First Day of the Week

The church says that the Jews have Saturday Sabbath and the Christians have Sunday.  Do we really think that our Father in Heaven would make different laws for His people?  I don't think so, in fact I know He didn't.  That is like saying he made the sky for one group of people and the grass for a different group of people.  He made all of creation for all of His people.  One Torah for all,  and one standard to live by.  The Brit Hadasha doesn't say one way for Jew and another way for the Greek, no it says "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of Elohim unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" Romans 1:16.  If only people really studied the Word.

"The First day of the Week" in the bible has been misunderstood and the day Christians are to worship and about the sabbath.  When I looked at the part of the sentence First day of the week in Greek I was taken aback by what it meant in. But we have to go back to the history of the Israelites and what they were commanded to do, to get an understanding of this. It will make more sense further down. 

Now First day of the Week is mentioned eight times in the Brit Hadasha.  On these scriptures the church has based their reason for gathering on Sunday. 

Mathew 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

Mar 16:2 And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

Mar 16:9 And having risen early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Miryam from Maḡdala, from whom He had cast out seven demons.
Luk 24:1 And on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared,
Joh 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Act 20:7 And on the first day of the week,the taught ones having gathered together to break bread, Sha’ul, intending to depart the next day, was reasoning with them and was extending the word till midnight.

1Co 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you set aside, storing up whatever he is prospered, so that there are no collections when I come.
When a word is italicized  it was not originally there and was placed to give a better understanding, but honestly should be left out.  So the verse should say first of the week.  So let's look at the word Week in the Greek for each verse.  Mathew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1; John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2:
 G4521 σάββατον sabbaton sab'-bat-on  Of Hebrew origin [H7676]; the Sabbath (that is, Shabbath), or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension a se'nnight, that is, the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: - sabbath (day), week.


Sabbaton, of Hebrew origin from the Sabbath. It is the interval between two Sabbaths.  Sabbath, what two Sabbaths? Hold on. The verse is really saying the First of the Sabbaths.  What Sabbaths?  Okay, here is where we need the history.  In the Old Testament, there are Feasts that Yahweh gave to His people.  They are called His Feasts.  After Passover, the first sabbath after Passover is Firstfruits and then the counting of the Sabbaths to Pentecost.  Pentecost is fifty days from the Sabbath after Firstfruits.

They had to count seven sabbaths to Pentecost.  

  Lev. 23:15,16 And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:  Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.

These Sabbaths became known as First Sabbath, Second Sabbath just like in:

Luke 6:1 As it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields;
 

On the second sabbath after the first in the Greek is defined as:
G1207 δευτερόπρωτος deuteroprōto sdyoo-ter-op'-ro-tos From G1208 and G4413; second first, that is, (specifically) a designation of the Sabbath immediately after the Paschal week (being the second after Passover day, and the first of the seven Sabbaths intervening before Pentecost): - second . . . after the first.

So, what does this prove you ask? Well, the belief that everyone holds that Sunday is the day that they were gathering because that is when the New Testament Christians are now supposed to gather.  It proves that they were gathering not because of a new thing but because it was what they were taught out of keeping His Feasts, from Passover to Pentecost.  This is why we can't just read the bible.  We have to study it and look up every word whether Greek or Hebrew.  We don't want to be the blind being led by the blind. I don't want to fall and then live in a ditch.   Let's prove ourselves worthy.  The way it is translated into English just proves the saying "lost in translation" and proves Sunday has nothing to do with anything. 

The Word by which the Gospel is Preached

Again, I am on my treadmill.  I am listening to the audio bible on my IPod. 1 Peter, chaper 1 and on verse 24 through verse 25 the voice says, "For all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as the flower of grass.  The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  But the word of the Elohim endureth for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."  Now, this is my "aha" moment.  Christians say they are New Testament Christians and that the gospel is not the same as the Old Testament, that Yeshua taught something new.  I know differently, but having the scripture that ties the two together when I am talking to someone helps.  Verse 24,25 is quoted from Isaiah 40:6-8 "The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the YHWH bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our Elohim shall stand for ever."  The Word in the Old Testament is the Torah, His will and it stands for ever and this scripture is being quoted in the New that endures for ever and is the word which by the gospel is preached unto us, and the other scripture that is referenced Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."  This is no crossing the t or dotting the i.  This is hebrew writing.  And Mathew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."  Heaven and earth are still here and He hasn't returned yet.  Wow,  thank you Father in Heaven.  This is an answer to prayer.  It is something I have known but when you find the Word that interprets the Word. I can almost hear Angels sing. Okay, just kidding.  Psalms 119:89 "For ever, O Yahweh, thy word is settled in heaven."  

Inhabits the Praises of Who?

While on the treadmill this morning I was listening to a promo for a conference.  I am not sure if it is coming or has gone but I was desperate for something in my ear when the gentleman brings up what we have all the heard the preacher say "God inhabits the praises of His people."  But where is that found?

Psalm 22:3 "But thou art Holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."

Did you see that? Inhabits the praises of who?  Israel. There is no scripture in the bible that says He inhabits the praises of His people. It doesn't say just any people, but Israel.  An Israel that kept commandments, statutes, etc.  A cultivated olive tree.  We need to let that sink in and marinate for a little bit.  What was Israel doing that He inhabited their praises?  It should make us want to dig deeper into the Word, truly searching it as treasure. 



Written by:  Jana D. Pindell

The First Divorce

When Adam and Eve (Havah) sinned, Yahweh "sent him forth from the Garden of Eden" in Genesis 3:23. Then in verse 24 it says" He drove out the man". Interesting. So he sent them out twice? Huh? Maybe they were holding onto a tree and wouldn't let go?  So, He had to say it twice.  No.  When He sent him forth, he was casting them out of the Garden.  They had to leave but when you look up the word drove in Hebrew it says to divorce as with a woman.  When Adam sinned and broke the Eden covenant he was given a divorce.  He no longer had the relationship with Yahweh that he had in the Garden.  "They heard the voice of Adonai, Elohim, walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze,"  Gen. 3:8.  For there to be a divorce there had to be a covenant with commandments, statutes, etc.  Christians will argue there was no Law given until Sinai.  No, it just wasn't written down until then.  You know, tell a child several times to do a chore then write it down, in stone.  Maybe then we will get that He meant it.

If there was no Torah given before Mt. Sinai then why:

Adam and Eve chose to listen to satan, god of this world and sinned. "You shall have no other gods before me"   Which was in violation of the first commandment. 

Jacob was told to get rid of the idols that they had with them.  Gen. 35:2-4 "Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, Put away the strange gods that [are] among you, and be clean, and change your garments:"  Violation of the second commandment.

If what Ham did wasn't sin why did Noah curse Canaan?  Gen.9:24-25 "And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren."

And if Cain killing Abel wasn't sin, why is he cursed? Gen. 4:10-11 "And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now [art] thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;" Violation of sixth commandment.

What about Joseph telling Potiphar's wife he would not sleep with her and do wickedness and sin against Yahweh?  Gen. 39:8-9 "But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Be There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Violation of seventh commandment.

Gen 26:5 "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."  Abraham was considered a friend of Elohim.

Gen. 38:6-8 Y'hudah took a wife for 'Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.  But 'Er, Y'hudah's firstborn, was evil from ADONAI's perspective, so ADONAI killed him.  Y'hudah said to Onan, "Go and sleep with your brother's wife - perform the duty of a husband's brother to her, and preserve your brother's line of descent."   This is from Deut. 25:5.  "If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her."

There are many more scriptures that show that Torah was given before it was written down. We have to understand that Torah will all its commandments, statutes, judgements, etc. were given to not just to the Jews, but to the Israelites, His people.  So if we are grafted into the Commonwealth of Israel and the root bears us, we partake of the root not the other way around.  The Jews who have always kept His Torah will not have anything to do with christianity because it is not of Yahweh.  It is not the Jews who have to come over to chrisitainity but, us who have Yeshua need to repent and keep Torah.  And then will their eyes be opened to recieve Yeshua.  

Written by:  Jana D. Pindell