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Coming in the Father's name.
The word name is a very interesting on in the Hebrew thinker's mind. We of Western cultures find it difficult to think in the same terms as the Hebrews of their Eastern cultures.
In our culture names are primarily identifiers. To the Hebrew mind a name is an indicator of character traits. We would read King David as "David" a personal name or identifier and King as a Title. The Hebrews made no such distinctions. When they read King David, they see King as one who rules and David as one who is loved. so the concept in their mind would be King David = One who rules and is loved.
Even today the concept is carried on the idea of having a "Good Name" . It is not about the identity of the individual but rather about the character of the person in question.
When Jesus said He came in His Father's name, this was the concept He was portraying. He came in the character of His father. How did He get the Father's character and just as important how do we?
We can glean certain things from scripture.
Luke 2:52?And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Obviously there was a learning process that Jesus went through. He learned wisdom from God.
Hebrew 5:8-10
8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
[wash my mouth]9And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Again we see that the process of suffering was involved. Now some through history have gone off the deep end with this thinking that by whipping themselves or some such thing gained them favor with God.
The suffering God is speaking of is the denial of our own will when in opposition to the will of God. We suffer when we deny our own desires and instead serve the will of God. Even if those desires are benign in nature if they sidetrack us from God desires they need be set aside.
but is this really what God wants for us?
Matthew 5:48?"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Peter 5:10?After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
How do we learn God's wisdom? How can we keep all of His commandments? Won't we become like the Pharasees in legalism trying to fullfill the law?
Here is where understanding the Hebrew concepts helps again.
Three Hebrew words to understand. From the ancient Hebrew we see clear word pictures of key words.
Commandment = Directions toward Zion
Keep = To respect and protect
Break = to trample underfoot
So from this we see that Keeping the commandments is not a matter of legalism but a respect for them as we learn to overcome.
Do we give honor and respect to the directions God has given to us? Do we respect His plan or do we go our own way?
For further understanding it is important to understand the law itself.
"The Hebrew word "Torah" is usually translated into the English word "Law". Because of this translation there is a great misunderstanding of what "Torah" truly is. "TORAH IS NOT LAW". When we use the word "law" we assume a certain meaning and concept of the word that is not present in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Let us start by looking at the Etymology of the Hebrew word Torah so that we may better understand its true definition. The word Torah comes from the Hebrew root word "Yarah", a verb which means "to flow or throw something". This can be a flowing of an arrow from an archers bow, or the flowing of a finger to point out a direction. Nouns are derived from the verb by making one or two changes to the verb root. In this case the Y (yud) is replaced by an O (vav) and an M (mem) is added at the front of the word to form the noun "Moreh". A Moreh is "one who does the flowing". This can be an archer who flows an arrow, or a teacher who flows his finger to point out way the student is to go in the walk of life. Another noun is formed the same way except that a T (tav) is placed at the front of the word instead of an M and we have the word "Torah". Torah is "what is flowed by the Moreh". This can be the arrow from the archer or the teachings and instructions from the teacher.
A hebraic definition of Torah is "a set of Instructions, from a father to his children, violation of these instructions are disciplined in order to foster obedience and train his children". Notice how the word "Torah" is translated in the New International Version translation in the following passages.
"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching [Torah]." (Proverbs 1:8)
"My son, do not forget my teaching [Torah], but keep my commands in your heart". (Proverbs 3:1)
The purpose of a parents Torah is to teach and bring the children to maturity. If the Torah is violated out of disrespect or defiant disobedience, the child is punished. If the child desires to follow the instructions out of a loving obedience but falls short of the expectations, the child is commended for the effort and counseled on how to perform the instructions better the next time. Unlike Torah, law is a set of rules from a government and binding on a community. Violation of the rules require punishment. With this type of law, there is no room for teaching, either the law was broken with the penalty of punishment or it was not broken.
"Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your Torah" "
The preceding is an excerpt from "The Ancient Hebrew Research Center"
So the question becomes are you a Son/Daughter or a Slave?
A slave has to be ever conscious of the fact that the master of the house is all powerful and orchestrates everything by overcoming the will of the slave by his might.
A son is more conscious of the love and nurturing of a father then of his power over him.
A son is allowed to make choices that he may learn what is good and right to do.
A slave does not learn to master his own will. His will is never exercised and matured but rather is broken by the authority of the master.
A son has his will molded by the choices he makes. It is strengthened by using it so that he may stand strong in time of testing. All the time being taught by his father in which direction to point his will. His father allows him to be taught by the law of sowing and reaping. (without allowing more then he can bear)
A son is taught through confronting issues in his life. These are both normal issues and at times issues brought about by his father to force a confrontation with other circumstances then would be normally encountered by his son. This is done solely for the purpose of perfecting and maturing his son.
A slave mimics the attributes and wishes of the master out of fear. A slave is obedient out of fear of an avenging master.
A son becomes like his father from being taught by same. A son becomes like his father by learning to exercise his will guided by the wisdom taught by his father. A son becomes like his father out of love for his nature. A son obeys his father out of trust, developed by learning from the choices he has made in the past and the faithfullness of his father. ?
A slaves relationship with his master is based on fear of authority and punishment. He believes the master to be willing and able to bring punishment to any slave, at any time, for any reason, regardless of the slaves actions. A slave has no intimate relationship with the master. A slave does not become vulnerable and open to his master.
A sons relationship is based on belief that the his father will correct or reward him according to his deeds and decisions. He will learn to trust that the correction or reward is appropriate for the deed. A son has intimacy and tender times with his father. A son can trust his father to be fair and therefore he becomes open and vulnerable to him.
A slave does not learn to take responsibility for his own actions because all of his actions are dictated by the master.
A son takes responsibility because he learns from his father that according to his own actions will he receive good or bad consequences.
A slave does not seek a better destiny because his destiny is completely controlled by the master.
A son seeks a better destiny by making decisions that will please his father and result in blessing from him.
A slave remains childlike in that he only learns to obey to avoid punishment.
A son becomes a young man and learns to overcome through decision making, responsibility, and consequences for his actions. A son will eventually learn to be a father himself by learning the wisdom and depth of his own father. I John 2/13
A slave does not care if the master receives glory or not. Other then to avoid punishment a slave does not care if his decisions give honor, glory or reflect in any way on the master.
A son cares deeply about honoring his father before all men. A son works diligently to have the attributes of his father. A son is willing to recognize these qualities in himself, but always gives credit to his father that taught them to him. A son very much wants his father to be proud of the decisions he makes. A son wants his father to receive glory for the results of those good decisions he was taught to make by him.
What greater glory could come to a father (Yahweh) then to see his children show mercy, love, forgiveness, and honor. All of these l Character traits are part of Gods nature. To see His children become like Him is the fulfillment of His creation. Let us make man in our own image and after our likeness.
What would give God more glory then to see his children overcome sin in their lives and take on His character. What would give a Father more glory then to see His children become like him.
God chose to work within the perimeters of His creation and it is within and through His creation that He receives His greatest glory.
Does God react to the choices of his creation. You betcha!!! Just like any good father reacts to the choices (good and bad) of his children.
Gods entire plan of creation is for man to grow up, develop, and become like Him in character.
Character and maturity is a direct result of wisdom taught. Character is built by an action of the will developed by choices and learning wisdom to do what is right from the results of those choices.
Will we come in our Father's name/character or our own?
The word name is a very interesting on in the Hebrew thinker's mind. We of Western cultures find it difficult to think in the same terms as the Hebrews of their Eastern cultures.
In our culture names are primarily identifiers. To the Hebrew mind a name is an indicator of character traits. We would read King David as "David" a personal name or identifier and King as a Title. The Hebrews made no such distinctions. When they read King David, they see King as one who rules and David as one who is loved. so the concept in their mind would be King David = One who rules and is loved.
Even today the concept is carried on the idea of having a "Good Name" . It is not about the identity of the individual but rather about the character of the person in question.
When Jesus said He came in His Father's name, this was the concept He was portraying. He came in the character of His father. How did He get the Father's character and just as important how do we?
We can glean certain things from scripture.
Luke 2:52?And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
Obviously there was a learning process that Jesus went through. He learned wisdom from God.
Hebrew 5:8-10
8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
[wash my mouth]9And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,
Again we see that the process of suffering was involved. Now some through history have gone off the deep end with this thinking that by whipping themselves or some such thing gained them favor with God.
The suffering God is speaking of is the denial of our own will when in opposition to the will of God. We suffer when we deny our own desires and instead serve the will of God. Even if those desires are benign in nature if they sidetrack us from God desires they need be set aside.
but is this really what God wants for us?
Matthew 5:48?"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Peter 5:10?After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
How do we learn God's wisdom? How can we keep all of His commandments? Won't we become like the Pharasees in legalism trying to fullfill the law?
Here is where understanding the Hebrew concepts helps again.
Three Hebrew words to understand. From the ancient Hebrew we see clear word pictures of key words.
Commandment = Directions toward Zion
Keep = To respect and protect
Break = to trample underfoot
So from this we see that Keeping the commandments is not a matter of legalism but a respect for them as we learn to overcome.
Do we give honor and respect to the directions God has given to us? Do we respect His plan or do we go our own way?
For further understanding it is important to understand the law itself.
"The Hebrew word "Torah" is usually translated into the English word "Law". Because of this translation there is a great misunderstanding of what "Torah" truly is. "TORAH IS NOT LAW". When we use the word "law" we assume a certain meaning and concept of the word that is not present in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Let us start by looking at the Etymology of the Hebrew word Torah so that we may better understand its true definition. The word Torah comes from the Hebrew root word "Yarah", a verb which means "to flow or throw something". This can be a flowing of an arrow from an archers bow, or the flowing of a finger to point out a direction. Nouns are derived from the verb by making one or two changes to the verb root. In this case the Y (yud) is replaced by an O (vav) and an M (mem) is added at the front of the word to form the noun "Moreh". A Moreh is "one who does the flowing". This can be an archer who flows an arrow, or a teacher who flows his finger to point out way the student is to go in the walk of life. Another noun is formed the same way except that a T (tav) is placed at the front of the word instead of an M and we have the word "Torah". Torah is "what is flowed by the Moreh". This can be the arrow from the archer or the teachings and instructions from the teacher.
A hebraic definition of Torah is "a set of Instructions, from a father to his children, violation of these instructions are disciplined in order to foster obedience and train his children". Notice how the word "Torah" is translated in the New International Version translation in the following passages.
"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching [Torah]." (Proverbs 1:8)
"My son, do not forget my teaching [Torah], but keep my commands in your heart". (Proverbs 3:1)
The purpose of a parents Torah is to teach and bring the children to maturity. If the Torah is violated out of disrespect or defiant disobedience, the child is punished. If the child desires to follow the instructions out of a loving obedience but falls short of the expectations, the child is commended for the effort and counseled on how to perform the instructions better the next time. Unlike Torah, law is a set of rules from a government and binding on a community. Violation of the rules require punishment. With this type of law, there is no room for teaching, either the law was broken with the penalty of punishment or it was not broken.
"Blessed is the man you discipline, O LORD, the man you teach from your Torah" "
The preceding is an excerpt from "The Ancient Hebrew Research Center"
So the question becomes are you a Son/Daughter or a Slave?
A slave has to be ever conscious of the fact that the master of the house is all powerful and orchestrates everything by overcoming the will of the slave by his might.
A son is more conscious of the love and nurturing of a father then of his power over him.
A son is allowed to make choices that he may learn what is good and right to do.
A slave does not learn to master his own will. His will is never exercised and matured but rather is broken by the authority of the master.
A son has his will molded by the choices he makes. It is strengthened by using it so that he may stand strong in time of testing. All the time being taught by his father in which direction to point his will. His father allows him to be taught by the law of sowing and reaping. (without allowing more then he can bear)
A son is taught through confronting issues in his life. These are both normal issues and at times issues brought about by his father to force a confrontation with other circumstances then would be normally encountered by his son. This is done solely for the purpose of perfecting and maturing his son.
A slave mimics the attributes and wishes of the master out of fear. A slave is obedient out of fear of an avenging master.
A son becomes like his father from being taught by same. A son becomes like his father by learning to exercise his will guided by the wisdom taught by his father. A son becomes like his father out of love for his nature. A son obeys his father out of trust, developed by learning from the choices he has made in the past and the faithfullness of his father. ?
A slaves relationship with his master is based on fear of authority and punishment. He believes the master to be willing and able to bring punishment to any slave, at any time, for any reason, regardless of the slaves actions. A slave has no intimate relationship with the master. A slave does not become vulnerable and open to his master.
A sons relationship is based on belief that the his father will correct or reward him according to his deeds and decisions. He will learn to trust that the correction or reward is appropriate for the deed. A son has intimacy and tender times with his father. A son can trust his father to be fair and therefore he becomes open and vulnerable to him.
A slave does not learn to take responsibility for his own actions because all of his actions are dictated by the master.
A son takes responsibility because he learns from his father that according to his own actions will he receive good or bad consequences.
A slave does not seek a better destiny because his destiny is completely controlled by the master.
A son seeks a better destiny by making decisions that will please his father and result in blessing from him.
A slave remains childlike in that he only learns to obey to avoid punishment.
A son becomes a young man and learns to overcome through decision making, responsibility, and consequences for his actions. A son will eventually learn to be a father himself by learning the wisdom and depth of his own father. I John 2/13
A slave does not care if the master receives glory or not. Other then to avoid punishment a slave does not care if his decisions give honor, glory or reflect in any way on the master.
A son cares deeply about honoring his father before all men. A son works diligently to have the attributes of his father. A son is willing to recognize these qualities in himself, but always gives credit to his father that taught them to him. A son very much wants his father to be proud of the decisions he makes. A son wants his father to receive glory for the results of those good decisions he was taught to make by him.
What greater glory could come to a father (Yahweh) then to see his children show mercy, love, forgiveness, and honor. All of these l Character traits are part of Gods nature. To see His children become like Him is the fulfillment of His creation. Let us make man in our own image and after our likeness.
What would give God more glory then to see his children overcome sin in their lives and take on His character. What would give a Father more glory then to see His children become like him.
God chose to work within the perimeters of His creation and it is within and through His creation that He receives His greatest glory.
Does God react to the choices of his creation. You betcha!!! Just like any good father reacts to the choices (good and bad) of his children.
Gods entire plan of creation is for man to grow up, develop, and become like Him in character.
Character and maturity is a direct result of wisdom taught. Character is built by an action of the will developed by choices and learning wisdom to do what is right from the results of those choices.
Will we come in our Father's name/character or our own?
