As the "Old" Testament prepares a collective Israel for a unified life, the "New" Testament (actually the Renewed Covenant – there is no separate covenant or set of rules for Christians and Jews, no dispensationalism, no replacement theology – Malachi 3:6, “For I am YHWH, I change not”  and Hebrews 13:8, “Y’shua haMashiach is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” ) prepares Israel for the regathering of Israel at the end of the diaspora.

 

Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of YHWH is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The Heart:  2588 kardia {kar-dee’-ah} firmness of will

1 John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

20 For if our heart condemn us, YHWH is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward Him.”

 

Mark 11: 23, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.”

Col 3:22-25, “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing YHWH:  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to YHWH, and not unto men; Knowing that of YHWH ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve Adon Messiah. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

 

The Soul:  5590 psuche {psoo-khay’} the inner being

 

Proverbs 6:

16 “These six things doth YHWH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto His Soul:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

 

Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”

Eph 6:5, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Messiah; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Messiah, doing the will of YHWH from the soul; With good will doing service, as to YHWH, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”

 

The Mind:  1271 dianoia {dee-an’-oy-ah} attitude

1 Peter 1:13-16, ”Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Y’shua haMashiach; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

A positive attitude will produce the desire to do good works from the depths of our inner being, and the performance of these good works hinge on being obedient children by knowing and understanding what the Laws are – straight out of the Books of Moses, the Torah. Then to understand what it is we must do with all this attitude and knowledge, we must have the Mind of Messiah.

 

The Mind of Messiah

1 Corinthians 2:15,  “But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. For who has known the mind of YHWH, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind [nous] of Messiah.”

 

We have the Mind of Messiah?  How can this be possible?

Note that we have two “minds”, dianoia was described earlier, but here, the Mind of Messiah is:

NOUS: understanding

Isaiah 40:13-14 helps explain “that he should instruct Him” as “who will tell Him what to do”, not merely the accumulation of knowledge, it is putting the knowledge and attitude together into a Jewish concept of "emunah" – faith:

Isaiah 40:1-13-14, ” Who hath directed the Spirit [nous] of YHWH, or being his counsellor hath taught him?  With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?”

This word appears in two “life examples” in the LXX and pertains to motivation or the direction chosen to walk.

 

Pharoah proves his hardness of heart and Egypt suffers:

Exodus 7:19, "And YHWH spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as YHWH commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

21 And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.

22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as YHWH had said.

23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart [nous] to this also."

 

 

Caleb proves his worthiness and is rewarded:

Joshua 14:7, “Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of YHWH sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart [nous].

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed YHWH my El.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed YHWH my El.

10 And now, behold, YHWH hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since YHWH spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof YHWH spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be YHWH will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as YHWH said.

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.”

 

Every chapter of Psalm 119 begins with a Hebrew letter.  While nous is not in the literal text below, it is transliterated as the essence of the letter Nun.

Psalm 119:105-6, “NUN. Thy WORD is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgment.”

 

The Word (the Torah, the Law YHWH gave to Moses) provides the Lamp for the Walk and the straight path – I will follow it.  Aah, so this “mind” is the “path” that we are to walk. When Y’shua fulfilled the Law, He followed it 100 percent.  He did not declare it null and void.

 

Let’s look at what Sha’ul says about those who refuse to walk in the path of the Word – those without the mind of Messiah.  What do they “look like”?  Rabbi Sha’ul describes them as having been given over to a reprobate mind [path – nous] by YHWH:

Romans 1:28, “And even as they did not like to retain YHWH in their knowledge [epignosis], YHWH gave them over to a reprobate mind [nous], to do those things which are not convenient;

 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetous ness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

 30 Backbiters, haters of YHWH, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

 32 Who knowing the judgment of YHWH, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

 

By showing bad examples in verses 29-32, verse 28 shows us how  “TO DO THOSE THINGS” in a positive sense.

 (nous) make, do, cause, effect, bring about, accomplish, perform, provide; create (of YHWH); produce, yield, bear, put forth; give, prepare, keep, celebrate (of feasts, etc.); claim, pretend (to be somebody); show (mercy, etc.); work, be active; live, practice, act (do good, act benevolently or kindly); spend, stay (of time); exercise  (authority); wage (war); execute (judgment); give (alms); appoint (Mk 3.14; He 3.2); consider, count (Ac 20.24); often with a noun as a verb equivalent, e.g. pray  (Lk 5.33); please, satisfy (Mk 15.15); pÅ redeem, set free (Lk 1.68).

 

How Can You Become the Bride of Y’shua?

Matthew 22:37, “Y’shua said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love YHWH thy Elohim with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind… And love your neighbor as yourself.’”

 

PRODUCE!  YIELDTO TORAH!  JUDGE WHILE SHOWING MERCY, WAGE WAR AGAINST VIOLATIONS OF TORAH, CELEBRATE THE PERMANENT FEASTS OF YHWH, TAKE ACTIVE AUTHORITY OF YOUR ROLE IN YOUR HOME AND ASSEMBLY, GIVE ALMS, PRAY, PLEASE YHWH, SATISFY Y’SHUA, ACT KINDLY TO YOUR NEIGHBOR AND BE SET FREE:

 

James 2:14-22, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?

If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.

You believe that YHWH is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren?

Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works.”

Ya’akov (James), the brother of Y’shua, is explaining the principle of “emunah” (Jewish faith) here – that faith cannot be separated from works.

 

Are you a separator or a uniter?  Do you hate YHWH’s Laws given to Moses?