Yeshua and Judaism, Part IX: Yeshua, the Light & the Heavy

Yeshua & Judaism: Part IX – Yeshua, Light & The Heavy

Recap: Yeshua & Derash

• The acronym PaRDeS – What are the first three words, and what do they mean?
• When Yeshua cites a passage in the Tanakh (OT), as Talmidim (Disciples) what should we do?
• T/F – Derash comes from the meaning “to interpret”.
• T/F – Derash – a method of exposition that reveals context, meaning and application.
• Are there Derashim about the suffering Messiah? Where do we find them?

Sod: A note about the “Sod” in the PaRDeS method.

Opening Passage: Matthew 6:26, 30

I – Qal Va’Chomer

We know that Yeshua taught Torah to His Disciples. He kept Shabbat. He observed the feasts. He went to synagogue. We are now uncovering how Yeshua taught using Rabbinic teaching styles. One method of Derash used by Yeshua was Qal V’Chomer.

Hebrew: קַל וָחוֹמֶר. Literal translation: “The and The .”

• An argument from to .
  • IOW: If something is true in a small situation, it should be true in a greater situation. Examples: Matt. 7:9-11; 10:25. Luke 13:15-16. John 7:21-23.
  • This can, at times be inverted.
• Key phrase to identify this method is the term “ .”

Two Camps: The Fight to preserve Yeshua’s Jewishness. Scholars fall into two categories:

• Generalist View: In Greek/Latin: a fortiori means “even more so” – A form of Greek Rhetoric. Yeshua is teaching from Greek Logic (…to a bunch of Jewish disciples.)
• Methodological View: This is known by Scholars as one of the of . The Seven Rules of Interpretation that Hillel taught which is eventually recorded in the Mishnah.
• Critics argue that the Middot weren’t written down until much later.
• Proponents point out that the specific linguistic phrasing (Markers) is used extensively by New Testament authors, especially Yeshua and Paul.
• Both Yeshua and Paul had access to the Temple, and to the School of Hillel.

The Pattern:

• Case: A lesser person, object, obligation, or benefit has a certain quality.
• Case: A greater person object, obligation, or benefit is under consideration.
• : Therefore, the same principle applies with even greater force in the greater case.

Matt. 6:26. Lesser Case: God cares for the .

Greater Case: are more valuable than birds.

Conclusion: Therefore, God will certainly for Human beings.

This logic is frequently used to establish the certainty of a spiritual truth by anchoring it to a known or earthly . If “X” is true on earth, then “Y” must be true in a Divine or Eternal context. God uses the to teach the . Example: Hos. 6:3.

Earthly Reality: (Lesser Case) The Sun ; the rains and water the Earth.

Greater Case: The Lord is more faithful that the rising sun or the late rains.

Divine Reality: (Conclusion) The Lord Will certainly .

KEY: Why is this so important? In the New Testament qal vachomer is vital because it connects Yeshua and The Apostles conclusions to Jewish interpretive reasoning rooted in The Torah. This is rooted in the cultural and linguistic environment of the 1^st Century.

KEY 2: This reasoning was central to Pharisaic debate. What does it tell us if Paul and Yeshua use it so frequently?

II – Paul & Qal.

The Apostolic Writings (NT) are filled with this same Rabbinic method of thinking.

Romans 5:9-10. If people are reconciled through Messiah’s death, HOW MUCH MORE will they be saved through His life?

Romans 5:15, 17. Death came through one trespass (Adam’s Sin) How much more will and come through Yeshua the Messiah.

Romans 11:12. If Israel’s trespass brought richness to the Nations (Gentiles) how much more will Israel’s fulness (her Salvation) bring to the world?

Hebrews 9:13-14. If (Lesser) had ceremonial effect (the cleansing of the flesh) then how much more will (Greater) cleanse the conscience?