Category: Hebrew Reading Lesson

Reading Hebrew exercises and practice verses

Rebirth and Spiritual Death…

John J Parsons

People tend to underestimate the radical nature of their sinful condition, which truly is a “sickness unto death.” However, even the metaphor of lethal sickness itself is not strong enough, since the spiritual condition of the natural man is the state of being spiritually dead… Apart from direct divine intervention on behalf of the individual soul, a person is literally unable to respond to God and receive the gift of eternal life. That is why Yeshua taught that we need a spiritual rebirth in order to see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). Read more “Rebirth and Spiritual Death…”

Idolatry and Rage…

John J Parsons

We are warned not to destroy ourselves by allowing bitterness, anger, or fear to consume our hearts. In our Torah this week (Eikev) we read: “And you shall not bring an abominable thing (תּוֹעֵבָה) into your house and become devoted to destruction like it” (Deut. 7:26). The sages of the Mishnah said that yielding to rage is equivalent to idol worship and should never be brought into the home. Indeed, rage is linked with avodah zarah  (עבודה זרה) – idolatry – because it exalts the ego and claims that the Lord can’t (or won’t) help you in your moment of testing or need. Read more “Idolatry and Rage…”