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Parasha
Yitro
Exodus
18:1-20:23
Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-8
Matthew 5:8-20
The Torah Portion at a Glance
Moses' father-in-law, Jethro or "Yitro" in Hebrew, hears of
the great miracles which YHWH performed for the people of Israel. Yitro
comes from Midian to the Israelite camp, bringing with him Moses' wife
and two sons. Yitro advises Moses to appoint a hierarchy of magistrates
and judges to assist him in the task of governing and administrating justice
to the people.
The Children of Israel camp opposite Mount Sinai, where they are told that YHWH has chosen them to be His "kingdom of priests" and "holy nation." The people respond by proclaiming, "All that YHWH has spoken, we shall do."
On the sixth day of the third month (Sivan), seven weeks after the Exodus, the entire nation of Israel assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai. YHWH descends on the mountain amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of the shofar, and summons Moses to ascend.
YHWH proclaims the Ten Commandments, commanding the people of Israel to believe in YHWH, not to worship idols or take YHWH's name in vain, to keep the Shabbat, honor their parents, and not to murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness or covet another's property. The people cry out to Moses that the revelation is too intense for them to bear, begging him to receive the Torah from YHWH and convey it to them.
(adapted from chabad.org)
The
Messiah in the Torah Portion
The expression "third day" is found all throughout the Bible
as a special code of significance. Some of the most important events in
the history of Israel occurred on the third day. For example, we can read
in the Torah portion, Yitro, that after three days of preparation the
Law/Torah was given to Moses. This pattern is a spiritual truth that is
repeated throughout the Scriptures. For example, the Torah was given after
three days of preparation and Y'shua rose from the dead on the third day
after his death. The Messiah said, “For as Jonah was three days
and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be
three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, Matthew 12:40.
The giving of Torah on the third day is a prophetic picture of the resurrection
of Y'shua on the third day.
Here are some more instances of the third day to consider:
• “The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants
of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit.” (Genesis
1:12)
• “Abraham looked up and saw the place [Mount Moriah] from
afar.” There he intends to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering
to YHWH. Yet he assures his companions, “We will worship and return.”
(Genesis 22:4-5)
• Pharaoh releases his chief cupbearer from death-row. (Genesis
40:20-21)
• Joseph releases his brothers from prison in Egypt. (Genesis 42:17-18)
• The Israelites request Pharaoh’s permission to make a three-day
journey to offer sacrifice in the desert to YHWH. (Exodus 3:18)
• Plague Nine, the Plague of Darkness, in Egypt ends, “though
the Israelites enjoyed light in their dwellings.” (Exodus 10:22)
• YHWH descends to Mount Sinai in fire with the sound of a shofar.
He then reveals The Ten Words, Israel’s constitution of new life
as a nation after their resurrection from the death of slavery in Egypt.
(Exodus 19:16-19)
• Israelites are to purify themselves with water after being in
contact with the dead. (Numbers 19:12)
• After coming to the river and preparing themselves, the Israelites
cross the Jordan “to enter and possess the land that YHWH [their]
YHWH is giving to [them] as a possession.” (Joshua 1:11; 3:2)
• Joshua’s spies emerge from hiding from the Jerichoites,
then return to their commander. (Joshua 2:16, 22)
• A famine during David’s reign ends. (2 Samuel 21:1).
• A famine called for by Elijah the prophet ends. (1 Kings 18:1)
• After asking YHWH for release, King Hezekiah is healed of his
fatal disease and offers thanks in the temple. (2 Kings 20:5)
• Jonah is expelled from the fish belly. (Jonah 1:17/2:1 Heb) (Matt
12:40; cf Matt 16:21; 17:23)
• After fasting, Esther puts on royal apparel and enters the palace
of the Persian king in order to thwart a death-plot against her people,
the Jews. (Esther 4:16; 5:1)
Within the pages of an open Bible lay many references to the third day. Each of these verses and occurrences can be tied directly to the Messiah Y’shua. Truly, a study of the Torah is a study of Y’shua!
Applying
the Portion to Life Today
Moses is considered by many to be a great man. Some have called him a
prophet. The Bible says he was the “most humble in the entire earth.”
Did you know that Moses was also an evangelist? Part of Moses’ ministry
(and ours) was to tell others of the wonders of YHWH. He described YHWH’s
power to Pharaoh and spoke of His wonders to the people of Israel. Moses
also shared with his father-in-law about how YHWH led the people of Israel
out of bondage. There is much we can learn about evangelism and sharing
our faith from this week’s Torah portion and the prophet Moshe.
Psalm 19:7 explains
that the Torah of YHWH has the power to convert souls from darkness to
light. This means that through properly using the Torah we can witness
to the lost and show them the true plan of salvation. The Torah converts
us FIRST at salvation. THEN it converts and sanctifies us as we walk with
YHWH! The Torah transforms us! As we follow Torah we move from an existence
based on momentary happiness to a life of meaning and purpose. It corrects
our soul and converts our fleshly natures to holy desires. Psalm 19:7,
“The Torah of YHWH is perfect, converting the soul.” In this
verse the word for “converting” is the Hebrew phrase “shuv”
which means to “turn, return, refresh, restore, and reverse.”
When YHWH revealed the Ten Commandments He was in essence establishing
the basic requirements of mankind that can either redeem a person or condemn
them as guilty before YHWH. The Torah was given to set the standard for
righteous living. “I had not known sin but by the law,” Romans
7:7. The Torah itself is not sinful but acts as an agent to reveal a person's
sin. A person sins when they disobey the words of the Bible. “Sin
is transgression of the law / Torah,” 1 John 3:4. The Torah shows
us our sin and our need for a Savior. As a mirror, the Torah stops sinners
from rationalizing their goodness. There is none righteous no not one!
Romans 3:19, “Now we know that whatsoever things the Torah says,
it says to them who are under the Torah that every mouth may be stopped
and all the world may become guilty before YHWH.”
The Ten Commandments, given in our weekly Torah portion, are known by
children worldwide and people of various faiths. These commands are a
type of mirror that each person should see their reflection within. The
mirror is broken when a person violates just one precept. “Wherefore
the Torah was our schoolmaster to bring us to Y’shua that we might
be justified by faith,” Galatians 3:24 KJV. The Bible says that
the wages of sin is death. When a person violates just one of these commands
he is then guilty of breaking them all. By reminding people of the 10
Commandment we can help them come face to face with their sinful ways.
Too many times, the Gospel is presented simply as "Jesus loves you
and has a wonderful plan for your life." This is not the Good News
according to the Bible. The Scriptures state that "godly sorrow worketh
repentance" in 2 Corinthians 7:10. What this means is that for a
person to experience the conversion of their soul then they must first
show sorrow for their sins. When you begin to use the Torah for its rightful
purpose, as a mirror that reflects obedience or disobedience, then people
can have true conversion in their faith. How should you do this? Well,
if you can remember the word TORAH then you can share the plan of salvation
with others.
The "T" in Torah stands for "Times are hard." When you are talking with someone, simply talk about the bad economy, wars, natural disasters, or whatever. People love to talk about bad times and current events. The pain that the world experiences help soften the lost to the Gospel message.
The "O"
in Torah stands for "On a scale of one to ten, do you consider yourself
to be a good person?" Ask this question! This is a simple way to
shift any conversation to spiritual subjects. Most people will rate themselves
a 4 or 5 as they don't think they are too sinful or too holy. Your question
at this point starts their mind on the journey to repentance.
The "R" in Torah stands for "Remember the Ten Commandments?"
The Ten Commandments are well known by most people and establish an easily
recognizable map of righteousness. Ask them if they have kept the Ten
Commandments perfectly. Then remind your friend that violation of one
command makes them guilty of breaking them all. Showing a person the mirror
of the Torah allows the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and wrong doing.
Say something like,
“Remember the 10 Commandments? This is the Almighty’s standard
for goodness. Have you kept them all perfectly? Probably not. This means
you are guilty of sin before the Almighty.” At this point in the
conversation you can begin using the Torah to show a person their sinfulness.
Most people are familiar with a few of the 10 Commandments. By bringing
these commandments to “light” the person’s sinfulness
is exposed and their conscience is pricked. “The commandment is
a lamp and the law is light,” Proverbs 6:23. The Torah burns in
their soul as man’s inadequacy is magnified. Remember, the standard
of Torah acts as a mirror for people to compare themselves to.
Ask that person, “Have you ever stolen something, even something
small? What does that make you? A THIEF!” Then remind them that
the Bible says that having hatred in your heart is equal to committing
murder. “Whoever is angry with his neighbor without a cause shall
be in danger of the judgment,” Matthew 5:22. The Scriptures also
state that “no thief will inherit the kingdom of Heaven,”
1 Corinthians 6:10. And, the Savior said that whoever looks upon a woman
with lust in His heart has already committed adultery. Ask the person,
“Have you ever done these thing? If so, what does that make you?
An adulterer, liar, or thief.”
The "A" in Torah stands for "Are you concerned about this?"
and “Are you going to heaven when you die?” Remind the person
that “by your own admission you are a lying, stealing, adulterer
at heart and will face the Almighty on judgment day. As you face judgment
day, will you be guilty or innocent?”
The Torah will provoke the conscience of the person “which show
the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing
witness” Romans 2:15. Ask them, “Are you keeping the commandments
of Torah?”
The “H”
in Torah stands for “Have you heard of the name of YHWH Y’SHUA?”
This is the name of salvation. Explain that “Anyone who calls upon
the name of YHWH shall be saved,” Acts 2:21. “For YHWH so
loved the world, that He gave His only brought forth Son, that whoever
believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John
3:16. YHWH Y’SHUA is the name of salvation! At the burning bush,
the Almighty said, “I AM that which I AM YHWH, YHWH is my name forever,
and this is my memorial unto all generations.” YHWH is found hidden
behind the capitalized terms “LORD” or “YHWH”
in most English Bibles. However, YHWH's name was not intended to be hidden
by translators. YHWH Himself gave us His name a sign of His existence
and as a means of personal relationship.
Say, “By repenting of your sins and calling upon the name of YHWH
Y’SHUA, you can receive the gift of eternal life. “YHWH showed
His great love for us in this manner – while we were still sinners
Y’shua died for us,” Romans 5:8.”
By following this simple outline of TORAH you can effectively share the Good News with your friends and family. Take this knowledge and pray for an opportunity to explain the faith. Then, as you meet someone this week simply explain TORAH to them and allow them to make a decision. As you do this, you will find the immense power of the blood of Y’shua and our Torah portion. Plus, you will be acting just like Moshe who evangelized his father-in-law through the wonders of YHWH’s Torah.
Portion
Points to Ponder
1. The Hebrew name for this portion is “Yitro.” What does
this mean?
2. Read Jeremiah Isaiah 6:1-7:6, 9:5-8. How does this relate to the story
of Exodus this week?
3. Consider the words found in Matthew 5:8-20. What did you learn from
studying this passage?
4. How does this Torah portion speak of the Messiah Y’shua?
5. Describe two ways that you can apply this week’s Torah portion
to your life.
6. Who did Yitro worship?
7. Why was Tzipora with her father, Yitro, and not with Moshe when
8. Bnei Yisrael left Egypt?
9. Why did Moshe tell Yitro all that YHWH had done for the Jewish People?
Why is it important to tell others of what YHWH has done for you?
10. Who were the Midians? Were they friends of Israel?
11. What were the names of Moses’ two children?
12. Explain the Hebraic custom of greeting someone with a kiss and even
a bow. Who in the Torah used this type of greeting? Compare this to Romans
16:16. Should believers do this today?
13. In Exodus 18:10, Yitro says a blessing to YHWH. Is Yitro confessing
faith in YHWH for the first time?
14. Explain how often times wisdom and counsel from others helps accomplish
the will of YHWH.
15. The requirements of Israel’s leadership are listed in Exodus
18:21&22. What type of judgment were these people to pass? What were
attributes each judge was to have?
16. Did Moses establish a spiritual hierarchy with the levels of judges?
What religions today have a hierarchy today that must be used to access
the Almighty?
17. What was so special about Jethro's advice to Moses that earned it
a place of merit in the Torah - and indeed why does the Torah give him
great credit for his suggestion: 'Moses listened to his father-in-law
and did all he said' (18:24)?
18. Why did Yitro return to his own land?
19. On what month did the Israelites enter the Wilderness of Sinai? Why
is this important? What commanded holy day of Leviticus 23 occurs each
year during the third month?
20. How do the Scriptures describe the beginning of a month? How did Israel
know it was the first of the third month?
21. In Exodus 19:4, YHWH tells Moses that He brought the people to Him
"on the wings of eagles." How is this similar to the expression
used in Revelation 12:14, where Israel is protected by YHWH from her enemies?
22. In Exodus 19:5-6 a special blessing is spoken over the nation of Israel.
That very same passage is quoted in the Newer Testament in 1 Peter 2:9-10.
How could the exact words be used to describe the nation of Israel in
the Older Testament AND the body of believers in the Newer Testament IF
these are two separate groups? Or are these groups the same?
23. Why did YHWH choose Israel to be His covenant people?
24. Did Israel agree to obey all of the Torah before they heard the commands?
Did this work for them?
25. Why were the people told to wash their clothes and remain pure for
three days? In what ways was this similar to a type or baptism or mikvah?
26. The people who approached the mountain before the appointed time were
to be killed. How is this similar to unauthorized people who came into
YHWH’s sanctuary in the book of Numbers?
27. Why would “going near a woman” make someone unclean? Reference
Exodus 19:15, Leviticus 15:19-24 and Leviticus 20:18.
28. What signs appeared at the mountain of YHWH when the Torah was given
through Moses?
29. In Exodus 19:18 the Torah says that the “smoke billowed up from
it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently.”
What does it tell us that the smoke ascended up from the mountains to
the heavens and not from the heavens down?
30. YHWH continued to give instructions to the people regarding the mountain
as holy. He did this several times in our Torah portion to keep people
from dying. Is YHWH merciful?
31. Why did YHWH give access to the mountain in stages – first the
people at the bottom, then the elders and leaders at the middle, and then
Moses at the top? How is this similar to the construction of the Temple
and Tabernacle’s three parts?
32. Describe how the Ten Commandments have affected all major religions
and cultures of the world?
33. Are the Ten Commandments still valid for today?
34. How does Christianity list the Ten Commandments? How does Judaism
list the Ten Commandments? Explain why and how these two lists differ.
35. Did everyone alive in the world hear the Ten Commandments or only
Moses and Israel?
36. In Judaism, the Ten Commandments are often referred to as the “Ten
Words.” How were the Ten Words divided into two groups of instructions?
37. Compare the giving of the Ten Words in Exodus 20 to Deuteronomy 5:6-17.
What is different?
38. What is the first of the Ten Commandments?
39. Is the command “do not murder” or “do not kill?”
When would killing be allowed?
40. How is it derived that "do not steal" refers to kidnapping?
41. How do you keep the command to “honor the Sabbath day by setting
it apart?” Do you work on the Sabbath? How do you define “work?”
Why would YHWH care what day we worship? Can any day be the Sabbath?
42. The commandment regarding the Sabbath is expressed here as "remember"
the Sabbath. Later, in Deuteronomy 5:12, the command is to "observe"
the Sabbath. What is the difference? Are these two separate commands?
43. How does Matthew 5:22 explain that murder occurs simply through anger?
44. What does 1 Corinthians 6:10 say will happen to all thieves?
45. In Matthew 5:28 Y’shua said that whoever simply looks upon a
woman with lust has already committed adultery. How does this and other
passages reflect that the 10 Commandments are more than just outward actions?
46. Why do the Ten Commandments so strongly emphasize the nature of the
actual relationship between Man and YHWH and between Man and Man, but
have relatively little focus on ritual observance?
47. Does the order of the Ten Commandments have any significance?
48. How are each of the Ten Commandments discussed or commented on in
the Brit Chadasha?
49. How did the people respond to the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20:15-18?
50. Do you think it is valid to look at this passage as a wedding between
YHWH and Israel? Why or why not?
51. How does YHWH test His people with His presence Exodus 20:17?
52. What were the Israelites to make for YHWH in accordance to His commands
for worship? Could they build this item just any way they wanted or was
it to be specifically constructed?
53. Exodus 20:24 seems to permit numerous places of sacrifice. Is such
allowed?
54. Could the prohibition to cut the stones used for the altar be to preclude
the temptation to carve images into them?
55. Why does the use of iron tools profane the altar?
56. Why would YHWH care about stopping the nakedness of His priests as
seen in Exodus 20:26 if YHWH would later command the priests to wear undergarments?
57. What did you learn from this Open Bible study?
The Open Bible is a teaching series written by Daniel Rendelman of Emet Ministries. Find more teachings, audio messages, videos, and music at www.emetministries.com.
Daniel Rendelman is the founder and leader of Emet Ministries and the author of the book “Finding the Truth.” He, his wife, and five children live in Newberry, South Carolina. He can be reached at emetministries@gmail.com.
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