated Shavuot on the 15th day of 3rd month.

So if we count the 50 days starting on April 17th (on our Gregorian calendar) which is the 26th day of the 1st month on YAHWEH’s calendar, then we will arrive in the middle of the 3rd MONTH (15th Day) when Abraham, Noah, and their sons celebrated it. So, Shavuot will be observed this year on June 5th a NO WORK day. It is important to get the exact days of YAHWEH’s appointed times because this is what the messenger/angel says concerning the days of YAHWEH:

Jubilees 6:32-35

“And you shall command the children of Yisra’el that they observe the years according to this reckoning: THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR DAYS (364 days), and these shall constitute a complete year, and they shall not disturb its time from its days and from its Festivals; for all shall fall out in them according to their witness, and they shall not leave out any day nor disturb ANY FESTIVALS. But if they neglect and do not observe them according to His Command, then they shall disturb all their seasons, and the years shall be dislodged from this order; and they shall NEGLECT THEIR LAWS. And all the children of Yisra’el shall forget, and shall not find the path of the years, and shall forget the new moons, and seasons, and Sabbaths, and they shall go astray as to all the order of the years. For I know, and from this time on I shall declare it to you, and it is not of my own devising; for the Book is written before me. And on the tablets of the heavens the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the FESTIVALS OF THE COVENANT and WALK ACCORDING TO THE FESTIVAL OF THE GENTILES after their straying and after their ignorance."

Enoch 74:12-14

“And the sun and the stars bring in all the years exactly, so that they do not advance or delay their position by a single day unto everlasting; but complete the years with PERFECT JUSTICE IN THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR DAYS. In three years there are one thousand and ninety-two days ( 1,092 days divided by 3= 364), and in five years; one thousand eight hundred and twenty days  1, 820 days divided by 5=364), so that in eight years there are two thousand nine hundred and twelve days ( 2, 912 days divided by 8=364.)

What are we to do on it First Fruits?

As we read in Leviticus 23 that the Israelites were not to eat any grain of the new harvest until they brought their initial crops (first-fruits) and bring the barley sheaf to the priest so he could wave it before YAHWEH to accept the future crops and begin counting down the 50 days to the next Appointed Time which is The Festival of Shavuot aka The Festival of First Fruits aka Pentecost (50 in Greek).

Leviticus 23:14

“And you do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you have brought AN OFFERING to your ELOHIM.”

We know that YESHUA gave Himself up once and for all with His own blood and not the blood of bulls and goats. This is what Paul says about how we can also apply this by living holy lives and being obedient to our ELOHIM!

Romans 12:1

“I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of ELOHIM, to present your bodies a LIVING OFFERING-holy, well pleasing to ELOHIM-your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of ELOHIM.”

This means to die to self, to die to sin, and live righteously by faith in YESHUA and keeping the commandments of Torah, and distancing yourself from the world.

1 Peter 2:4-5

“Drawing near to Him, a living Stone-rejected indeed by men, but chosen by YAHWEH and precious-you also, as living stones, are being built up, A SPIRTUAL HOUSE, a holy priesthood, to OFFER UP SPIRITUAL SLAUGHTER OFFERINGS acceptable to YAHWEH through YESHUA HA’MASHIACH.”

Other than that we all we need to do is count down the 50 days to get to Shavuot which is on June 5th this year.

 As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

Shepherd of Hermas command #4: DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

Every word that YAHWEH speaks is important, but for some reason even within the Torah community divorce and remarriage has become common place, and it is my prayer that this message reaches the world so that they know the truth in these days. My sole job is to speak the truth as a servant of YESHUA and I love my brothers and sisters enough to not hold back the truth, I’d rather someone hate me for telling them the truth then to love me for lying to them.

A quick reminder is that the Torah was still being kept by the early assembly as I referenced in the first commandment of the Shepherd of Hermas, I did this to show that they had a great understanding of the commandments being that they were not too far removed from the days of YESHUA and the apostles. The early assemblies had a great understanding concerning the law of divorce and remarriage and they knew that it was not scriptural. The world has gotten so far removed from the ways of YAHWEH that it has allowed for many opinions to creep in versus the word speaking for itself; and the malach (angel) of repentance speaks to Hermas concerning this issue as another witness against this common practice of divorce and remarriage.

Encyclopedia Britannica states:

“Type of Jewish Christianity-STILL ADHERING TO THE MOSAIC LAW (TORAH)-evident in Rome during 2nd century. The Shepherd of Hermas was ORIGINALLY INCLUDED TO CANONICAL RANK and was bound WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT in the Codex Sinaiticus. It was listed between the Book of Acts and the Acts of Paul in the list of the Codex Claromontanus. Eventually, the text fell out of favor among the Christian bishops and it was excluded from the finalized list of canonical scriptures.”

As I mentioned in the introductory of the first commandment of Hermas is that the early “church fathers” as they are called, considered this book to be canon and that they were still following the Torah as the article mentions (adhering to the “Mosaic laws”.) So, these are early assemblies not too far removed from the days of the apostles who are following Torah and accepted this book as canon. Irenaeus was a commandment keeper and even wrote a book called “Against Heresies” and Origen was another who considered this book as canon. Now, with that foundation lets view what the malach of repentance says concerning this.

COMMANDMENT FOURTH ON PUTTING ONE’S WIFE AWAY FOR ADULTERY CHAPTER 1 “I charge you,” said he, “to guard your chastity, and let no thought enter your heart of another man’s wife, or of fornication, or of similar iniquities; for by doing this you commit a great sin. But if you always remember your own wife, you will never sin. For if this thought enter your heart, then you will sin; and if, in like manner, you think other wicked thoughts, you commit sin. For this thought is great sin in a servant of ELOHIM. But if any one commit this wicked deed, he works death for himself. Attend, therefore, and refrain from this thought; for where purity dwells, there iniquity ought not to enter the heart of a righteous man.” I said to him, “Sir, permit me to ask you a few questions.” “Say on,” said he. And I said to him, “Sir, if any one has a wife who trusts in YAHWEH, and if he detect her in adultery, does the man sin if he continue to live with her?” And he said to me, “As long as he remains ignorant of her sin, the husband commits no transgression in living with her. But if the husband know that his wife has gone astray, and if the woman does not repent, but persists in her fornication, and yet the husband continues to live with her, he also is guilty of her crime, and a SHARER IN HER ADULTERY.”

Mathew 5:31-32 (Hebrew Besorah/Gospel) matches the words of the malach of repentance:

“Moreover YESHUA MASHIACH said to his disciples, “The Torah says, ‘He who divorces his wife, must give her a letter of divorcement.” And I say to you that every man who divorces his wife—IF NOT IN THE TIME OF HER ADULTERY—HE PERFORMS ADULTERY.”

Deuteronomy 24:1 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“If a man takes a wife, and lies with her, and if she finds no favor in his eyes, because he has found some evidence of OPEN PROSTITUTION in her; then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it to her, and send her out of his house.”

If the husband does not divorce her in THE TIME of her adultery because he is aware that she is committing adultery, she has not repented and he does nothing about it, yet he continues to live with her then HE PERFORMS ADULTERY and is a sharer of her sin. YESHUA is the Written Word that became Living Flesh, He is the Living Torah; therefore, He is not going to break the Torah and speak contradictory to it.  YESHUA said:

John 12:49

“For I have not spoken from My Soul, but the Father who sent Me. He gave Me a Commandment to Me what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His commands are eternal life. Therefore, these things that I speak just as My Father told Me, thus I speak.”

YESHUA never gave anyone permission to remarry and as we see He spoke the words of YAHWEH. YESHUA was ONLY stating the valid grounds for divorce as mentioned in the scriptures above; there is no exception clause to remarry in His words. If you must divorce her because she is committing adultery then you must remain unmarried because once you take another wife while the other lives you commit adultery. As we will see later on in this message that in the ancient dead sea scrolls that divorce was only the official separation of a couple, not the END of a marriage.

Our Father YAHWEH is uncovering so much truth in these days with lost books like The Shepherd of Hermas, The literal Hebrew New Testament and the Aramaic, that we can gain a better understanding of the truth. So, with the words of YESHUA from the literal Hebrew, the words of the malach of repentance and the literal translation from the ancient Aramaic Peshitta we no longer have a contradiction with Deuteronomy 24:1 that many will use to make a case because all of the ancient texts agree with each other; therefore the whole Deuteronomy 24 argument to support divorce and remarriage disappears.

Mark 10:10-12 (Hebrew Besorah)

“And they again asked Him about this in the house, and He answered them, Whosever, and whosever divorces his wife and TAKE ANOTHER, commits adultery. And if the wife divorces her husband, she commits adultery.”

The translator adds a footnote: “Repetition in Hebrew always adds emphasis.”

An example of that:

Genesis 41:32

“And as for that the dream was REPEATED to Pharaoh TWICE; it is because the thing is already prepared by ELOHIM, and ELOHIM will hasten to bring it to pass.”

YAHWEH gave this dream twice because He was confirming that He would bring the famine and this was true, and YESHUA repeated His words twice to show the severity of the matter and placing emphasis on it so the reader can understand it that whoever divorces his wife and takes another commits adultery and this thing is surely true.

Shepherd of Hermas continued:  And I said to him, “What then, sir, is the husband to do, if his wife continues in her vicious practices?” And he said, “The husband should put her away, and REMAIN BY HIMSELF. BUT IF HE PUTS AWAY HIS WIFE AND MARRY ANOTHER, HE ALSO COMMITS ADULTERY.” And I said to him, “What if the woman put away should repent, and wish to return to her husband: shall she not be taken back by her husband?” And he said to me, “Assuredly. If the husband do not take her back, he sins, and brings a great sin upon himself; for he ought to take back the sinner who has repented. But not frequently. For there is but one repentance to the servants of ELOHIM. In case, therefore, that the divorced wife may repent, the husband ought NOT to marry another, when his wife has been put away. IN THIS MATTER BOTH MAN AND WOMAN ARE TO BE TREATED EXACTLY IN THE SAME WAY. Moreover, adultery is committed not only by those who pollute their flesh, but by those who imitate the heathen in their actions. Wherefore if any one persists in such deeds, and repents not, withdraw from him, and cease to live with him, otherwise you are a sharer in his sin. Therefore has the injunction (law, order, ruling, direction) been laid on you, that YOU SHOULD REMAIN BY YOURSELVES, BOTH MAN AND WOMAN, for in such persons repentance can take place.”

1 Corinthians 7:10 (Complete Jewish Bible and Lamsa’s Aramaic)

“And to the married I command, NOT I, but the Master (YESHUA): a wife SHOULD NOT separate from a husband. But if she is indeed separated, let her remain UNMARRIED or BE RESTORED TO FAVOR with her husband, and let a husband NOT desert/leave his wife (to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to return) his wife.”

Paul says this command is from YESHUA and not himself that a wife should not separate from her husband, BUT if she leaves him then she CANNOT remarry and that a man should NOT desert his wife. This matches what the malach of repentance said because in doing so, it allows the unfaithful spouse to repent and be restored back to her husband. You cannot leave the marriage and go marry another person because it literally is “Till death do you part!” And if she repents the husband HAS to take her back our else he sins! Think about it, we committed spiritual adultery against YAHWEH, we asked for forgiveness and He took us back, but the same concept applies that we cannot continue sinning against YAHWEH the same way a repentant wife cannot go on continuing to commit adultery once she is taken back.

Notice how the malach of repentance says that this applies to BOTH MAN AND WOMAN? This goes against all the men in the world who say this applies to the woman only, as if they have more rights to divorce and remarriage then a woman does, so do not be deceived by anyone who tells you this.

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “But I do not,” said he, “give opportunity for the doing of these deeds, but that he who has sinned may sin no more. But with regard to his previous transgressions, there is One who is able to provide a cure; for it is He, indeed, who has power over all.”

You can only remarry AFTER the death of your husband or wife:

Hermas wants to be sure that he has heard the information correctly because he does not want to make a mistake, so we see him propose another question in Chapter 4 of this same fourth commandment:

CHAPTER 4 And again I asked him, saying, “Sir, since you have been so patient in listening to me, will you show me this also?” “Speak,” said he. And I said, “If a wife or husband die, and the widower or widow marry, does he or she commit sin?” “There is no sin in marrying again,” said he; “but if they remain unmarried, they gain greater honor and esteem with YAHWEH; but if they marry, they do not sin.”

Luke 2:36-37 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“Then there was Hannah the prophetess a daughter of Peniel from the tribe of Asher, she was also advanced in her days. And she was seven years with her husband whom she had lived with since her virginity. And she was a widow for about eighty-four years. And she would not go out from the Temple. But would with fasting and with prayer serve by day and by night.”

Hannah did not remarry though she could have because she was a widow, and being that she did not marry again but rather set her heart to serve YAHWEH day and night she will receive greater honor for that.

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “Guard, therefore, your chastity and purity, and you will live to ELOHIM. What commandments I now give you, and what I am to give, keep from henceforth, yea, from the very day when you were entrusted to me, and I will dwell in your house. And your former sins will be forgiven, if you keep my commandments. And all shall be forgiven who keep these my commandments, and walk in this chastity.”

The Shepherd of Hermas agrees with all the scriptures I did in the last message about divorce and remarriage, and states that a man or woman can remarry AFTER their spouse dies because they have been released from covenant as they were bound by the Torah.

Marriage is a covenant and until death do you part:

Malachi 2:14-16

“And you said, “Why”? Because YAHWEH has been witness between you and the WIFE of your youth, against whom you have acted treacherously, though she is your companion and the WIFE OF YOUR COVENANT. And did he not make one? And He had the remnant of the Spirit? And what is the one? He seeks a seed of ELOHIM. So you shall guard your spirit, and let none act treacherously against the wife of his youth. For I HATE DIVORCE,” said YAHWEH ELOHIM of Yisra’el, “and the one who covers his garment with cruelty,” said YAHWEH of hosts.”

Notice how YAHWEH says to Malachi that she is the WIFE OF YOUR COVENANT? This means that marriage is a covenant between the married couple and YAHWEH. And what is expected when a covenant is made?

Hebrews 9:16-17

“For where a COVENANT IS, it is necessary for the DEATH OF THE COVENANTED ONE TO BE ESTABLISHED. For a covenant over those DEAD IS FIRM, since it is never valid while the COVENANTED ONE IS LIVING.”

We know a covenant has been made during a marriage; therefore, this principal can be applied here. So, in order for a covenant to cease means that there has to be a death, so if you are married to your husband or wife you are in a covenant which means that you are bound by the Torah until your spouse dies, because you cannot remarry another while the other spouse is living.

Proverbs 2:17

“Who forsakes the companion of her youth (covenant spouse) and has forgotten the COVENANT of your ELOHIM.”

 1 Corinthians 7:39

“A wife is BOUND by Torah as long as HER HUSBAND LIVES, and if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she desires, only in the MASTER.”

I just want to point out that after the husband dies, Paul says marry another only in the Master YESHUA meaning that they would have to be a believer. As we already know that we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers to begin with.

Romans 7:1-3

“Or do you not know, brothers-for I speak to those knowing the Torah-that the Torah rules over man as long AS HE LIVES? For the married woman has been bound by Torah to the LIVING HUSBAND, but if the husband dies, she is released from the Torah of her husband. So then, while her husband lives, she shall be called an adulteress if she becomes another man’s. But if her husband dies, she is free from that Torah, so that she is not an adulteress, having become another man’s.

Sirach 23:22-27 (Parenthesis mine)

“So it shall also be for the wife that leaves her husband, and brings forth an heir by another. For firstly, she has disobeyed the Law of the Most High (divorcing her husband who is STILL LIVING and taking another husband); and secondly, she has trespassed against her own husband; and thirdly, she has committed whoring by ADULTERY, and brought forth children by another man. She shall be brought out into the assembly, and inquiry shall be made of her children. Her children shall not take root, and her branches shall not bring forth fruit. She shall leave a cursed remembrance, and her reproach shall NOT BE BLOTTED OUT.”

Jubilees 33:15

“And let them not say, “to Rueben was granted life and forgiveness after he had lain with his dad’s concubine, and to her also though she had a husband, and her HUSBAND JACOB, HIS DAD, WAS STILL ALIVE.”

Tobiyah 3:7-8

“It came to be the same day, that in Ahmetha a city of Madai, Sarah the daughter of Raguel was also reproached by her dad’s female servants; because she had been married to seven husbands, whom Ashmedai the evil spirit killed before they had lain with her. “Do you not know,” they said (female servants), “that you have strangled your husbands? You have already had seven husbands, neither were you named after any of them..” verse 17 Raphael was sent to heal them both, that is, to scale away the whiteness of Tobiyah’s eyes and to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel AS A WIFE to Tobi the son of Tobiyah…”

So, Sarah had 7 husbands but all of them died because of an evil spirit and she was able to remarry ONLY after the deaths of her husband’s being a widow which released her from the Torah. Then she was given as a wife to Tobit’s son.

Dead Sea Scrolls witnesses:

An article written by jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/Qumran states:

“The institution of marriage and family life has a strong and direct influence on women’s lives. Marriage as shown in the sect’s literature is unique both in comparison with scripture on the one hand and with rabbinical halakhah on the other. Several places prove that Qumran halakhah prohibited bigamy (the act of going through a marriage ceremony while already married to another person). The writer of the Damascus Covenant attacks his opponents because they are “taking two wives in their lives, while the foundation of Creation is ‘male and female He created them’ And those who entered (Noah’s) ark went two by two into the ark. And of the prince it is written, ‘Let him not multiply for himself’” (Damascus Covenant 4:20–5:2). From the term “taking two wives in their lives” it emerges that Qumran halakhah forbade not only bigamy BUT ALSO SECOND MARRIAGE DURING THE PREVIOUS SPOUSE’S LIFETIME.

As proof, the author of the Damascus Covenant cites Deuteronomy 17:17 concerning the king: “Yet he should not take many wives.” This verse is similarly interpreted in the Temple Scroll: “He shall not take a wife from the women of the other nations, but he shall take a wife from his father’s house, his father’s family; and he shall not take another wife beside her since SHE ONLY shall be with him ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. And if she should die, he shall marry another woman of his father’s house and his father’s family” (Temple Scroll 57: 15–19).

Qumran halakhah acknowledges the possibility of divorce, but its practical significance is greatly restricted. Thus, for example, the Temple Scroll (54: 4–5), following the Torah (Numbers 30:10), rules that a divorced woman is exclusively responsible for her vows, unlike a married woman whose husband may annul them under certain conditions. Thus, divorce was only the OFFICIAL SEPARATION of a couple, who were NOT ALLOWED TO REMARRY. All of this applied, as previously stated, as long as the previous spouse was alive, but after his or her death, remarriage was permitted. This law apparently stems from the perception of marriage not as a legal act but as the expression of the couple’s physiological union.

As we can see from the Damascus Covenant’s citation of “male and female He created them,” the Qumranic perception of marriage is based on the account of creation in the book of Genesis, which continues thus: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and they shall become one flesh.” Hence the conclusion that the essence of marriage is the physical act of union between husband and wife, which can never be broken. This conception later found its way into Christian belief. The New Testament cites YESHUA as saying: “What ELOHIM has joined together let no person put asunder.” (Mark 10, 6–9).”

Mathew 19:3-9

“And the Pharisees drew near to Him there, and were tempting Him and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for ANY CAUSE? But He answered and said to them, “have you not read, that He who created from the beginning, He created them male and female? And He said, because this, a man will leave his dad and his mother and will be joined to his wife, and they will both of them ONE FLESH. Henceforth, they will NOT BE TWO, RATHER ONE FLESH. Therefore, what ELOHIM has united, man SHOULD NOT SEPARATE (divorce courts and judges, etc). They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a letter of divorce and put her away? And He said to them, “Because of the HARDNESS OF YOUR HEART, you were allowed to put away your wives, but it was NOT THUS FROM THE BEGINNING. But I say to you that he who leaves his wife without a charge of adultery, AND takes another, commits adultery. And he that takes a divorced woman commits adultery.”

Since you have become one flesh with your wife and the wife becomes one flesh with their husband, how can you divorce and marry another when they are now a part of you? It’s like cutting off your own arm and saying it never belonged to you.

Many say that divorce and remarriage is not the unforgivable sin and I beg to differ on this. The Hebrew word for repentance is “teshuvah” that means to turn away from sin and don’t go back to it, so if you are repenting of a sin yet continue to live in that sin, how are you truly repenting and turning away? If you were to die in an adulterous marriage, how can you repent from it? The same way if someone dies will drunk, how can they repent from it? If someone dies while in a same sex marriage or relationship, how can you repent from it?  The scriptures are clear on this that no adulterer will enter into the Kingdom of ELOHIM, so if you are in this situation REPENT!

Exodus 20:14

“You shall not commit adultery.”

Deuteronomy 5:18

“You shall not commit adulteriy.”

1 Corinthians 6:9 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“Or don’t you know, that the unrighteous will NOT INHERIT the Kingdom of ELOHIM. Make no mistake! Neither sexual sinners (fornicators), nor idol-worshippers, nor ADULTERERS, nor the corrupt, nor men who lay down with other men, nor the oppressors, nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of ELOHIM.”

Revelation 22:15 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)

“Outside are the homosexuals, those involved with the occult and with drugs, the SEXUALLY IMMORAL, murders, idol-worshippers, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

Let us walk this narrow path and obey the commandments of YAHWEH and not give into the desires of the flesh. Get right with YESHUA while we are in the betrothal stage with Him, because when He comes back, He is coming back for His bride to take to the marriage supper of the lamb and consummate the marriage forever!

May YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!

Shepherd of Hermas command #3: Avoid FALSEHOOD

ON AVOIDING FALSEHOOD, AND ON THE REPENTANCE OF HERMAS FOR HIS DISSIMULATION

“Again he said to me, “Love the truth (Psalms 119:142 the Torah), and let nothing but truth proceed from your mouth…

Sirach 9:15

“Let your talk be with the wise and your communication in the Torah of the Elyon (EL Most High).”

Since the Torah is the truth and the truth of the Torah is constantly being heard from your mouth, then you will not have the opportunity to speak any falsehood.

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “That the spirit which ELOHIM has placed in your flesh may be found truthful before all men; and the Master, who dwelleth in you (YAHWEH, YESHUA, and RUACH are ONE), will be esteemed, because YAHWEH is truthful in every word, and in Him is no falsehood.

Titus 1:2

“Concerning the hope of eternal life which the EVER-TRUTHFUL ELOHIM promised before the times of the world…”

Numbers 23:19

“ELOHIM is not a man that He should LIE; neither the son of man that He should be given counsel; He speaks and He shall do it, and His word abides forever.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “They therefore who lie deny YAHWEH, and rob Him, not giving back to Him the deposit which they have received.”

2 Esdras 7:78

“Now, concerning death, the teaching is: When the decisive decree has gone forth from the Most High that a man shall die, as the spirit leaves the body to return again to Him who gave it…”

Mathew 27:50 (Hebrew Besorah)

“Then again YESHUA cried out with a loud voice and released The RUACH HA’KODESH The Set-Apart Spirit.”

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “For they received from Him a spirit free from falsehood. If they give him back this spirit untruthful, they pollute the commandment of YAHWEH, and become robbers.”

Think of it this way, our Father YAHWEH has given you a shiny brand new car right off the lot, so the car is without any blemishes when He gives the car to you, yet you give the car back to Him full scratches, dents, and covered completely in mud, meaning you have taken a gift that He has given you and you have defiled the gift. YAHWEH has given us the RUACH HA’KODESH when YESHUA ascended into heaven and He is a gift that dwells within us;

Acts 2:38 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“Simon (Peter) said to them, “Repent and be immersed each of you in the Name of Master YAHWEH-YESHUA for the forgiveness of sins, that you may receive the gift of the RUACH HA’KODESH.”

Therefore, we are to be truthful in words and deeds, because the RUACH HA’KODESH will lead us into all truth (John 16:13-16), but you have freewill to tell lies and grieve Him, because lying is the exact opposite of who He is and what He wants to do while living in you, and that is for you to obey YAHWEH and His Torah (See Romans 8).

Shepherd of Hermas continued: “On hearing these words, I wept most violently. When he saw me weeping, he said to me, “Why do you weep?” And I said, “Because, sir, I know not if I can be saved.” “Why?” said he. And I said, “Because, sir, I never spake a true word in my life, but have ever spoken cunningly to all, and have affirmed a lie for the truth to all; and no one ever contradicted me, but credit was given to my word. How then can I live, since I have acted thus?” And he said to me, “Your feelings are indeed right and sound, for you ought as a servant of ELOHIM to have walked in truth, and not to have joined an evil conscience with the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13-16), nor to have CAUSED SADNESS to the kodesh (set-apart) and True Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:30 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)

“And do not GRIEVE ELOHIM’s RUACH HA’KODESH (Set-Apart Spirit), for He has stamped you as His property until the day of final redemption .”

 Shepherd of Hermas continued: “And I said to him, “Never, sir, did I listen to these words with so much attention.” And he said to me, “Now you hear them, and keep them, that even the falsehoods which you formerly told in your transactions may come to be believed through the truthfulness of your present statements. For even they (previous lies) can become worthy of credit. If you keep these precepts, and from this time forward you speak nothing but the truth, it will be possible for you to obtain life. And WHOSOEVER shall hear this commandment, and depart from that great wickedness falsehood, shall live to ELOHIM.”

The malach of repentance said: “Now you hear them, and keep them, that even the falsehoods which you formerly told in your transactions may come to be believed through the truthfulness of your present statements.” In other words, now that you know the truth and see how wicked lying is and turned away from it, then people will see the complete change in you and will hear nothing but the truth being spoken from you from here on; therefore, they will disregard the previous lies you told and focus on your present statements.

The malach of repentance said that those who lie DENY YAHWEH, so this is not a light matter at all, now let’s examine some scriptures concerning lying.

Supporting scriptures about lying:

Exodus 20:16

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Bearing false witness is lying because you are acting as an eyewitness to something that you did not see, yet claiming your stateements to be true.

Proverbs 6:16

“There are six things which YAHWEH HATES; the seventh is abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a LYING TONGUE, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who speaks LIES, and he who sows discord among brothers.”

Proverbs 12:22

“Lying lips are an abomination to YAHWEH; but those who deal truly are His delight.”

Proverbs 13:5

“A righteous man HATES LYING; but a wicked man is loathsome, and shall be ashamed and confounded.”

Proverbs 17:7

“Excellent speech is unbecoming to a fool, and LYING LIPS to righteous man.”

Proverbs 30:8

“Remove far from me vanity and LIES…”

Sirach 20:24-27

“A LIE is a foul blemish in a man, yet it is continually in the mouth of the untaught. A thief is better than a man that is accustomed to LIE: but they both inherit DESTRUCTION. The disposition of a LIAR is dishonorable and his shame is always with him.

Colossians 3:8-9

“But now, you put away from you all these: wrath, anger, malice, reviling, filthy talking; and LIE NOT one to another but put off the old man with all his practices; and put you on the new man that is renewed in knowledge, after the likeness of his Creator.”

Revelation 22:14-15 (Hebrew besorah)

“Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have a share in the tree of life, and be pure to walk in the city. For the dogs and sorcerers and the harlots and the murderers and the LIARS stay outside.”

As the malach of repentance said: “And WHOSOEVER shall hear this commandment, and depart from that great wickedness falsehood, shall live to ELOHIM.”

May our Father YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!

Correction regarding food preparation on “Important questions for Shabbat” message!

About a year ago, I did a message titled “Important questions for the Shabbat” and everything contained within the message is true, but I want to apologize for one thing! I mentioned that we could turn the crockpot on before the start of the Shabbat and just leave it on to keep the food warm; though I have never used the microwave or stove I did implement the crockpot occasionally before the start of the Shabbat. However, with a new revelation from the Aramaic Peshitta the ancient scriptures, this is something that I will no longer do, and I want to share this with you all so that you can make a decision and take it to YAHWEH in prayer.

Exodus 16:23 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“Moses said to them, this is what YAHWEH has said, tomorrow is a day of kodesh (set-apart) rest, a Shabbat to YAHWEH; BAKE that which you will BAKE today, and COOK  what you will COOK and that which is left over, keep it COLD for yourselves until the morning…”

I never want to remain complacent in this walk and I’m constantly seeking for the truth and reading the ancient text to get a better understanding of what YAHWEH wants us to do, and in return I can share it with you all.  I have repented and again, I apologize to you all and may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

Shepherd of Hermas command #2: Part 2 Almsgiving/Giving to the poor

This week we will continue with the second part of the second commandment which is to help the poor.

Helping the poor

 “Practice goodness; and from the rewards of your labors, which ELOHIM gives you, give to all the needy in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom you are to give or not to give. Give to all, for ELOHIM wishes His gifts to be shared amongst all. They who receive, will render an account to ELOHIM why and for what they have received. For the afflicted who receive will not be condemned, but they who receive on FALSE PRETENSES will suffer punishment. He, then, who gives is guiltless. For as he received from YAHWEH, so has he accomplished his service in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom he should give and to whom he should not give. This service, then, if accomplished in simplicity, is esteem with ELOHIM. He, therefore, who thus ministers in simplicity, will live to ELOHIM. Keep therefore these commandments, as I have given them to you, that your repentance and the repentance of your house may be found in simplicity, and your heart may be pure and stainless.”

The malach (angel) of repentance makes it clear that you are to give to ANYONE who is need and not hesitate in doing so.

Testament of Zebulon 7:1-4

“Now I will declare to you what I did, I saw a man in distress, being naked in wintertime, and had compassion on him, and secretly took a garment from my dad’s house, and gave it to him who was in distress. Therefore you, my children, should also do, from that which ELOHIM gives to you, show compassion and kindness WITHOUT HESITATION to ALL MEN, and give to every man with a good heart. And if you do have the means to give to him that is in need, have compassion for him in bowels of kindness. I know that my hand did not find the means to give to him that needed, and I walked with him weeping for seven furlongs (7/8 of a mile), and my bowels yearned towards him in compassion.”

Mathew 6:3 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“But whenever you do almsgiving (charity), you should not reveal what your left hand does to your right hand.”

Your left hand not knowing what the right hand does is to say that you are giving in simplicity and not giving thinking about whether you should or should not give, you give out of love from your heart without even thinking about it. How many people have used the excuse by saying “Well, I don’t know what they are going to use the money for!” or “They are probably living in a mansion and don’t need the money!” or “They will probably just use it on drugs!” etc. Of course, you don’t know them personally to even make that decision; therefore, we are to give in simplicity. It’s not up to us to decide who gets and who doesn’t, because if they are NOT in need and they take the money then they will have to answer for it, but you will be innocent. But if you don’t give and they are in need they you will be guilty! So just give! Plus, you never know if you are entertaining a malach (angel):

Hebrews 13:1-2

“Let love for the brothers dwell among you. And do not forget kindness to strangers; for by this some have been privileged to entertain messengers without even knowing!”

Supporting scriptures

Luke 3:10-11

“And the crowds would say to him (John the Baptist), “What then should we do?” And he answered and said to them, “He who has two coats let him give to him who does not have. And he who has food, likewise let him do.”

Proverbs 14:21, 31

“He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.” Verse 31 “He who oppresses the poor provokes his Maker; but he who honors YAHWEH has mercy on the needy.”

Proverbs 19:17

“He who has pity upon the poor is a companion of YAHWEH; and he shall be repaid according to his works.”

Proverbs 21:13

“He who closes his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry to ELOHIM, but he shall not answer him.”

Proverbs 28:27

“He who gives to the poor shall not lack; but he who turns his eyes away from the needy shall have many a curse.”

Psalm 41:1

“Blessed is he who looks after the poor; YAHWEH will deliver him in time of trouble.”

Tobiyah 4:7-11, 16

“Give charity of your substance; and when you give charity, do not let your eye be envious, neither turn your face from any poor and the face of ELOHIM shall not be turned away from you. If you have abundance give charity; accordingly, if you have but a little, do not be afraid to give according to that little, for you lay up a good treasure for yourself against the day of necessity. Because that charity delivers from death and does not allow you to come into darkness. Verse 16 “Give bread to the hungry and of your garments to those who are naked; and according to your abundance give charity: and do not let your eye be envious (stingy), when you give charity.”

James 2:14-17

“Or if a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of food, and one of you say to them, “Go in peace, warm yourselves, and be full;” and you do not give them the necessities of the body, what is the use? So also belief alone, without works is dead.”

1 John 3:17-18

“But whoever has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need and closes off his bowels (of merciful nature) from him, how is the love of ELOHIM in him? My children, let us not love one another in words and in tongue, but in acts and in truth.”

Sirach 4:1-6

“My son do not defraud the poor of his living do not make the needy eyes wait long. Do not make a hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress. Do not add more trouble to a heart that is vexed; and postpone giving to him that is in need. Do not reject the supplication of the afflicted, neither turn away your face from a poor man. Do not turn your eye away from the needy and give him no occasion to curse you: for if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul his prayer shall be heard by Him that made him.”

Deuteronomy 15:7-9

“If there is among you a poor person of one of your brethren within any of your towns in the land which YAHWEH your ELOHIM gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother: But you shall open your hand wide to him, and shall surely lend him whatsoever he lacks. Beware that there be not a wicked thought in your heart, and you say, the seventh year, the year of release, is near; and your eye be evil toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to YAHWEH against you, and it be SIN TO YOU.”

Sirach 7:32

“And stretch your hand to the poor, that your blessing may be perfected.”

Sirach 18:25

“When you have enough, remember the time of hunger: and when you are rich, think of poverty and need.”

Sirach 29:9

“Help the poor for the commandment’s sake and do not turn him away because of his poverty.”

Testament of Benjamin 4:4

“If anyone is esteemed, he does not envy him; if anyone is rich, he is not jealous; if anyone is valiant, he praises him; he exalts the virtuous man; he shows kindness to the poor man; he has compassion on the weak; he sings praises to ELOHIM.”

Job 31:16-22 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“If I have withheld the poor from his desire, or have defrauded the widow, or have eaten my bread alone, and the orphans did not eat of it because from my youth I was brought up in sorrows, and from my mother’s womb with sighing; if  have seen anyone perishing for want of clothing, or any poor without covering (but they were reared upon my knees, and were warmed with the fleece of my sheep); If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless (when I saw him at the door I helped him); then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade from the bone.”

Don’t forget about the orphans and widows

James 1:27

“For the worship that is pure and set-apart before ELOHIM the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction; and: that one keep himself without blemish from the world.”

1 Timothy 5:3

“Honor widows who are truly widows”

Sirach 4:10

“Be as a dad to the dad less and in place of a husband to their mother: so shall you be as the son of the Most High and He shall love you more than your mother does.”

Psalm 82:3

“Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy out of the hand of the wicked.”

Job 29:12

“Because I delivered the poor out of distress, and the fatherless who had none to help him.” The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow’s heart to rejoice.”

Deuteronomy 10:18

“He does execute justice for the dad less and the widows, and loves him who turns to him, and gives him food and clothing.”

Deuteronomy 26:12

“When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, then you shall give to the Levite, the sojourner, the dad less, and the widow, that they may eat within your towns and be filled.”

Exodus 22:22

“You shall not harm any widow or orphan. If you harm them, and they pray before Me, I will surely hear their prayer; and my wrath shall kindle, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall become widows and your children dad less.”

Mathew 23:14 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“Woe to you scribes and Pharisee’s hypocrites for you embezzle the property of widows, and that for a pretense you lengthen your prayers. Because of this you will receive a greater judgment.”

Sirach 35:14-16

“He will not despise the supplication of the dad less; nor the widow, when she pours out her complaint, do not the tears run down the widow’s cheeks and is not her cry against him that causes them to fall?”

As we can see, helping the poor, needy, dad less, orphans and widows is a huge part of being a servant of YAHWEH and YESHUA, so remember to give freely to all those in need without hesitation. Then according to the malach of YAHWEH, you will live unto ELOHIM! As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

Shepherd of Hermas command #2: Part 1 AVOID EVIL-SPEAKING

Last week we went over the first commandment that the malach (angel) of repentance told Hermas, and this week we will look at the first part of the second command which is to avoid evil speaking, and YAHWEH willing next week we will go over the second part of the command which is about giving to the poor, this way no one will be overwhelmed with too much information at one time.

 He said to me, “Be simple and guileless (innocent without deception), and you will be as the children who know not the wickedness that ruins the life of men. First, then, speak EVIL OF NO ONE, nor listen with pleasure to anyone who speaks evil of another. But if you listen, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if you believe the slander which you hear; for believing it, you will also have something to say against your brother. Thus, then, will you be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. For slander is evil and an unsteady demon. It never abides in peace, but always remains in discord. Keep yourself from it, and you will always be at peace with all. Put on a (kadushah) set-apartness in which there is no wicked cause of offense, but all deeds that are equable and joyful.”

The world can easily speak evil about others on social media platforms for the world to see. Then do it in private by way of phone calls, and text messages, and about 99% of the time when slander is presented, people accept it as truth without having any evidence. Slander is also called evil speaking in the scriptures and is defined as the action or crime of making a FALSE spoken statement or false report that is damaging to a person’s reputation. Also accusing someone of being guilty without evidence or witnesses. The hearer hears the information and then jumps to conclusions by believing the false report that is damaging to someone’s character and then they too will spread the false report, making them just as guilty for believing it whether they spread it or not.

By you listening to it and accepting it as factual makes you just as guilty as if you said it yourself.  Scripture tells us that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established. Make sure you have evidence and witnesses concerning a matter before immediately jumping on someone’s side and accept what is being said as factual without investigating the matter. An example of this:

Deuteronomy 13:12-14

“When you shall HEAR, in one of your cities which YAHWEH your ELOHIM gives you to dwell in, one saying, certain wicked men have gone out from among you, and have led astray the inhabitants of their cities, saying, “Let us go and serve other mighty ones, whom you have not known; THEN YOU SHALL INQUIRE, AND MAKE SEARCH, AND ASK DILIGENTLY; and behold, IF THE THING IS TRUE, that such an abomination has been done among you; you shall surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword…”

The point is that YAHWEH said diligently ask and inquire to see if the report they heard was true, not accept it as factual first and go destroy them, that would be making them guilty before investigating a matter. How many times have you pronounced someone guilty based off a report of “he said she said?”

Deuteronomy 19:15

“A single witness shall not rise up against a man for any offense, or for any crime, in whatever offense or crime he may commit; on the testimony of two witnesses, or on the testimony of three witnesses, shall a charge be established.”

Mathew 18:16

“And if he does not listen to you, take with you one or two others, because of the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall be established.”

1 Timothy 5:19

“Against an elder do not receive a accusation/complaint except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.”

This would explain why YAHWEH hates false witnesses, because your word is expected to be truthful:

Exodus 20:16

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

Proverbs 24:28

“Be not a false witness against your neighbor; and do not deceive him with your lips.”

Proverbs 12:22

“Lying lips are an abomination to YAHWEH; but those who deal truly are His delight.”

Beware of Slander scriptures

Mathew 12:36-37

“And I say to you that for every idle WORD men speak, they shall give an account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your WORDS you shall be declared righteous, and by your WORDS you shall be declared unrighteous.”

James 4:11 (Hebrew Besorah/gospel)

“Do not go about SLANDERING among yourselves, for whosoever goes about as a slanderer against his brother, is a slander against the Torah, and if you do so, you do not establish the Torah.”

Psalms 101:5 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)

“If someone SLANDERS another in SECRET, I will cut him off.”

Testament of Joseph 1:6

“I was alone, and ELOHIM comforted me. I was sick and YAHWEH visited me.  I was in prison, and my ELOHIM showed favor to me. I was in bonds, and He released me. I was SLANDERED, and He pleaded my cause. I was bitterly spoken against by the Egyptians, and He delivered me. I was envied by my fellow-slaves and he exalted me.”

Sirach 27:22-23

“He that winks with the eyes works evil; and he that knows him will depart from him. When you are present, he will speak sweetly and will admire your words: but in the end he will twist his mouth and SLANDER YOUR SAYINGS.”

James 3:3-10

“Look, we put bits in the mouths of horses, for them to obey us, and we turn their body. Look at the ships too: although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot intends. So too the tongue is a little member, yet boasts greatly. See how a little fire kindles a great forest! And the tongue is a fire, the world of unrighteousness. Like a forest among our members the tongue is placed, the one defiling the ENTIRE BODY, and lighting on fire the course of generations, rolling from the beginning and in the end is lit on fire itself. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is unruly evil, filled with deadly poison. With it we bless our ELOHIM and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of ELOHIM. Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing.”

Proverbs 11:9

“The defiled one destroys his neighbor with his mouth, but the righteous is delivered by knowledge.”

Backbiting

Is defined by Oxford languages as malicious talk about someone who is not present and is linked to slander.

1 Peter 2:1

“Therefore, cease all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and jealousy and BACKBITING. And be like very small children; and crave the Word…”

Sirach 28:14-16

“A backbiting tongue has disquieted many and driven them from nation to nation: it has pulled down strong cities and overthrown the houses of great men. A backbiting tongue has cast out virtuous women and deprived them of their labors. Whoever listens to it shall never find rest and never dwell quietly.”

Romans 1:30 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“And backbiting and slander; and being haters of ELOHIM, scoffers, proud, vain-esteem, devisers of evil things, destitute of reason, disregardful of parents. And to whom a covenant is nothing, neither affection, nor peace, and in whom is no compassion. These, while they know the judgment of ELOHIM, that He condemns those to death who perpetrate such things, are not only does of them, but the companions of such as do them.”

Gossiping words

Gossip is defined as a person who habitually spreads intimate (personal) or private rumors or facts, also trivial chatty talk or writing. We know this is someone who is talking about someone else and most of the time it’s based off of a rumor, which others will accept as factual information. People whisper these words because they don’t want others to hear what they are saying because they would never be able to see it to the person in question.

1 Timothy 5:13

“Moreover, they learn to be idle, going about from house to house, and not only idle but also GOSSIPS and busybodies, speaking what is IMPROPER.”

Sirach 19:6-10

“And he who hates gossip shall have less evil. Do not repeat to another that which is told to you, and you shall not suffer harm. Whether to friend or enemy, do not speak of another’s life; and if you may without offense, do not reveal them. For if he hears and sees you, so in time to come he shall hate you. If you have a word, let it die with you…”

Wisdom 1:11

“Therefore beware of grumbling, which is useless, and keep your tongue from secrecy. For no secret word is without evil, and a lying mouth destroys the being.”

Ezekiel 22:9 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)

“In you, people GOSSIP to the point of inciting bloodshed; in you are those who go to eat on the mountains; in you, they commit lewd acts. In you, they commit incest; in you, they force themselves on women during their menstrual impurity.”

As we see gossip is mentioned in the same breath as all these other abominations. At the end of the day, speak evil of no one.

Sirach 5:12-15

“Esteem and shame is in speech; and the tongue of man is his downfall. Do not be a whisper, and do not lie in wait with your tongue; for foul shame is upon the thief, and an evil condemnation upon the double-tongued. Do not be ignorant of any matter, small or great.”

2 Timothy 3:3 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of mercy, wicked, unloving, addicted to irreconcilable MALICIOUS GOSSIPS, ferocious, haters of the good, treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to the pleasure more than to the love of ELOHIM, having a form of respect for ELOHIM but wide from the power of ELOHIM.”

Titus 3:1-2

“And admonish them to be submissive and obedient to princes and powerful leaders; and that they are ready for every good work; and that they speak ill of NO MAN; that they will not be argumentative, but mild; and that in everything they manifest generously towards all men.”

The malach of repentance confirms a brief message I did on this months ago, but if you can refrain from speaking evil against others, then you will live unto ELOHIM! And next week, YAHWEH willing, we will go over the second part of this commandment that is required as well.

As always may our Father YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!

YESHUA is Creator! Shepherd of Hermas commands: Belief in ONE ELOHIM!

We will now begin a study in the book of The Shepherd of Hermas and covering the 12 commandments that Hermas was given by a malach (angel) of repentance that guides the people of YAHWEH into righteousness. These commandments are not “additions” to the Torah, rather they just give detailed insights to further explain what YAHWEH expects out of us and how narrow this path is. So, the first command that the malach of repentance gives to Hermas is “Belief in One ELOHIM and that He created all things.”

Firstly, I would like to give some background information concerning this book for anyone who is unfamiliar with this work. The Encyclopedia Britannica says:

“An IMPORTANT piece of patristic (writings of the early “church fathers”) literature, it was regarded AS SCRIPTURE by St. Irenaeus, St. Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Tertullian. However, the Muratorian Canon denied that it was inspired, and St. Jerome stated that it was known very little in the Western assembly. Much more popular in the EASTERN ASSEMBLY, the work is contained in the 4th century Codex Sinaiticus of the Greek Scriptures. Manuscripts in Greek, Latin, and Ethiopic and fragments in Coptic and Persian exist.”

This same article states this as well:

“Type of Jewish Christianity-STILL ADHERING TO THE MOSAIC LAW (TORAH)-evident in Rome during 2nd century. The Shepherd of Hermas was ORIGINALLY INCLUDED TO CANONICAL RANK and was bound WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT in the Codex Sinaiticus. It was listed between the Book of Acts and the Acts of Paul in the list of the Codex Claromontanus. Eventually, the text fell out of favor among the Christian bishops and it was excluded from the finalized list of canonical scriptures.”

A few things I would like to mention is that the early “church fathers” as they are called, considered this book to be canon and that they were still following the Torah as the article mentions adhering to the “Mosaic laws”. So, these are early assemblies not too far removed from the days of the apostles who are following Torah and accepted this book as canon. Irenaeus was a commandment keeper and even wrote a book called “Against Heresies”, this shows you that he was not saying the Torah was done away with. Secondly, The Shepherd of Hermas was widely accepted in the Assembly of the East where the Scriptures originate, which has an Eastern mindset, but rejected in the Western world that has adopted an anti-torah, pagan, Roman mindset; so its no wonder this book was rejected in the western world. It is also my belief that this book was rejected because of it’s views on divorce and remarriage which we will cover in the fourth commandment YAHWEH willing; and also how this book tells followers of YESHUA to keep the commandments, which further proves that many in the early assembly not far removed from the days of YESHUA and the apostles did not believe the Torah was done away with.

The Shepherd of Hermas is said to have been written in 150 AD. The Ambrosia Library at Milan by Muratori said that Shepherd was written in Rome (where Hermas is mentioned in Romans) quite recently “In our times”, and that its author was Hermas, a brother of Pius who was then bishop and Rome, which would mean this is the same Hermas that is mentioned in:

Romans 16:14

“Send peace to Asyncritus and Phlegon, and HERMAS, and Patrobas, and Hermes, and the brothers who are with them.”

And Hermas is said to be one of the 70 disciples that YESHUA sent out in:

Luke 10:1

“After these things, YESHUA appointed seventy from His OTHER disciples and sent them two by two before His face to all regions and cities that He was about to go.”

First Commandment: Believe in One ELOHIM

With that background information which establishes the importance of this book let us now examine the first command that Hermas was given by the malach of repentance.

“First of all, believe that there is ONE ELOHIM who created and finished all things, and made all things out of nothing. He alone is able to contain the whole, but Himself cannot be contained. Have belief therefore in Him, and fear Him, and fearing Him, exercise self-control. Keep these commands, and you will cast away from you all wickedness, and put on the strength of righteousness (Deuteronomy 6:25), and live to ELOHIM, if you keep this commandment.”

Hermas is told to fear ELOHIM:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (Aramaic Peshitta)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR YAHWEH and keep His commandments; this given by ONE MASTER TO EVERY MAN.”

Next, as we are told to believe in One ELOHIM and that He created all things and we know that YAHWEH and YESHUA are One (Echad) so that means that both had to be present during the creation account.  I have done a message on this previously, but now we are going to take a deeper look into the matter especially for those who doubt YESHUA’s pre-existence and His Oneness with YAHWEH the Father.

Revelation 19:13 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“And He was clothed with a vesture sprinkled with blood; and His Name is called, “THE WORD OF ELOHIM.”

John 1:1-3 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“In the beginning was the Miltha/WORD (Physical Manifestation of YAHWEH, the Substance of YAHWEH). And that Miltha/WORD was with ELOHIM. And ELOHIM was that Miltha. This was with ELOHIM IN THE BEGINNING. Everything EXISTED THROUGH HIS HANDS, and without Him not even one thing existed of the things which have existed.”

John 1:1-3 (Hebrew Besorah/Gospel)

“In the beginning the SON was ELOAH. The SON OF EL (God) was both with EL, and the SON OF EL was ELOAH. This One was in the beginning with EL. All things were MADE BY HIM; and without Him NOTHING WAS MADE, of that which was made.”

Notice how the Aramaic says that everything came into existence “through the hands of YESHUA who is the Word of YAHWEH!”

Andrew Gabriel Roth’s comments saying, “Literal Aramaic reading; “through His hands” indicates the Word as a CREATIVE FORCE, like a SCULPTOR working under the orders of a King.”

Job 12:8-9

“Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach you; and the fishes of the sea shall declare to you. Who does not know in all these that the HAND OF YAHWEH made them?” And YESHUA sits at the right HAND OF YAHWEH!

John 1 shows us plainly that YESHUA was in the beginning with YAHWEH, so how do we make this work in the creation account? Firstly, YAHWEH and YESHUA are ONE and I see it this way, YAHWEH spoke the words as the orders of a King and YESHUA the Word went forth as a sculptor and created it. We will see the usage of that in this article as The Word of YAHWEH doing the action and other scriptures about the WORD creating!

John 15:10

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept the commandments of My Father, and I abide in His love.”

YESHUA always obeyed the command of His Father, and we see the same thing happening during the creation account as YESHUA obeyed what was spoken and He went forth created everything.

An article written that discusses the Book of Adam and Eve says:

Last week Jeff brought up the use of "the Word" in The First Book of Adam and Eve. Many say the main story was created/written down around 2 to 3 hundred years before Christ, though additions continued into the 3rd century A.D. Of the numerous apocryphal works written, this one seems to have been most influential on early theologians, and was widely popular from the 3rd to the 13th century A.D.

This book is a written history of what happened in the days of Adam and Eve after they were cast out of the garden. Although considered to be pseudepigraphic by some, it carries significant meaning and insight into events of that time.

In it, there seem to be basically three heavenly beings that interact with Adam and Eve: ELOHIM, His malachim (angels), and the Word of ELOHIM (YESHUA). ELOHIM is usually the one speaking, but when ACTION is taken, He sends angels or the Word of ELOHIM to do it. Plus at times ELOHIM says the plan and covenant with Adam is to eventually send His "Word" in the flesh to save them (We know this is YESHUA based on John 1). We saw in our study last week that the "Word of YAHWEH" as used in the Tanakh (Old Testament) was the visual manifestation of YAHWEH. We saw that the Hebrew Scriptures taught a second YAHWEH. The First Book of Adam and Eve collaborates this idea…”

Jubilees 12:4

“Worship the ELOHIM of heaven, who causes the rain and the dew to descend on the earth, and does everything upon the earth. He has created everything by HIS WORD, and all life is from before His face.”

Psalms 33:6

“By the WORD OF YAHWEH were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.”

Hebrews 11:3

“For by belief we understand that the worlds were shaped BY THE WORD OF ELOHIM; and that things seen originated from those that are not seen.”

2 Esdras 6:38-43

“I said, “O YAHWEH ELOHIM, You didst speak at the beginning of creation, and didst say on the first day, ‘Let heaven and earth be made,’ and thy WORD ACCOMPLISHED THE WORK. And then the Spirit was hovering, and darkness and silence embraced everything, and the sound of man’s voice was not yet there. Then You didst command that a ray of light be brought forth from Your treasuries, so that Your works might then appear. Again, on the second day, You didst create the spirit of the firmament, and didst command HIM to separate the waters, that one part might move upward and the other part remain beneath. On the third day, You didst command the waters to be gathered together in the seventh part of the earth; six parts You didst dry up and keep so that some of them might be planted and cultivated and be of service before You. For Your WORD WENT FORTH, and at once the work was done.”

2 Baruch 21:4

“O He who has made the earth, hear me, He who fastened the firmament by HIS WORD, Who made firm the height of the heavens by the spirit, He who called from the beginning of the world that which had not yet come to be, and they obey You!”

2 Baruch 54:13

“For with Your mind You guide all creatures, Whom Your RIGHT HAND CREATED, and You have established every source of light beside You, and You have prepared the reservoirs of wisdom under Your throne.”

Baruch says “Your Right Hand created all creatures” and we know that YESHUA sits at the Right Hand of YAHWEH.

Mark 14:61-62

“But He was silent and did not answer him anything. And again the high priest asked Him and said, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” And YESHUA said to Him, I AM. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the RIGHT HAND of power and coming upon the clouds of heaven.”

Shepherd of Hermas Chapter 3

“Lo, the ELOHIM of powers, Who by His invisible strong power and great wisdom has created the world, and by His esteemed counsel has surrounded His creation with beauty, and by HIS STRONG WORD has fixed the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth upon the waters, and by His own wisdom and providence has created His kodesh (set-apart) assembly, which He has blessed, lo!”

Colossians 1:12-19 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“And may, with joy, give thanks to ELOHIM the Father Who has fitted us for a portion of the inheritance of the Set Apart (kodesh) believers in light; and has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son by Whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins: Who is the LIKENESS OF THE INVISIBLE ELOHIM and the First-born of all creatures: And by Him was CREATED EVERYTHING that is in heaven and on earth, all that is visible and all that is invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; everything was through Him and was CREATED BY HIM: and He was PRIOR TO ALL, and by Him EVERYTHING EXISTS.”

John 1:1-3 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“In the beginning was the Miltha/Word (Physical Manifestation of YAHWEH, the Substance of YAHWEH). And that Miltha/Word was with ELOHIM. And ELOHIM was that Miltha. This was with ELOHIM IN THE BEGINNING. Everything EXISTED THROUGH HIS HANDS, and without Him not even one thing existed of the things which have existed.”

Hebrews 1:1-2 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“In many ways and many forms, ELOHIM anciently conversed with our ancestors by the prophets: but in these latter days, He has conversed with us by His Son Whom He has constituted heir of all things, and by Whom HE MADE THE WORLDS…”

Revelation 3:14 (Aramaic English New Testament)

“And to the messenger of the assembly which is at Laodicea, write: “These things says the Ahmein, the witness, the faithful, the true, the CHIEF OF THE CREATION OF ELOHIM.”

And we know that YESHUA is the One speaking in Revelation and He confirms that He is the Chief of the creation of ELOHIM, which solidifies that He is the Word of YAHWEH and that everything was created through His hands a sculptor taking orders from a King.

 As the malach of repentance aka the shepherd of Hermas told him, that if you believe that ELOHIM is One and created all things you shall live unto ELOHIM. So, do you believe that YAHWEH and YESHUA are ONE, and that YAHWEH spoke and YESHUA the Word went forth and created everything? If so, you will live unto ELOHIM according to the first command. Next week YAHWEH willing we will cover the second commandment.

As always, may our Father YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!