Come to Understanding

Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

September 1, 2009
Volume 8 Number 17

A Little Leaven in the Bread

There are two things which Yahshua (Jesus) told the angel to write to the congregation of believers at Philadelphia which caused Him to open to them the door of salvation. They kept His Word and did not deny His name.

8 I know your works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. -Revelation 3

He contrasts those who keep the Word of God and do not deny His name with those who claim to be "Jews," but are not:

9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. -Revelation 3

He is not necessarily talking about those who are physical "Jews," but those who are spiritual "Jews:"

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. -Romans 2

Yahshua explained to the religious leaders of the Jews, the Pharisees and the scribes, that they had allowed their traditions to replace the Word of God, making it void:

13 Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such like things do you. -Mark 7

Traditions and customs are so powerful that, if they are taught often enough, they can be taken as acceptable replacements for the Word of God and even for His name. They become the "leaven" of the religious leaders that Yahshua warns about:

6 Then Yahshua said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. -Matthew 16

Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, revealed the confusion of Jewish priests concerning Yahweh’s name:

6 A son honors his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is my honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? says Yahweh of hosts to you, O priests, that despise my name. And you say, Wherein have we despised your name? -Malachi 1

When the Jews entered Babylon as captives, they lived among the heathen who worshipped many different gods in the form of images. The name of Yahweh would have been offensive in Babylon because it proclaims Him to be exclusively the One that is! Therefore, the Jews "profaned" it:

20 And when they entered to the heathen, where they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of Yahweh, and are gone forth out of his land. -Ezekiel 36

The word, "profane," means "to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt." (see Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

Its easy to see how the profaning of the name of God happened in Babylon when we look at the name of Joshua, the son of Nun. He bore the same name as the Messiah, whose name means "Yahweh (Yah) is salvation." It was written in Hebrew in the Book of Joshua (before the captivity) as ewvwhy (yhwshwa) and likely pronounced as "Yahshua." (We might think the name should sound like "Yah-u-shua." However, the "h" and "w" were likely used as vowels pronounced together ("hw"), as a "diphthong," into one sound.) This name is rendered in most English Bibles as "Joshua:"

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh it came to pass, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, -Joshua 1

After the captivity, however, the Hebrew name of "Joshua" was changed in Nehemiah to ewvy (yshwa). It means "he is saved." Likely pronounced as "Yeshua, this name is translated in the Bible as "Jeshua:"

17 And all the congregation of them that had come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. -Nehemiah 8

The distinctive name of God, "Yah," was changed to the generic pronoun, "he." After living in the land of Babylon where many gods were worshipped, the priests were unable to see any problem with their tolerant act of replacing the name "Yah" with the pronoun "he."

Blinded to the truth, the priests were also unable to see that they were offering "polluted bread" upon the altar:

7 You offer polluted bread upon my altar; and you say, Wherein have we polluted you? In that you say, The table of Yahweh is contemptible. -Malachi 1

Bread has two important meanings in the Bible. One is that of natural bread, such as that made from grain. The other is as the "Word of God," which was both with God and was God:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. -John 1

Yahshua is called "The Word of God:"

13 And he was clothed with a coat dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. -Revelation 19

The "Word of God" also calls Himself "The Bread of God," which is the "True Bread from Heaven:"

32 Then Yahshua said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world. -John 6

The "Bread" of the "Word of God" gives life. Yahshua quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 when He told Satan:

4 And Yahshua answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God Yahweh. -Luke 4

Yahweh warns of a time when there will be a famine for the bread of His Word. Although people will search for it, they will not find it:

11 Behold, the days come, says the Lord Yahweh, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of Yahweh:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of Yahweh, and shall not find it. -Amos 8

How could such a famine for the Word of God occur unless the "Bread" becomes polluted, or corrupted? Paul says many corrupt the Word of God:

17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. -2 Corinthians 2

He even suggests that there are some that handle the Word of God with both "dishonesty" and "craftiness:"

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. -2 Corinthians 4

Yahshua says truth is the Word of God:

17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth. -John 17

Whatever men may write and assign to His name as truth, His Word is clear. He is worthy of worship:

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that lives forever and ever. -Revelation 5

He has redeemed us through His blood:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: -Colossians 1

He did not come to destroy us, but to save us:

56 For the Son of man has not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village. -Luke 9

11 For the Son of man has come to save that which was lost. -Matthew 18

He returned to the Father:

16 A little while, and you shall not see me: and again, a little while, and you shall see me, because I go to the Father. -John 16

The Father is in Heaven, where He does His will:

2 And he said to them, When you pray, say, Our Father which is in heaven, Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. -Luke 11

He will return to reign in His great power:

17 Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which is, and was, and is to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned. -Revelation 11

"A little leaven" in the bread of the Word of God may make it easier to eat. It can, however, have unintended consequences because it leavens the whole loaf. It can hinder us, as it did the sincere Galatians, from obeying the truth:

7 You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?

8 This persuasion comes not from him that calls you.

9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. -Galatians 5

The spoiler may try to pollute the bread of the Word of God with "a little leaven." However, Yahweh has purified and preserved His Words forever. They are settled in heaven:

6 The words of Yahweh are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

7 You shall keep them, O Yahweh, you shall preserve them from this generation forever. -Psalms 12

89 LAMED. Forever, O Yahweh, your word is settled in heaven. -Psalms 119

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Scriptures are taken from the Proper Name Version of the King James Bible.