Matthew 16 Spurgeon’s view

The King and his chosen sign

1. THE Pharisees also with the Sadducees come, and tempting desired him that he would shew them, a sign from, heaven The King is again met by his foes. Two sects, which were violently opposed to each other, unite their forces against him. It is the way of the wicked to become friends when seeking the overthrow of the kingdom of heaven.

On this occasion they come not with a question, but with the old demand for a sign. This time it must be “a sign from heaven,” possibly a marvel in the sky. What right had they to set him a test of such a sort as their fancy might suggest? What need for more signs when his miracles were so many? Were not all his miracles signs from heaven? Did not this demand cast a slur on all that he had already done? Was it not a practical ignoring of all his previous works of power? Too often we also have fallen into the weakness of asking a new token of divine love, thus undervaluing former favors. If the evidence we have already received of our Lord’s grace and power is not enough, when will our doubts be ended?

In this demand for a sign, our Lord’s foes were tempting him. Did the temptation lie in urging him to seek his own glory by some ostentatious display of power, for which there would be no real need? Whatever it was, our Lord passed scathless through this ordeal, for there was no pride in him. Pharisees and Sadducees will tempt us also. From their wiles and smiles may the Lord deliver us! From the desire to stand well with men may we be happily freed by our love to Jesus!

2, 3. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

They could prognosticate the weather by certain signs, and our Lord Jesus mentions the weather-tokens of Palestine, yet they could not read the plainer and more plentiful warnings of the near future. Weather-signs are doubtful, but there were moral and spiritual tokens around them which could hardly be misunderstood if they would only consider them. Each country has it’s own sky warnings, and those of Palestine differ from those of England, but the signs of the times are the same in all lands. Our Lord singled out an instance of their supposed weather-wisdom: the same sign which, in the evening, was a token of fair weather, was, in the morning, a mark of foul weather.

They were able to draw nice distinctions on the variable condition of “the face of the sky:” why could they not “discern the signs of the times?” They could have seen, if they had chosen to do so, that all the prophecies were one in declaring that the date of Messiah’s appearing had arrived, and they could also have observed that every event was fulfilling those prophecies, but they were false at heart, and would not see, and yet cried out for a sign. Signs were all around them, and yet they repeated the parrot cry

“Show us a sign.

Most justly our Lord was indignant with them, and upbraided them, using the justly severe words,

“O ye hypocrites!”

Today the men who want more evidences of the supernatural deserve a similar denunciation.

**

Lord, do not allow any of us to be blind to the heavenly signs, thy cross, thy resurrection, thy Word, thy Spirit, and thy work of grace, Teach us carefully to “discern” these things as being in very deed the abiding “signs of the times.” Even in the growing coldness of the church, and the abounding iniquity of the world, let us see the tokens of thine Advent, and stand waiting and watching for thy long promised appearing.

**

4. A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign, and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

It was not lack of evidence, but the sad depravity of their minds, which set them upon seeking after a sign, and therefore the Lord would not satisfy their unhealthy cranny. They were wicked in morals, and adulterous in heart in their forsaking the one true God, and then they turned round and justified their unbelief in the Son of God by pleading want of proof, demanding more miracles to enable them to come to a right conclusion. Such is the deceit of man’s heart.

Our Lord repeats his former answer: he will give them no other. In the compass of the Old Testament there is no fuller sign of our Lord than Jonah. Our Lord knew that he would fulfill the type of Jonah even in it’s details, and therefore he points them to that prophet’s life.

This is a subject which deserves our careful meditation, but we cannot enlarge upon it here. Our Lord looks to his death and resurrection, and gives the prophet Jonas as his sign. Jesus will be buried, and will rise on the third day, and in the power of his resurrection, will win the Gentiles to repentance: in this he will be the antitype of Jonah, and this shall be the sign that he is indeed the Christ of God. This our Lord had said before, and he here repeated it, because it was a sufficient reply, and there was no need to study variety with a set of people who, themselves, harped perpetually upon one string.

Our Lord quitted such persons, for there was nothing to be done with them. “lie left them, and departed,” and that place saw him no more.

**

Lord, do not leave any one of us, for that would be a sure sentence of death to us.

**

+

Preceding

Matthew 12:38-42 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Signs in Jonah and the Queen of the South

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

++

Additional reading

1. Science, scepticism, doubts and beliefs Can a Christian have doubts?
2. May we have doubts
3. Know by trying
4. Faith is knowing there is an ocean because you have seen a brook.
5. Doubting and going astray
6. Have faith in your faith…doubt your doubts
7. When you don’t know what to do and hate yourself
8. Let me keep to “first importance” things

+++

Related

1. This Wicked and Perverse Generation
2. Faithless and Twisted.
3. Timeline for the Lord’s Coming
4. God is speaking – are you listening?
5. Watch and Pray
6. The Meaning of End Time Signs
7. Time to Awake Church

Matthew 16 Calvin’s view

And the Pharisees came.

Mark says that they began to dispute, from which we may conjecture that, when they had been vanquished in argument, this was their last resource; as obstinate men, whenever they are reduced to extremities, to avoid being compelled to yield to the truth, are accustomed to introduce something which is foreign to the subject. Though the nature of the dispute is not expressed, yet I think it probable that they debated about the calling of Christ, why he ventured to make any innovation, and why he made such lofty pretensions, as if by his coming he had fully restored the kingdom of God. Having nothing farther to object against his doctrine, they demand that he shall give them a sign from heaven. But it is certain that a hundred signs would have no greater effect than the testimonies of Scripture. Besides, many miracles already performed had placed before their eyes the power of Christ, and had almost enabled them to touch it with their hands. Signs, by which Christ made himself familiarly known, are despised by them; and how much less will they derive advantage from a distant and obscure sign? Thus the Papists of our own day, as if the doctrine of the Gospel had not yet been proved, demand that it be ascertained by means of new miracles.

The Pharisees, together with the Sadducees. It deserves our attention that, though the Sadducees and the Pharisees looked upon each other as enemies, and not only cherished bitter hatred, but were continually engaged in hostilities, yet they enter into a mutual league against Christ. In like manner, though ungodly men quarrel among themselves, their internal broils never prevent them from conspiring against God, and entering into a compact for joining their hands in persecuting the truth.

Tempting. By this word the Evangelists mean that it was not with honest intentions, nor from a desire of instruction, but by cunning and deceit, that they demanded what they thought that Christ would refuse, or at least what they imagined was not in his power. Regarding him as utterly mean and despicable, they had no other design than to expose his weakness, and to destroy all the applause which he had hitherto obtained among the people. In this manner unbelievers are said to tempt God, when they murmur at being denied what their fancy prompted them to ask, and charge God with want of power.

*

3. Hypocrites, you can judge.

He calls them hypocrites, because they pretend to ask that which, if it were exhibited to them, they are resolved not to observe. The same reproof applies nearly to the whole world; for men direct their ingenuity, and apply their senses, to immediate advantage; and therefore there is scarcely any man who is not sufficiently well qualified in this respect, or at least who is not tolerably acquainted with the means of gaining his object. How comes it then that we feel no concern about the signs by which God invites us to himself? Is it not because every man gives himself up to willing indifference, and extinguishes the light which is offered to him? The calling of Christ, and the immediate exhibition of eternal salvation, were exhibited to the scribes both by the Law and the Prophets, and by his own doctrine, to which miracles were added.

There are many persons of the same description in the present day, who plead that on intricate subjects they have a good right to suspend their judgment, because they must wait till the matter is fully ascertained. They go farther, and believe that it is a mark of prudence purposely to avoid all inquiry into the truth; as if it were not an instance of shameful sloth that, while they are so eagerly solicitous about the objects of the flesh and of the earth, they neglect the eternal salvation of their souls, and at the same time contrive vain excuses for gross and stupid ignorance.

A very absurd inference is drawn by some ignorant persons from this passage, that we are not at liberty to predict from the aspect of the sky whether we shall have fair or stormy weather. It is rather an argument which Christ founds on the regular course of nature, that those men deserve to perish for their ingratitude, who, while they are sufficiently acute in matters of the present life, yet knowingly and willfully quench the heavenly light by their stupidity.

*

Matthew 16:4: A wicked and adulterous nation.

This passage was explained {1 } under #Mt 12:38 The general meaning is, that the Jews are never satisfied with any signs, but are continually tickled by a wicked desire to tempt God. He does not call them an adulterous nation merely because they demand some kind of sign, (for the Lord sometimes permitted his people to do this,). but because they deliberately provoke God; and therefore he threatens that, after he has risen from the dead, he will be a prophet like Jonah. So Matthew at least says  —  for Mark does not mention Jonah  —  but the meaning is the same; for, strictly speaking, this was intended to serve as a sign to them, that Christ, when he had risen from the dead, would in every place cause the voice of his Gospel to be distinctly heard.

*

Matthew 16:5. And when his disciples came. Here Christ takes occasion from the circumstance that had just occurred {1 } to exhort his disciples to beware of every abuse that makes an inroad on sincere piety. The Pharisees had come a little before; the Sadducees joined them; and apart from them stood Herod, a very wicked man, and an opponent and corrupter of sound doctrine. In the midst of these dangers it was very necessary to warn his disciples to be on their guard; for, since the human mind has a natural inclination towards vanity and errors, when we are surrounded by wicked inventions, spurious doctrines, and other plagues of the same sort, nothing is more easy than to depart from the true and simple purity of the word of God; and if we once become entangled in these things, it will never be possible for the true religion to hold an entire sway over us. But to make the matter more clear, let us examine closely the words of Christ.

Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Along with the Pharisees Matthew mentions the Sadducees. Instead of the latter, Mark speaks of Herod. Luke takes no notice of any but the Pharisees, (though it is not absolutely certain that it is the same discourse of Christ which Luke relates,) and explains the leaven to be hypocrisy. In short, he glances briefly at this sentence, as if there were no ambiguity in the words. Now the metaphor of leaven, which is here applied to false doctrine, might have been employed, at another time, to denote the hypocrisy of life and conduct, or the same words might even have been repeated a second time. But there is no absurdity in saying, that those circumstances which are more copiously detailed by the other two Evangelists, in the order in which they took place, are slightly noticed by Luke in a manner somewhat different, and out of their proper place or order, but without any real contradiction. If we choose to adopt this conjecture, hypocrisy will denote here something different from a pretended and false appearance of wisdom. It will denote the very source and occasion of empty display, which, though it holds out an imposing aspect to the eyes of men, is of no estimation in the sight of God. For, as Jeremiah (#Jer 5:3) tells us that the eyes of the Lord behold the truth, so they that believe in his word are instructed to maintain true godliness in such a manner as to cleave to righteousness with an honest and perfect heart; as in these words,

An now, O Israel, what doth the Lord require from thee, but that thou shouldst cleave to him with all thy heart, and with all thy soul? (#De 10:12).

On the other hand, the traditions of men, while they set aside spiritual worship, wear a temporary disguise, as if God could be imposed upon by such deceptions; for to whatever extent outward ceremonies may be carried, they are, in the sight of God, nothing more than childish trifles, unless so far as they assist us in the exercise of true piety.

We now perceive the reason why hypocrisy was viewed by Luke as equivalent to doctrines invented by men, and why he included under this name the leavens of men, which only puff up, and in the sight of God contain nothing solid, and which even draw aside the minds of men from the right study of piety to empty and insignificant ceremonies. But it will be better to abide by the narrative of Matthew, which is more copious. The disciples, after having been reproved by our Lord, came at length to understand that he had charged them to be on their guard against certain doctrine. It was plainly, therefore, the intention of Christ to fortify them against prevailing abuses, by which they were attacked on all sides. The Pharisees and Sadducees were expressly named, because those two sects maintained at that time a tyrannical sway in the Church, and held opinions so utterly subversive of the doctrine of the Law and the Prophets, that almost nothing remained pure and entire.

But Herod did not in any way profess to teach; and a question arises, why does Mark class him with false teachers? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and Of The Leaven Of Herod. I reply: he was half a Jew, was mean and treacherous, and availed himself of every contrivance that was within his reach to draw the people to his side; for it is customary with all apostates to contrive some mixture, for the purpose of establishing a new religion by which the former may be abolished. It was because he was laboring craftily to subvert the principles of true and ancient piety, and thus to give currency to a religion that would be exceedingly adapted to his tyranny, or rather because he was endeavoring to introduce some new form of Judaism, that our Lord most properly charged them to beware of his leaven. From the temple of God the scribes disseminated their errors, and the court of Herod was another workshop of Satan, in which errors of a different kind were manufactured.

Thus in our own day we find that not only from Popish temples, and from the dens of sophists and monks, does Antichrist vomit out her impostures, but that there is a Theology of the Court, which lends its aid to prop up the throne of Antichrist, so that no stratagem is left untried. But as Christ opposed the evils which then prevailed, and as he aroused the minds of his followers to guard against those which were the most dangerous, let us learn from his example to make a prudent inquiry what are the abuses that may now do us injury. Sooner shall water mix with fire than any man shall succeed in reconciling the inventions of the Pope with the Gospel. Whoever desires to become honestly a disciple of Christ, must be careful to keep his mind pure from those leavens; and if he has already imbibed them, he must labor to purify himself till none of their polluting effects remain. There are restless men, on the other hand, who have endeavored in various ways to corrupt sound doctrine, and, in guarding also against such impostures, believers must maintain a strict watch, that they may keep a perpetual Passover

with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, (#1Co 5:8).

And as on every hand there now rages an impiety like that of Lucian, {2 } a most pernicious leaven, or rather a worse than deadly poison, let them exercise this very needful caution, and apply to it all their senses.

———— –

+

Preceding

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 1 Charity and neighbour love

Matthew 6:1-34 – The Nazarene’s Commentary on Leviticus 19:18 Continued 3 Forgiveness and neighbour love

Matthew 13:33 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Fermented Whole

Matthew 13:36-43 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Parable of the Zizania in the Field Explained

Matthew 16 Asking for signs from heaven

++

Additional reading

1. What Jesus did: First things first
2. Autumn traditions for 2014 – 4 Blasphemy and ridiculing faith in God
3. Pretense — Is it practiced by people in their approach to God?
4. Not Really Acknowledging God
5. Serving yourself, not the Lord
6. We Must Be Real With God

+++

Related

1. A Sign From Heaven In The Toy Aisle
2. God’s True Feelings About False Religion.
3. The Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah — Is it foretold by Jesus Himself?
4. Speak Sound Doctrine
5. Dogma v Doctrine
6. Papal Vanity

Matthew 12:38-42 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Signs in Jonah and the Queen of the South

Matthew 12:38-42 – Signs in Jonah and the Queen of the South

|| Luke 11:29-32

MT12:38 Some of the scribes and Pharisees[1] responded to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign[2] from you.” MT12:39 Jesus answered them, saying, “A wicked and adulterous generation[3] keeps seeking for a sign; and, no sign will be given it other than the sign of Jonah.[4] MT12:40 For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish[5] three days and three nights, just so will the Son of Humankind be in the heart of the earth[6] three days and three nights.[7] MT12:41 Male[8] Ninevites will stand up [again][9] in the judgment[10] with this generation and will condemn it[11] – because they repented at the preaching of Jonah,[12] and, look! something more of Jonah is present![13] MT12:42 The queen of the south[14] will be raised up in the judgment with this generation[15] and will condemn it – because she came from earth’s limits[16] to hear the wisdom of[17] Solomon; and, look! something more of Solomon is present.[18]

*

[1] The scribes and Pharisees: Have some of them repented and changed their tune? Has the warning of the Nazarene made them think? They now address as “Teacher” the one they insinuated was in league with Beelzebul.

[2] We wish to see a sign: Paul writes, “Jews ask for signs.” (1 Corinthians 1:22; Luke 11:29) It is said of a certain Rabbi that when he was asked when Messiah would come, he responded, “I am afraid you will ask me for a sign.”

[3] Wicked and adulterous generation: Jesus does not compromise or water down his response. Surely the words are directed at the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus is to use the whole condemnatory phrase again at Matthew 16:4. Or, GDSP: wicked and faithless. On the derogatory adulterous compare Jeremiah 3:6-11.

Jonah mosaic in Aquileia cathedral – Mosaic of the biblical story of Jonah; in the cathedral in Aquileia, Italy. – SCALA/Art Resource, New York

[4] The sign of Jonah: This cryptic must have grabbed at the Pharisees who loved riddles. They knew the Book of Jonah well. How could this prophet be involved here?

[5] Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish: Jesus believes in the account of Jonah and the great fish which is nowhere described as a whale.

[6] Heart of the earth: Meaning Hades or the grave.

[7] Three days and three nights: A Hebraism meaning any part of three days or less. It is clear Jesus was to be raised the third day for he so states (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; Luke 24:46). Compare 1 Kings 12:12ff (Hosea 6:2; 1 Corinthians 15:4).

[8] Male: There are a number of Greek words that may be translated “man (men).” Here the Greek is ANDRES (ANDROS).

[9] Stand up [again]: The Greek is ANASTESONTAI and essentially means the same as the English “resurrected.” Related words occur in the third century BC Jewish Greek Septuagint (LXX): Job 14:12 (ANASTE), Job 42:17 (ANASTESESTHAI, ANISTESIN), Isaiah 26:19 (ANASTESONTAI), Daniel 12:13 (ANASTESE). Jesus uses forms of the word over a dozen times. Compare John 5:28, 29 where the Nazarene alludes to Isaiah 26:19 LXX.

[10] In the judgment: Or, Judgment Day. Or, NEB: when this generation is on trial; WEY: awake at the judgment. See the key words Judgment Day and resurrection. See Revelation 20:5, 12-14.

[11] Will condemn it: Or, LAM: find it guilty; KNX: will leave it without excuse.

[12] They repented at the preaching of Jonah: Read Jonah chapter 3. Tens of thousands of people responded to Jonah’s warning and as a result the city was spare, much to the disappointment of Jonah who was then taught another divine lesson.

[13] Something more of Jonah is present: Or, KJV: behold, a greater than Jonas is here; TCNT: here is more than a Jonah; WEY: and, mark! there is One greater than Jonah here. He means himself.

[14] Queen of the south: Jesus means the Queen of Sheba who journeyed to hear Solomon for herself (1 Kings 10:1-10). It was not Solomon per se but his God which motivated her, for the account reads, “the report regarding Solomon with regard to the name of Yehowah.”

[15] Raised up in the judgment with this generation: From the Nazarene here we know the Ninevites, the queen of Sheba, and that generation will be resurrected (Acts 24:15).

[16] She came from earth’s limits: She traveled 1,200 miles from northern Africa. This was one serious effort on her part and her entourage. The great trade routes to and from Jerusalem were classically great.

[17] To hear the wisdom of: The contrast between the effort of this godly lady and the Nazarene’s generation is stark. What do they have before them and instead of listening to wisdom they accuse him of demonism and ask for an evidence.

[18] Something more of Solomon is present: Solomon is said to have written 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32). He wrote Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. And, yet, this crowd as much more before them in Jesus. How Solomon will fair in the resurrection is left to the judgment of God.

+

Preceding

Matthew 12:1-8 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Something Greater than the Temple

Matthew 12:9-21 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Is It Lawful to Cure on the Sabbath?

Matthew 12:22-30 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: the Charge of Demonism

Matthew 12:31-32 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Blasphemy against the Pneuma

Matthew 12:33-37 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Judgment Day

+++

Related

1. Matthew 12丨C. H. Spurgeon
2. The Sign of Jonah: Swallowed in Death, Raised in Life (Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:38–41)
3. Matthew 12, Jesus, Lord of the Sabbath,blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the sign of Jonah, Jesus’ brothers and sisters.
4. 4-30-2018 Bible Study – Life of Messiah Study 46
5. Did Jesus Really Spend Three Days in the Heart of the Earth?
6. Bible study: what difference does the resurrection of Jesus make?
7. Looking for a Sign
8. Favorite 21 Signs of the Prophets
9. This Wicked and Perverse Generation

Seven full weeks or seven completed Sabbaths and ascension of Jesus

Leviticus / Wayyiqra 23:15, 16     

Comparing Differences in the Translations between The Scriptures, HRV, and Restoration Scriptures:

THE SCRIPTURES:   Leviticus / Wayyiqra 23:15, 16 —   “AND FROM THE MORROW AFTER THE SABBATH, FROM THE DAY THAT YOU BROUGHT THE SHEAF OF THE WAVE OFFERING, YOU SHALL COUNT FOR YOURSELVES: SEVEN COMPLETEDSABBATHS.  UNTIL THE MORROW AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH YOU COUNT FIFTY DAYS, THEN YOU SHALL BRING A NEW GRAIN OFFERING TO YHWH.”

17 Nisan the Resurrection of Jeshua, Jesus Christ – La Résurrection – between 1886 and 1894, James Tissot (1836–1902) – Brooklyn Museum

RESTORATION SCRIPTURES  BY M. KONIUCHOWSKY:  Leviticus / Wayyiqra 23:15, 16 —   “AND YOU SHALL COUNT FROM THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE SHABBAT, FROM THE DAY THAT YOU BROUGHT THE SHEAF OF THE WAVE OFFERING;  SEVEN FULLWEEKS:  UNTIL THE NEXT DAY AFTER THE LAST WEEK SHALL YOU NUMBER FIFTY DAYS, AND YOU SHALL OFFER A NEW GRAIN OFFERING TO YHWH.”

HRV BY JAMES TRIMM:  Leviticus / Wayyiqra 23:15, 16 —   “AND YOU SHALL COUNT UNTO YOU FROM THE MORROW AFTER THE DAY OF REST, FROM THE DAY THAT YOU BROUGHT THE SHEAF OF THE WAVING;  SEVEN WEEKS SHALL THERE BE COMPLETE;  EVEN UNTO THE MORROW AFTER THE SEVENTHWEEK SHALL YOU NUMBER FIFTY DAYS; AND YOU SHALL PRESENT A NEW MEAL-OFFERING UNTO YHWH.”

According to “traditional” Rabbinical understanding,

Abib 16, or the 2nd day of Matsah, is the time that the Kohen Gadol waved the sheaf/omer of grain (First-fruits offering).

When did Yahusha ascend to Abba to do this?  Not Abib 16, as Rabbinical Judaism teaches is the time of the Wave Sheaf Offering.  We see that Yahusha became our Wave Sheaf Offering, and would not allow Miryam of Migdal to touch

Him, because He had not yet performed this (Yoch. 20:17).  

Yahusha did it on the first day of the week, and it was not on Abib 16.

His resurrection represented the wave-sheaf offering.

Later that same day, He allowed His talmidim to touch Him (Yoch. 20:27).

Yahusha is the sheaf of first-fruits, and could not “wave” Himself before Yahuah until He resurrected.

His resurrection was at the end of the weekly Shabbat.  

Then on the first day of the week, the “morrow after the Sabbath”, He performed the wave-offering, Himself.

50 days later, another “morrow after the seventh Shabbat”, comes Shabuoth, often called “Pentecost” (count-fifty).  

On Abib 16, or the 2nd day of Matsah, our Kohen Gadol was in the Earth, fulfilling the sign of Yonah.
It’s incredible to see how Yahusha timed His last Passover meal, 3 days and 3 nights in the tomb, then resurrected to become the wave offering Himself on the “morrow after the Sabbath”. 
I hope that one day both Moshe K. and James Trimm will see the literal words of Lev. 23:15,16 further confirm what actually took place when the words were fulfilled by Yahusha, our first-fruits omer/sheaf offering! 

SHEBA SHABATHOTH TAMIMOTH (seven Sabbaths complete/intact) at Wayyiqra 23:15 is rendered “seven complete Sabbaths” in its literal form by many, and others follow the idea of

“seven completeweeks“.   If these “weeks” were truly intact weeks of day 1 through day 7, then

there is no difference in the outcome.  As you know,  Rabbinical Judaism’s interpretation allows for “weeks” to represent any 7-day grouping, so the day of Shabuoth can “float”, and occur on any day of the week.

With this interpretation, they have to overlook the literal words “HASHABBATH HASHABIYOTH” (seventh Sabbath) at 23:16. 

While we can make some compromises with how to bring some words over to our English, it’s a

huge stretch to make the word “HASHABBATH” to mean “week” (23:16).  Yahuah stated it two ways so that this special anniversary of Israel’s marriage to Him would have a self-checking test.   The day after the seventh Sabbath will always fall on the 1st day of the week.   I’ve always seen this as a miniature form of Jubilees, 49 (7×7) years + 1 making a total of 50 years, as Shabuoth counts up to the 50th day, after 7 intact weeks. 

This also makes the Sabbatical “years” a type of reflection of the intact week of 7 “days”.   To interpret a “week” to mean anything but “THE” week, allows for us to count-off ANY set of 7 days and call that a “week”  (i.e., the 4th day through the 3rd day  –  as in “a week from today”).  This kind of treatment of the term may be comfortable with our modern world, however it is not able to be justified by any example seen in Scripture.   A “month” is 29.5 days, and when Yahuah speaks of a month, He’s talking about the
real month, not a “group” of 29.5 days that we can slide around any way we like.  The moon defines what a month is, as the sun defines what a day is.  The week was shown to Israel with the manna for 40 years, but has no other reference point than the weekly Sabbaths.   If we allow ourselves to ignore the Sabbath as the reference point for what a “week” is, then we’ve departed from reality.   I only wish to stay with what is the SAFEST interpretation, checking ALL the words carefully.  I could not, in good conscience, ignore the situation that exists here, since how a person interprets the words will establish the High Sabbaths.

23:15: The text in the original Hebrew clearly gives us certain directions, however some translate the words in such a way that two possible interpretations can be made. Are we to believe the text means “Seven WEEKS” or “seven Sabbaths complete”? Yahuah uses the words “sheba (seven) Shabbathoth (Shabbaths) tamimoth (finished, intact)” at 23:15 (which Moshe Koniuchowsky and James Trimm take down as “seven full weeks“, but to many of us it means seven “intact” Sabbaths). These 7 Sabbaths are literally a whole “week” of fully-intact Sabbaths, and they are “complete” or “intact” because they are made up of THE seven days, and there are seven of them. The word “Shabbathoth” is written as shin-beth-tau-waw-tau (Sabbathoth, in contrast to shin-beth-ayin-waw-tau (shabuoth). If it really means “seven full weeks“, the Scripture would have used the word “shabuoth”, not “Shabbathoth” (compare Daniel 9:25). The idea of “complete” or “full” really means: thorough / closed / fully concluded, finished, intact. The Hebrew word for “complete” or “full” here is TAMIM + oth (pluralized) and means intact, perfect, without defect, entire, FINISHED, come to an end.

23:16: This can cause confusion, but the greatest difference in our interpretation is in verse 16, where it should read “up to the day after the seventh Sabbath”. “Seventh Sabbath” is the literal translation of the Hebrew words “haShabbath haShebiyoth”. “Shebiyoth” is the ordinal number “seventh”, where the root is sheba, meaning seven (which also means “perfect” or “complete”). “HaShabbath” is literally “the Sabbath“, not “week”.

I’ll say it again for emphasis: “HaShabbath” is spelled hay-shin-beth-tau, and means “the Shabbath”, not “week“.

The Hebrew word for “week” is shabua, and the plural of shabua is SHABUOTH. “Until the next day after the last week” (Moshe’s view of verse 16) to me would read:

“up to the day after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days”.

In other words, you’ll find that you’ve counted fifty days when you’ve counted up to the day AFTER the seventh Shabbath, because 7 x 7 = 49 (seven complete or “intact” weeks of Shabbathoth).

The fiftieth day will be the appointed time, or mo’ed, which falls the day after the seventh Shabbath (haShabbath haShebiyoth). So, in our interpretation it will always fall on the 1st day of the week. Not knowing what the “week” is makes it very difficult for people – Israel had this problem too.

Observing the Sabbath-closing havdalah ritual in 14th-century Spain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Yahuah’s “week” is always THE week, not any group of seven days starting at some arbitrary point. If we pull a starting-point out of our hat, we stand a chance to be out-of-synch. The “week of days” was being “remembered” by the nation of Israel after their captivity for 430 years, and the manna conditioned them to the correct pattern. This is why Yahuah used the word “tamimoth”, as this removes all doubt that He emphatically meant THE Sabbath that “concluded intact” each week of the seven days. The real key to understanding this concept largely rests on this word, “tamimoth”. It means “intact” because the week of Sabbaths is “intact”. It’s literally a whole “week” of Sabbaths, thus they are “complete”. If we don’t know what the original words are and take the translator’s at face value, we could be observing the moed’im (festival days of Yahuah) at different times, and not walk in unity.

At Daniel 9:25, the translators often correctly write “seven sevens” from the Hebrew words SHABUA SHABUIM, and these refer to seven “weeks” (sevens) of years. So, here we have a comparison to look at for distinctions in the words – but one must see the original Hebrew to make these distinctions. We must PROVE (test) all things we walk in from Scripture.

Without being unkind or judgmental of our brothers James’ and Moshe’s interpretations, we would hope they would look at this again and see if there is any way to improve it. If they are correct, then we will have to change! Rebellion is not in their heart, nor yours, nor mine. But, what I’ve learned is that when we see something differently than another brother does, and we then treat them as if they are corrupt and that we would have nothing to do with them, then we are in the worst danger of all. What if Yahuah made several things purposely to be able to be seen in two different ways, then sat back to see which individuals would be hateful and judgmental toward the other view? When Yahusha returns, He will set everything right again. We’ll know when the Sabbatical years are, and when the Jubilee year is. We’ll know whether the Rosh Chodesh is a “dark moon” or a “sliver – sighted” moon. Suppose that a person was correct about every detail, and interpreted everything flawlessly according to the intentions of Yahuah – yet they were severe, mean and unloving to others who also did their best to observe Yahuah’s Torah and held to the Testimony of Yahusha. I’m convinced that the one who loves is the one that has learned what Torah is established to accomplish. The one who cannot accept, but hates his brother because he expects perfection, may be in greatest danger of losing the race.

Compare Lev. / Wayyiqra 23:15,16 in various versions, especially our “blue” Scriptures above.

I’ll acknowledge that translators have a tremendous task to perform, andthe work by Moshe and James is certainly superb.   On some fine points, there will always be differences.   The Kohlenberger Hebrew-English Interlinear is inconsistent in how they bring many words into our English.

shin-beth-tau-waw-tau they also render as “weeks“, while other translators render it “Sabbaths“.

It is certainly the “feast of weeks”, not the “feast of Sabbaths”  — a point Moshemade to me quite well.

At Debarim 16:9, the word “shabuoth” (shin-beth-ayin-tau) is used, and these we are to count.   When Yahuah uses the term “week”, the only consistent, sane interpretation of what it consists of is provided at Genesis/Bereshith chapters 1 & 2.   At Debarim 16:10, Yahuah refers to this mo’ed as “Chag Shabuoth” (Feast of Weeks), however here we don’t have the complete details of how the feast is calculated, as we find at Wayyiqra 23.  But, a “week” needs to be understood as THE week, not any grouping of 7 days we pull out of our imagination.

The day of Shabuoth will be determined by how these words are translated and understood, as well as what day is used as the starting point.  Personally, I feel the literal translation of our blue Scriptures is the safest to follow on these two highly critical verses.  If I’m wrong, I’ll change and fall on the forgiveness of Yahusha.  If I guide one person into any error because I did not thoroughly check the original words and intentions provided in the Hebrew Scriptures, the guilt falls more heavily on me as their teacher.  We still love all the brothers and sisters whose consciences follow the alternate interpretation.

Lew White from Fossilized customs

Strawberry Islands Messianic Publishing / TORAH INSTITUTE

+++

Biblestudents Editorial Note:

On the 14th of Nisan Jesus died at the same time as the lambs were slaughtered in the temple and as such became the Lamb of God, the Peace offering for our sins. Later in the day he was put in sheol (the hell) which is the tomb or sepulchre where he stayed buried for three days. Like Jonah stayed for three days in the vowels of the whale, Jesus stayed three days in the grave until he was taken out of death by his Father. As such the resurrection was on the 17th of Nisan, according the wording of the Holy Scriptures.

+++

Related articles

• Even Resurrection Pauses For Sabbath Rest (godspace.wordpress.com)
  For the Jews Sabbath also carries with it a sense of longing and promise. It is the culmination of their week, that day on which they hoped to glimpse God’s eternal world and on this Sabbath rest 2,000 years ago they did glimpse it, though they did not know it.
  As Jesus entered Hades and released those who had died, the first signs of God’s resurrection world emerged in expectation of the fullness of God coming into the world on Easter morning.
• When Was Jesus Crucified? (verse4psalm37.wordpress.com)
  Most Gentile believers, including me, have been taught that Christ was crucified on Friday, put in the tomb before sundown, and raised from the dead before sunrise on the first day of the week (Sunday).  Here’s the problem.
  Jesus indicated that He would be in the tomb three days and three nights  Do the math.  It doesn’t add up.  The key is in the Sabbath.  The regular Sabbath is from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  But in Leviticus, you’ll find more than one Sabbath during Passover.  In fact, two”special” Sabbaths are observed in addition to the regular Sabbath.  (However, sometimes a special Sabbath falls on the regular Sabbath.)

• The Shabbat dinner – JUST TRY IT!!! Honor the Sabbath – a blessing for Christians too (prepareforthelamb.wordpress.com)
  Honoring the Sabbath is actually a blessing given to you from the Lord. You can take it or leave it. However, before you knock it down, I suggest you try it. I spent all my life believing church arguments and people’s arguments against Sabbath- until the Lord spoke clearly into my heart. Five instructions, He gave me that day. The fourth was “Honor my Sabbath”. I was shocked and argued back, but decided to search it out and find it. It was much more than I had previously thought.
• The Fourth Commandment – The Holy Sabbath (plowingthefields.wordpress.com)
  God rested when He finished creation. He asks us to rest, too. He didn’t create us to be so busy that we never take time to sit quietly before Him. He wants a relationship with us. We can only do that when we actually spend time with Him.
• The Sabbath Is A Gift From Jesus (gospelbondservant.com)
  The Sabbath is a true gift of God to humanity (Mark 2:27).  It was the first complete day that Adam and Eve spent as children of God and their first day as a married couple (Gen. 2:1-3).  On Sabbath we stop worrying about our daily struggles (Ex. 20:8-11).  We do not just rest: any day of the week would do as a day of rest.  The difference between this day and any other day is that the Sabbath offers a rest not for inactivity but rather to undertake different activities similar to the first Sabbath in Eden.  Sabbath is the moment to catch our breath (Ex. 31:17) as we change activities.
  +
  Sabbath is also a day of re-creation.  When everything in life seems to be disintegrating, Sabbath calls us back to Eden.  And once again the Lord turns and creates everything from nothing.  Where we are weak, we can become strong.  Chaos turns into order; fear becomes joy; uncertainty is replaced by certainty and trust; God’s justice puts injustice and oppression into their corner; guilt is transformed into pardon.
  +
  The Sabbath is a day of delightful communion with God and one another.  It is a symbol of our redemption in Christ, a sign of our sanctification, a token of our allegiance, and a foretaste of our eternal future in God’s kingdom.
• The First Fruits of Our Ressurection (jacksonandrew.com)
  All of the seven festivals are divided into three sections and timed around three different seasons of harvests. At First Fruits, barley is harvested; at Pentecost, wheat is harvested; and in the fall, at the Festival of Tabernacles, fruit and corn are harvested.
• He Is Arisen…Exactly On Time! (savedbygraceblogdotcom.wordpress.com)
  As Jesus made His entry to Jerusalem right on time as prophesied in Daniel, so His death, burial and resurrection occurred just exactly as GOD planned.right on time! Jesus was crucified and died on Passover.  He was buried before the Sabbath (Saturday) that occurred during that Passover.  The day following the Sabbath (Sunday) during Passover is called the Feast of First Fruits.  The day was the seventeenth of Nisan, on the Jewish calendar.