Command 5

“Honour your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which Yahuah your Elohim giveth you” - Exodus 20:12.

The primary focus of the Fifth Commandment: the importance of learning to respect others while we are still children.

The Fifth Commandment shows us from whom and how the fundamentals of respect and honour are most effectively learned. It guides us to know how to yield to others, how to properly submit to authority and how to accept the influence of mentors.

That is why the apostle Paul wrote: “Honour your father and mother; (which is the first Commandment with promise;) That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth” - Ephesians 6:2-3.

Learning to obey this Commandment helps children establish a lifetime pattern of respecting proper rules, traditions, principles and laws. Honouring others should be a normal, natural habit learned during youth.

Solomon also gives us some advise; He who plunders a father, chases away his mother, is a son causing shame and bringing reproach - Proverbs 19:26.

Are you respecting your parents!

Even a child is known by his deeds, whether his work is clear and right - Proverbs 20:11. Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp is put out in deep darkness. An inheritance obtained with greed at the beginning is not blessed at the end - Proverbs 20:20-21.

Yahuah (Heavenly Father) places the primary responsibility for teaching children the basic principles of life directly on the shoulders of parents. The ability of mothers and fathers to succeed in this responsibility depends significantly on how much they in turn submit to Yahuah's instruction and teaching and show love and respect for Him.

Yahuah's instruction to parents makes this clear: “And you shall love Yahuah your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart: And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up” - Deuteronomy 6:5-7.

We the children are the beneficiaries when we honor our parents.

This is the Commandment with the wonderful promise that life will go better for us if we simply obey it.

Families are the building blocks of societies. Strong families build strong societies and nations. Any individual or group, including whole nations that understands the importance of strong families reaps the reward of an improved relationship with and blessings from Yahuah.

The Good News (Gospel) that Messiah preached

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand - Matthew 3:1-2.

Yahusha (Jesus) came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of Yahuah, And saying, The time is fulfilled [time of waiting is over], and the kingdom of Yahuah  is near: repent, and believe the gospel - Mark 1:14-15.

These twelve Yahusha sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is near - Matthew 10:5-7.

The kingdom of heaven will begin on earth in the Messianic Age as the prophet foretold: Isaiah 11:1-4, And a Rod shall come forth from the stump of Jesse (Yishai), and a Sprout from his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of Yahuah shall rest upon Him – the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahuah, and shall make Him breathe in the fear of Yahuah. And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears. But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and shall decide with straightness for the meek ones of the earth, and shall smite the earth with the rod of His mouth, and slay the wrong with the breath of His lips.

Isaiah 11:6-8, And a wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and a leopard lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child leads them. And cow and bear shall feed, their young ones lie down together, and a lion eat straw like an ox. And the nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the adder’s den.

Isaiah 11:10-12, And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse (Yishai), standing as a banner to the people. Unto Him the gentiles shall seek, and His rest shall be esteem. And it shall be in that day that Yahuah sets His hand again a second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria (Ashshur) and from Mitsrayim (Egypt), from Pathros and from Ethiopia (Kush), from Elam (Eylam) and from Shinar, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea. And He shall raise a banner for the nations, and gather the outcasts of Israel, and assemble the dispersed of Yahudah (Judah) from the four corners of the earth.

Isaiah 11:14 But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; together they plunder the people of the east, their hand stretching forth on Edom and Moab, and the children of Ammon shall be subject to them.

The arrival of Messiah the first time, demonstrating his Father's righteousness and power, was an important phase in the kingdom process. Israel was waiting for their Messiah and needed to be told he was in their midst (John did that), to repent and believe. Ultimately the Messiah will return the earth to its original Garden of Eden state, ruling, reigning and bringing peace. (Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven - Matthew 6:10).

How should One live? … seek first the kingdom of Elohim, and His righteousness; - Matthew 6:33.

And Yahusha Messiah answered him, “The first of all the commands is, ‘Hear, O Israel, Yahuah our Elohim, Yahuah is one - Mark 12:29.

“Teacher, which is the great command in the Torah [law]?” And Messiah said to him, “ ‘You shall love Yahuah your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind.’ “This is the first and great command. “And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ “On these two commands hang all the Torah [law] and the Prophets - Matthew 22:36-40.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of Yahuah is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him - I John 2:3-5.

Do the works (Do faith - Part 3 of 3)

So belief in Him, and obeying Him is a must.

How do you do this?

By obeying Him, by doing His commands, by living like Messiah, walking in His footsteps.

James 2:26; For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works. Very important verse to understand. We cannot do anything if His Ruach (Holy Spirit) is not in us, so too will we not hear if we do not obey. Or the hearing will not last long if you cannot keep His commands (Torah).

1 Corinthians 3:11-15, talks about good works, like helping people with money, giving money to charity and doing any good for humans. This is still good in the eyes of Yahuah and they will be rewarded for this but how was this person's heart that did this works; was it for self or was it for Messiah, that is the difference.

Works of self or works of belief. Two different works!

The fruit that you bare once you have accepted Messiah will reveal if you really are a believer in Messiah.

John the Immerser (Baptist) said; bear fruit worthy of repentance, ............ Luke 3:8.

"And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" - Luke 3:9. Is this not about the lukewarm believer!

"His winnowing fork is in His hand (the Messiah) and He shall thoroughly cleanse His threshing-floor (earth), and gather the wheat into His storehouse (true believers-kingdom) but the chaff (unbelievers/lukewarm believers) He shall burn with unquenchable fire" - Luke 3:17.

This means Yahusha (Jesus) will harvest from the field (people/earth) and the wheat (true believers) is cleansed by sorting out the leaves/storks or sticks = called chaff (unbelievers or lukewarm believers) and the chaff will be placed in a furnace to burn away.

"I am (Messiah) the true vine, and My Father is the gardener. "Every branch (believer) in Me (knows Messiah) that bears no fruit (does not obey-works of believe) He takes away (remove). And every branch (believer) that bears fruit (obeys) He prunes (teachers, gives more truth), so that it bears more fruit (true follower of Messiah grows into more righteousness) - John 15:1-2.

Read John 15:4-6 as it is very similar to Luke 3:17, “Stay in Me, and I stay in you. As the branch is unable to bear fruit of itself, unless it stays in the vine, so neither you, unless you stay in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who stays in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit. Because without Me you are able to do naught! “If anyone does not stay in Me (obey), he is thrown away as a branch and dries up. And they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

Have you heard people say it is impossible to keep the commands (I myself has said this), but is it true! Why then can a dad or mother tell their child they can! Example: A child is struggling to pass his/her learner drivers licence and tells the parents "I cannot do this,"  the parents tell him/her you can do it, don't give up, just keep on trying, study more and you will make it, you will see. We will help and support you my child, the parents say! At the end the child passes the exam and the parents say, "see I told you, you can do it." Why do we say different when it comes to keeping His commands. This is what we say "We cannot keep the commands, it is impossible and this is the reason I have grace." Our Heavenly Father is like that parent helping their child through the exam, Abba is telling us, supporting us by giving us His Ruach not only to believe Him but also able to keep His commands. You know what the biggest problem is! It is not that to Hear and Obey is impossible because Abba Father would never ask us do anything that is impossible. The problem is, satan is keeping us so occupied with worldly entertainment that we end up not sustaining in His will and not listening to the Ruach, but rather being busy with self. This is the reason we struggle to "Hear and importantly, obey."

To hear and obey Elohim is to love Him!

This is how Yahusha (Jesus) defines LOVE! “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Stay in My love(hear). “If you guard My commands (obey), you shall stay in My love, even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love - John 15:9-10. You need to read this verse a few times and ask Ruach to convict you, before you will understand what Yahusha is meaning.

John 14:15 “If you love Me (hear), you shall guard My commands (obey).

 John 14:21“He who possesses My commands and guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.”

 John 14:23 Yahusha answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him.

The perfect sequence: first love (hear/faith), then obedience. This has been what Yahuah wanted ever since the beginning: but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me (hear) and guard My commands (obey) - Exodus 20:6. Also repeated throughout Scripture, down to 1 John. 5:2-3 and 2 John 1:6.

This single verse summarizes the entire Messianic Scriptures of "Hear and obey!" - “If anyone loves Me, he shall guard My Word. And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him.

Do what the Word says (Do faith - Part 2 of 3)

So does a person that now believes in Messiah just say a repentance pray and then all is good to enter the kingdom.

Let's see what the scripture says. James 2:17, So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead.

This verse says that if you have belief in Messiah and you do not do what He says, then belief is dead. A repeat of John 3:36. 

Verse 18; But someone might say, "You have belief, and I have works." Show me your belief without your works, and I shall show you my belief by my works.

Verse 19; You believe that Elohim is one, you do we'll, the demons also believe - and shudder!

Even the demons believe, but are they saved and going to Father's kingdom? No, they are not saved and they will not see Father's kingdom. "Why not" because they believe/hear He exists but they do not do/obey Yahusha (Jesus).

So do you still think you only need to believe.

Listen to verse 20; But do you wish to know, O foolish man, that the belief without the works is dead?

Verse 21; Was not Abraham our father declared right by works (hear and obey) when he offered Isaac his son?

Abraham did not only believe Father Yahuah, he trusted (obeyed) Him, he took his son which he loved so much and was prepared to offer him. He did what Yahuah asked him to do, he did the works by preparing his son for offer, exactly what Father asked him to do.

Father Yahuah stopped Abraham before he killed his son, Abraham believed and he proofed his believe by obeying Father because he trusted Him.

Verse 22; Do you see that the belief was working with his (Abraham) works, and by the works the belief was perfected.

Verse 23; "Abraham believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness."

Verse 24; You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone.

So you see, your belief must be seen in yours works.

Do not be confused: the works that is mentioned here is not being a good person, helping people, being kind, going to church, donating money or doing good to other people, this is called man-made works (flesh). Works of the flesh is good, but works of belief is essential to each true believer.

The works scripture is talking about is doing what Yahuah or His Son Messiah asks you to do, this is called works (do) by faith/belief.

It is hear (faith) and obey (works).

Do what I say? (Do faith - Part 1 of 3)

 

"Shema" (Hear and obey) in the new or re-new Covenant.

"But why do you call Me 'Master, Master,' (Lord, Lord) and do not do what I say? - Luke 6:46.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messiah said that His family are those who are hearing the Word of Elohim and DOING IT - Luke 8:21.

And now the warning for those who know Him but do not obey Him; "He who believes in the Son (Messiah) possesses everlasting life, but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of Elohim remains on him" - John 3:36. 

So part of this verse 36 says you will be saved and the other part says you will not be saved! What is Messiah actually saying?

Yahusha (Jesus) is saying; "If you believe that I am in existence you will live but if you do not do (obey) My ways then you will not live.

Let us add Luke 8:21 to John 3:36 and remember Messiah is talking about His family of believers.

Yahusha (Jesus) is saying; My family are those who hear My Word and then they obey My Word.

Or, Yahusha says; he who believes/hears will live but he who does not do/obey will not live.

These are the same Words that were said by Yahuah to Abraham, Moses and the prophets: Hear/believe and obey/do. Shema = Hear and obey.

 

 

 

Now Yahusha (Jesus) explains this "hear and obey" in a parable for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see; "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does them, shall be like a wise man who built his house on the rock, and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not do them, shall be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the rain came down, and floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat on the house, and it fell, and great was its fall" - Matthew 7:24-27.

Many Christians are taught that you only have to believe in Jesus, do nothing more but say you believe, then you are saved and you will go to heaven.  

Is this all you have to do, only have faith in Jesus and do nothing more - Faith without any life change (do)?

So, if a person comes to know Yahuah, after been living in sin, does that person continue living in sin or does he turn away from that sin?

Does the repented person who now has accepted Messiah (believe), stay in his old ways (sinning as before) or does he make a 180 degree turn (do) and live opposite to how he lived before.

Hear and obey!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other words is it "faith by works" or is it "faith by words(thinking)," meaning he still lives the same manner (lives in sin) as before, only difference now is he says he believes in the Messiah.

Why then would Messiah say "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say!

Yahusha (Jesus) is asking in plain English; "Why are you saying 'Jesus' I believe but your lifestyle is not My way!