What Is Worship-13 Shevat 5771

I recently had a discussion about worship with someone. I didn’t get a chance to finish it yet, but I believe the point was the old, “if Jesus isn’t G-d, why did he receive worship from people?” All in all that is actually a very good question. Why would someone who was not G-d let someone worship him or her? We do have the example of the angel in Revelation (22:8-9) “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.’”  Now that indeed does make it clear. The angel was very quick to address John’s actions to correct him. So in Mat (14:33) where the text reads, “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of G-d.’” that would be a proof-text that Yeshua is G-d. 

     Our problem here is the word worship. We have this preconceived idea that worship is the reverential acknowledgement of deity. And this does goes without saying. But, it stops a little short. Here is what Daniel Webster has to say. Including the previous it is also; to regard with great, even extravagant respect, honor, or devotion. Technically then, when someone is honored by receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, that could be called worship.

In the Hebrew or the Greek I do not know a word that actually means worship. I know words for prostrate, bow, honor, and serve, revere. And actually, these are the words in the Hebrew and Greek that get translated as worship. I can use all of these words with anyone. It would then be our own opinion as to whether worship (as we have come to think of it) is what is being given or received.

OK. Example time. In the passage above (Mat 14:33), what were the disciples doing? In Mat 18:26 we find the parable of the wicked servant. “So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'” What was the servant doing? According to the Greek he was doing the exact same thing the disciples were doing.

The two words, from the ESV, translated ‘worshipped’ in Matthew 14 is the same as the word translated as ’imploring’ in Matthew 18. This is Strong’s #4352-

Strong’s definition:  G4352 (35x)

proskuneō  (pros-koo-neh'-o)

From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.

Thayer Definition:

1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence

2) among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence

3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication

3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank

3a1) to the Jewish high priests 3a2) to God 3a3) to Christ 3a4) to heavenly beings 3a5) to demons

When this word is used in reference to G-d it is obvious that we are acknowledging the Divine nature of G-d. When this word or the Hebrew equivalent is used in reference to idols it is irrelevant whether it is translated worship or prostrate. G-d said don’t do either. When it is in regard to men it should only be translated prostrate in regards to honoring. When it refers to Yeshua? I’m not going to give my opinion. Does the Bible REALLY say that he is G-d?   References please.                Shalom uvrachah, Lemuel

What In The World Is Going On Here?- 2 Shevat 5771

As a general rule, I hate computers. And I am not sure that Facebook is really helping it to win my affections. On the one hand, I am kind of isolated so it does give me connection to like-minded people. On the other hand, I read a lot of things that would have been better off unread. The majority of my “friends” are of the “Hebrew Roots, Torah based, believe the Bible as the Word of G-d” type people. There is a basic anti-church type sentiment, which goes along with being hurt by, let’s say, misguided truth, a fair dose of pagan phobia, and a lot of Bible only doers.

Being of the “Hebrew Roots, Torah based, believe the Bible as the Word of G-d” group is a good thing. Here we have people who have searched out the basis of their faith and found it to be Jewish in the beginning. They are returning to the only faith the Bible talks about in a good tone of voice.

The anti-church sentiment is something we need to get over. I had to come to the realization that the teachings I sat under were not a plot to deceive me. They were generally honest beliefs and understandings of the teachers. Like it or not, they are our brothers and sisters and the Torah and our Master said to love our brethren. Granted, this does not mean that we are going to get along with them. That is a different issue.

Pagan phobia is a whole monster in itself. This is where there is a highly intentional aversion to doing anything that might of at one time or another had some basis in paganism. Now, mind you, I am absolutely NOT advocating any form of paganism, but we have really got to get a grip on this. It is way out of hand. I don’t know if there is a single thing that one couldn’t find some kind of connection to paganism.

Bible only doers. This is a problem. There is not enough information in the Bible to make this a realistic faith. This admonition is pointed at those of us who belong to the “walking in the way of Torah” group. I have seen way too many conversations of the “Bible says this” and the “this is what this passage means” type arguments that it is very discouraging. We don’t need to start a new religion. This religion is thousands of years old. The problem is that most people don’t like, to put it mildly, the words ‘tradition, oral, sages, or rabbis’. It is like they are some kind of curse to be avoided at all cost.

Do we not see what is happening? How will we ever become a unified entity if everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes. We have people determining their own New Moons, people who think tzitzit on belt loops is acceptable, at the slightest inkling someone picks up a shofar and starts blowing it at the moon. We pitch around our variations of the Name of G-d against the commandment even arguing the correct pronunciations. Our Messiah never did this. Do we even care to try to find out what the correct observance of the things we are doing is? Do we really think we will provoke jealousy in anyone when we have such disregard for what they believe?

We are no different from the Christian assemblies that we have complained about. They chucked the ways of the Torah and the original faith. So have we. The Torah says to obey the decisions of the priests and judges. (Deut 17:8-13) Since they are not around, the last known decisions are in effect. When we stop making up our own rules and decide to humble ourselves and follow after the standards of normative Judaism maybe we will really become something to be envious over. G-d told us to be obedient to the authority He set up. That’s not you or me.  In Mat 23:2-3 Yeshua tells the people to obey the leaders even if they are not righteous in their actions. I don’t care what you do in your homes but we need to be careful teaching against tradition when we don’t know a thing about tradition.
Peace and blessing, Lemuel.