#13: Praying in the name of Y’hoshua
One of the foundational concepts within Christianity is that prayer is made in “the name of Jesus”, and there are many verses that appear to support this but not all verses as we will soon discover. Nevertheless, here are some verses that appear to uphold this from the NIV:
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 2:38 NIV)
“But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!’” (Acts 3:6 NIV)
Also see Acts 3:16, 4:10, 4:30, 5:40-41, 9:27, 10:48, 16:18, 19:5, 19:13, 19:17, Romans 15:30, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 5:4, Ephesians 5:20, Philippians 2:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, 2 Thessalonians 1:12, 3:12, Hebrews 13:15, 1 John 3:23 that also appear to bolster this idea. However, we must correctly understand the difference between names and titles while considering that there is One Name – imbued with power and linked directly to the One Elohim – and then there are many titles, even of the human variety that are comparatively powerless on their own. The ironic point is, Name and names look and sound the same. The difference is not only within the intensions we display when speaking them, but the distinguishing office of power behind the name.
A very important Torah concept is that of the power of the promise. Put simply, Elohim gives or changes someone’s name, and the new meaning that is given to it points to a promise that He will fulfill. The best example of this is the patriarch Abraham:
“Abram threw himself on his face and Elohim spoke to him further. “as for Me, this is My covenant with you: You shall be the father of a multitude of nations, and you shall no longer be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham” (Genesis 17:3-6)
Abram is Hebrew for “exalted father”. However, Abraham translates to “father of many nations,” which is exactly what Elohim promises. A short time later, after Abraham almost sacrifices his son Isaac, he is told:
“All nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants” (Genesis 22:18).
Consider that the world shall bless itself through Abraham’s seed and now witness how this principle manifests itself:
“Jehosophat stood in the congregation of
Judah and
Jerusalem in the House of YHWH at the front of the new court. He said, YHWH Elohim of our fathers, truly You are the Elohim in heaven and You rule over the kingdoms of the nations; none can oppose You. O our Elohim, you dispossessed the inhabitants of this land before Your people
Israel, and
You gave it to the descendants of Your friend Abraham forever. They settled in it and built a House for your name. They said, Should misfortune befall us – the punishing sword, pestilence or famine, we shall stand before this House and before You – for Your name is in this House – and we shall cry out to You in distress and You will listen and deliver us’” (2 Chronicles 20:5-9).
Jehosophat addressed Elohim directly in His House and then invoked the name of Abraham to access the power of Elohim’s promise to the patriarch. In Orthodox liturgy, this is called Yitzkar, or “Yah remembers.” It is done on Judaism’s holiest day, Yom Kippur, when the faithful pray that Elohim will remember their loved ones who have passed on because of the covenant with Abraham and his seed. This is very obviously not the same thing as someone invoking the name of a man as if he were Elohim. Rather, it is an affirmation of Elohim that says:
1) I heard Your word’s: 2) I understood Your promise: 3) I understood how and by whom You will carry that promise out: 4) I am grateful that You have done this for us, Your people Israel: 5) and now I pray in Your name, and access the power of that promise by invoking the Name that You gave to the recipient of that promise.
This is a very Jewish concept to pray only in the name of YHWH, but ask in the name of the receiver of the promise. In Aramaic, the words pray and ask are not as nearly interchangeable as they appear to be in English. These are two very distinct words derived from completely different roots. As such, it is very easy to tell the difference between them. That clear delineation is also why, when you go through the Aramaic Renewed Covenant, you will always see Mashiyach or Paul addressing their prayers to MarYah, which literally means Master YHWH. In fact, the Aramaic Tanakh has MarYah in place of YHWH almost 7,000 times, so there is no doubt whatsoever of its meaning.
Conversely, if anyone wanted to pray in the name of the man, they would have used the phrase “Our Master” – (Maran). However, as with Abraham, they can access the power of the promise of Elohim with Maran. From here, two questions emerge: How did this happen? Is it really in harmony with Tanakh?
It is quite obvious that the post-apostolic church founders never understood that the name Y’hoshua is empowered by YHWH, and by that empowerment, the greatest promise of all is within it. Put simply, we have name and Name here too. The mortal, and common name, of a man is Y’hoshua, a form of “Joshua” in English. There may be millions of Yehoshua-Joshua-Y’shuas in the world right now and for them it is their legal name, but there is no power or divine promise embodied into the person because they have this proper name.
However, the Name Y’hoshua was Set Apart by YHWH for Y’hoshua to also receive his unique anointing as Mashiyach: Y’hoshua means “Yah is salvation” in Hebrew. Therefore, to call upon Y’hoshua is to call upon Yah to save you if you pray with the appropriate intent. Because of this one crucial fact, it is a major transgression to apply a pagan name toward the Almighty Elohim. Exodus 20:7 restricts us from taking the name in “vain” – shav – means “to make desolate”. How is this done? By either directly transgressing against His Name, or taking the name of a pagan deity and applying it to YHWH. For example, one of the pagan gods was named Zeus and was addressed as “Kurios” and “Theos”, --exactly the same words that the Greek translators applied to YHWH in the Greek “New Testament”! To use a name for Zeus and then apply it to YHWH renders the Name above all names as shav, literally giving His esteem to another (Isaiah 42:8). If is true for the Father, then this same principle also applies for the Son! Furthermore, that is why Philippians 2:9-11 says:
“Therefore Elohim exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, and that at the name of Y’hoshua every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Y’hoshua is YHWH, to the esteem of the Father.”
Hebrews 1:4 also teaches that the esteem always goes to YHWH, but “the name that is above all names” is also YHWH; reason being, every other name for a messenger (angel) has El in it (MichaEL, UriEL, RaphaEL etc). EL is a name for Elohim but not the name of Elohim that YHWH is. Once again, the verse points to the Hebrew and Aramaic name and identity of Mashiyach, because the Name of Yah is in the name of Y’hoshua.
However, as alluded to earlier, not all verses support the mainstream Christian tradition; in fact, one neglected passage can correct the standard interpretations of dozens of others. That is why the “name of Jesus” references were kept intact with the Gentile name Jesus, because now you will see for yourself how difficult it is too understand the truth of what Y’hoshua means by using the Gentile name “Jesus”. However, here is the passage that breaks the truth wide open:
“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Set Apart Father, protect them by the power of Your Name – the same name you gave me – so that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:11).
How about that? Even the Greek New Testament reads this way, proclaiming that the “name of Y’hoshua” is really that of YHWH. Therefore, every time we lift up our voices to Y’hoshua, we are really proclaiming praise to the one and only YHWH, literally, to the esteem of the Father. Furthermore, since there is only One Name for the One Elohim, those who call on the true Name of YHWH become one with Y’hoshua, which then makes them one with YHWH. So, to bring it all together we can confidently:
* Pray in the name of YHWH.
* Ask for the power of YHWH’s promises in the name of the method of their fulfilment, but only as a way to bring esteem to YHWH. This involves, by the way, performing miracles. Take the case in Acts 4:1-12. in that passage, Jews who witnessed the miracles of Peter and Yochanan were not content to hear that they simply came from Elohim. Instead, they wanted to specifically know by what name it was done. Peter says it was by the name of Y’hoshua the Mashiyach of Nazareth that a lame man was healed. However, Peter is careful to make the point that YHWH Himself raised Y’hoshua from the dead so that this power could be accessed when he believed the same thing. So, when he adds in verse 12, “For there is no name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,” he is not saying that Y’hoshua the man replaces YHWH. Rather, what Peter means is that there is no other Mashiyach that Elohim has chosen except Y’hoshua to fulfill YHWH’s promise. To say the Name then of Y’hoshua, is to acknowledge the power of YHWH to save us according to His Word.
* Immerse in the name of the Father (YHWH, Who promised and sent the Son), in the name of the Son (Y’hoshua, who fulfilled YHWH’s promise) and the Set Apart Spirit (who is the “spirit of truth” that gives you the reason behind the ritual). Reason: for only in that manner are the complete methods of fulfilling that promise recognised (Ezekiel 36:24), with all the esteem again to YHWH. The Aramaic word for this carries a meaning closer to “immersion”, as in using Jewish ritual mikveh baths. Also, the fact is that Ruach haKodesh (Set apart Spirit) is another name for YHWH (Psalm 51:11) and the Mashiyach has the Divine nature within him that only comes from YHWH (Isaiah 11:1-2, 1 Corinthians 12:3).
* Assemble in the Name of YAHU—SHUA: “When two or more gather in my name, there I am in the midst,” refers to these days when Mashiyach has physically departed from the world. He resurrected and ascended to “the right hand of the Father.” This is a metaphor that means “to dwell next to the Father” (Psalm 110:1). Two or three souls gather together to bear witness to the directives given by the Spirit of Mashiyach. So, remembering that Yehochanan told us about the Word made flesh that was with Elohim in the beginning (also see Yehochanan 17:5), what happens after ascension is that Y’hoshua becomes the Word again. We know this because when he comes out of heaven again he is called by the name that he took on when he entered it two millennia before: Word of Elohim (Revelations 19:13)! Therefore, since the Word is with YHWH again, they are inseparable, and to gather in that Name is to gather in the Name of YHWH, while accessing the power of the promise of His Mashiyach
18 New Testament Misconceptions No. 14
#14: Israel and the Church
A doctrine known as replacement theology began in early all-Gentile Christian churches that postures the idea that all the blessings of the Bible were transferred to Christians and all the curses in the Bible fell upon the Jews. While this may remain as a popular Christian belief, it is nevertheless very unscriptural:
“Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For YHWH has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow. Yet Jerusalem says, “YHWH has deserted us; YHWH has forgotten us.” Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand. Ever before me is a picture ofJerusalem’s walls in ruins. Soon your descendants will come back, and all who are trying to destroy you will go away” (Isaiah 49:13-17).
“What then is the superiority or the Jews? Or what is the advantage of the circumcision? Much in every way. And first, because to them were entrusted the words of Elohim. For if some of them have not believed, have they, by their not believing, made the faith of Elohim inefficient? Far be it: for Elohim is truthful, and every man false: as it is written: That you might be upright, in your declarations; and be found pure when they judge you” (Romans 3:1-4).
Obviously, both of these passages refer to the Jews and not Gentile Christians, since Christians are assumed to be Rav Shaul’s audience in Romans. Also please read Romans 11:1, 11:7 and verses 25 through 29.
Rav Shaul clearly attacks hypocrites (who happen to be Jewish), rather than all Jews which would include himself. It is also very clear that Jewish sinners are not the only people Rav Shaul rebukes in his writings. Please see 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.
So if all Israel is saved, where is the “Church” in all this? You will find the answer in Ephesians 2:11-14. But, the reality is, there never was such thing as the “Church” in the days of the original Apostles – only a renewed Israel that Gentiles are welcome to join! Gentiles do not “replace” Israel but become part of Israel! Please read Jeremiah 31:31 which very clearly references the recipients of the Renewed Covenant.
18 New Testament Misconceptions No. 14
#14: Israel and the Church
A doctrine known as replacement theology began in early all-Gentile Christian churches that postures the idea that all the blessings of the Bible were transferred to Christians and all the curses in the Bible fell upon the Jews. While this may remain as a popular Christian belief, it is nevertheless very unscriptural:
“Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For YHWH has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow. Yet Jerusalem says, “YHWH has deserted us; YHWH has forgotten us.” Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for a child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on my hand. Ever before me is a picture ofJerusalem’s walls in ruins. Soon your descendants will come back, and all who are trying to destroy you will go away” (Isaiah 49:13-17).
“What then is the superiority or the Jews? Or what is the advantage of the circumcision? Much in every way. And first, because to them were entrusted the words of Elohim. For if some of them have not believed, have they, by their not believing, made the faith of Elohim inefficient? Far be it: for Elohim is truthful, and every man false: as it is written: That you might be upright, in your declarations; and be found pure when they judge you” (Romans 3:1-4).
Obviously, both of these passages refer to the Jews and not Gentile Christians, since Christians are assumed to be Rav Shaul’s audience in Romans. Also please read Romans 11:1, 11:7 and verses 25 through 29.
Rav Shaul clearly attacks hypocrites (who happen to be Jewish), rather than all Jews which would include himself. It is also very clear that Jewish sinners are not the only people Rav Shaul rebukes in his writings. Please see 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.
So if all Israel is saved, where is the “Church” in all this? You will find the answer in Ephesians 2:11-14. But, the reality is, there never was such thing as the “Church” in the days of the original Apostles – only a renewed Israel that Gentiles are welcome to join! Gentiles do not “replace” Israel but become part of Israel! Please read Jeremiah 31:31 which very clearly references the recipients of the Renewed Covenant.
18 New Testament Misconceptions No. 15
#15: The “New” Covenant
The “New” Covenant is introduced within the writings of the “Old” (please see Jeremiah 31:31-34 / Hebrews 8:8). So, when Hebrews 8:13 says that the Renewed Covenant is to put aside the “Old,” it is not that the Old became obsolete and terminated. Rather, it is a clear fact of Scripture that the “New” Covenant arises as a contingency out of the “Old,” because Israel rejected YHWH’s laws. If the “New” Covenant gains its power from what was revealed beforehand, then what came before cannot be rendered as useless. Paul explains this matter:
“That is why he is the one who mediates the renewed covenant between Elohim and people, so that all who are invited can receive the eternal inheritance Elohim has promised them. For Mashiyach died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15).
This is, once again, also described in the “Old” covenant and was in fact prophesied in Isaiah 53:1-12. In reality, the terms “Old” and “New” Covenant are a misnomer, of course, and very misleading. Nevertheless the Ancient Paths that lead to the Everlasting Truth about the Renewed Covenant are right within most Bibles, accessible by all “lovers of Truth.”
18 New Testament Misconceptions No. 16
#16: Echad as Plurality
“Hear O Israel, YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is One.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
This is enough evidence, right here, to convince most Jews that there is only One Elohim whose Name is YHWH. Three is not one regardless of how you do the math and that’s the problem. Man’s math and science and tradition as opposed to YHWH’s! Perhaps you’ve heard that in Deuteronomy 6:4 “one” is “echad”, which can mean a unity. If Elohim was exclusively singular, this would read “yachid” which can only mean one. Yes, “echad” does in fact have a compound singularity in it, such as having one synagogue with a hundred people inside. However, the situation is more complicated than this. The fact is, “yachid” is a very rare word, and in Hebrew the number one is “echad”, so it also refers to things that are exclusively singular. This does not mean, however, that Christians are entirely wrong in using “echad” as a pointer to the “Godhead.” Some of the greatest Jewish rabbis, sages and mystics have been doing just that for centuries.
Nevertheless, the reality is that “echad” is pointing to the fact that Elohim is infinite. 1 Kings 8:27 relates this very clearly. Not even the uttermost reaches of the heavens can contain Him. Therefore, we must say “echad” because while He is One, the number one cannot contain Him either. Infinity is greater than one!
On the other hand, Deuteronomy 6:4 agrees with the rest of Scripture which states:
“By the Word of YHWH the Heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth, all their hosts” (Psalm 33:6).
“But a shoot will grow out of the stump of Jesse. A twig shall sprout from his stock. The Spirit of YHWH shall alight upon him: A spirit of wisdom and insight, a spirit of counsel and valour, a spirit of devotion and reverence for YHWH” (Isaiah 11:1-2).
“Listen to Me, O Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am He – I am the first, and I am the last as well. My own hand founded the earth. My right hand spread out the skies” (Isaiah 48:12).
The Spirit of YHWH sends several spirits also from YHWH to alight on a man and the Word of YHWH doing creation but wait – Isaiah says Elohim did that alone! Once again, Elohim is One, and infinity includes everything. That is why Trinity does not work, because it reduces Elohim to the level of His aspects, or the signs of His Infinity.
In the century before the birth of Mashiyach Judaism was an incredibly diverse and variegated phenomenon, with deep disagreements on just about every major issue. This plurality of belief is not only mentioned in detail by the first century historian Josephus (Antiquities 18.1.2) and in the Renewed Covenant Writings with regard to Messianic expectations, (Matthew 16:13-14), but it also permeates almost every aspect of what we know about life in Israel during that period. Even so, and of course acknowledging deep differences of opinion on the identity and power of Mashiyach, Torah – just before the dawn of the Common Era – paints a far different picture of “the Godhead.” Instead of three Marvellous persons, the infinite Elohim has spirits or aspects, and it is these aspects, imbued with His one marvellous nature, that manifest themselves in various ways. This is “echad”, not Trinity.
After the advent of Mashiyach, however, the Natzarim (Acts 24:12-14) revised this picture slightly. To them, the Word of YHWH (‘davar’ in the Hebrew of Psalm 33:6) became the Arm of YHWH, or Mashiyach, (Isaiah 53:1). It is the Arm of YHWH’s job to save (Exodus 6:6). Additionally, the “spirit of council” mentioned in Isaiah 11:1-2, was linked to the Ruach haKodesh that David prayed about (Psalm 51:11); again the main point being, they all came from Elohim and share in the one marvellous nature.
18 New Testament Misconceptions No. 17
#17: His Blood Be on Us and Our Children
Perhaps the most famous “anti-Semitic” line in the entire “NT” is Matthew 27:25 where “all the crowd” is said to have invoked an eternal curse upon all the Jewish people. But let’s remember that Matthew himself was also called Levi and Matthew is certainly not pronouncing a curse upon himself and his own people.
In the response to the obvious facts, some bigots suggest that the religious elite were the ones who set the curse, and then, by extension the curse flows over all Jews. Those who are hell-bent on hating Jews will always find reason to hate; they obviously know not Y’shua or the Word of YHWH. Nevertheless, some Pharisees did in fact pronounce a curse upon themselves and their descendants, yet very few realize how this works. Yochanan 11:48-53 makes it quite obvious that the religious elite feared for the entire destruction of Israel at the hands of the Romans, and not just their own personal loss of power. In addition, they were trying to deal with two Scriptural possibilities.
Since Y’shua was performing miracles, they knew it was very possible that he could be the Mashiyach. However, if so, Mashiyach’s main purpose was to die for Israel, to be a substitutionary sacrifice for the nation (Isaiah 53:1-12). That is perhaps why Caiphas even says Y’shua would die, either way. If Y’shua was the Mashiyach, he was supposed to do this. If he wasn’t, according to their human reasoning, his death might still prevent the deaths of tens of thousands of others should Rome decide to destroy Israel, which it turns out, they in fact did, anyway. Even Y’shua predicted this, so he and Caiphas actually agreed on this same point.
However, if they killed and innocent man in order to save the nation (better that one should die than the rest perish), Caiphas still believed Israel would benefit. The reason is, if they made this horrible mistake, the worst that could happen is that their sin would be carried to the fourth generation (Exodus 20:5, 34:7, Numbers 14:18, Deuteronomy 5:9), but Israel proper would survive. If they did not act, however, then the fear was, justifiable or not, that there would be no Israel ever again, for hundreds of generations. In other words, no matter what, Y’shua had to die, which was exactly his mission in his own words, anyway. It may seem self-serving that Paul would speak so highly of his own race but he clearly taught that Jews “… are beloved for the fathers’ sake” (Romans 11:28).
18 New Testament Misconceptions No. 18
#18: Turn Thy Cheek
Y’shua taught his followers to make sacrifices for the Kingdom and to “take up their cross” and follow him. Many Christians take these ideas literally, knowing what he did on the stake; and, at certain times of the year, they parade large wooden crosses through the streets of their cities. While Y’shua predicted hardships for his followers, he also told them to rejoice when it happened – but this didn’t mean he wanted them to roll over and play dead. Clearly he intended his followers to live! And while it is true that Y’shua instructed his disciples not to resist his accusers on his behalf (when he was being arrested), that does not mean he taught against self-defence. Y’shua, in fact, instructed his disciples to buy swords in Luke 22:36-38 in spite of the reference in John 18:10-12 concerning his knowledge that a contingent had come against him as part of his mission. That is why Y’shua says in John 18:33-37, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the religious authorities. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Y’shua answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Y’shua clearly teaches that his kingdom does not exist based on people dying even to save his life! Yet in Matthew 5:38-42 many assume that “do not resist and evil person” means to be a pacifist, when in reality, it simply means to not repay evil with evil!
As everyone knows, a person who unjustly assaults or steals from his fellow man is subject to penalty and discipline, and is required to make restitution. In ancient times it was not uncommon for some to try to “get even” with an adversary by killing them over very minor offences, even going so far as to murder that person’s family. Therefore YHWH put a limitation on vengeance (i.e. take one eye for an eye), the opposite of what has been taught in the Christian West which views “eye for an eye” as the judgements of a wrathful Elohim.
In addition, Torah rightfully interpreted and understood is the most just and fair of any legislation on this earth. Where else in the world were the rich commanded to leave the edges of their fields un-harvested so as to feed the poor? Nowhere! Where else were the rich required to make non-interest bearing loans for the poor? Where else are criminals required to make restitution for their lies and stealing so that anyone who participated in criminal activity could be rehabilitated and treated as an equal? In most countries there is no legislation to rehabilitate criminals or make restitution for what they have stolen from others, yet many people think and speak very evil things against Torah.
Y’shua always taught obedience to the law! In other words, if someone is going to sue for your tunic and cloak – the only two pieces of clothing a Jew was required to wear – it must truly be for a very good reason. If the judge then grants the plaintiff’s request, the guilty party must comply, even if it means he will be going home naked. Granted this is an extreme example, but it is exactly the kind of graphic imagery that Y’shua knew would have an impact on his listeners.
Finally, Y’shua advised his followers to do everything they could to prevent such lawsuits. If we give more than we are actually asked to, no one can hold us guilty. But it is the “flip side” to what concept that relates to the heart of what we are discussing. An investigation of Matthew 5:25-26 indicates that settling matters with your adversary is far better than a confrontation in court. Even if you are in the right it is always in your best interests to do whatever you can to resolve the matter outside of court.
Y’shua calls his followers to be beyond reproach so that false accusations against them will not have a negative impact. He knows that “they will lay hands on you and persecute you” on account of his name’s sake (Luke 21:12) and he tells us: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (John 15:18-25). Nevertheless, the fact remains that Y’shua always expects the best possible efforts from his followers, and this is where “turning the other cheek” really comes into play.
Keefa (Peter) was rebuked for cutting off the ear of a member of the arresting party. Y’shua felt so strongly about this being wrong that he restored the stricken man’s ear. Why? Because he didn’t want to escalate the situation and risk the safety of his own disciples.
Y’shua wanted the assaulter to have an opportunity to re-think his actions. Oftentimes assaults are made during momentary acts of emotion. For these reasons, Y’shua says turn your left cheek, and then see if your attacker is running on their emotions. Most people, if given a moment to think about what they are doing, would probably not resort to violence. However, even if someone did, the act would indicate the intent and be so blatant that it would virtually guarantee either arrest and/or conviction of assault. Either way, this would again serve as an opportunity for both parties to make one final attempt toward reconciliation before escalating the matter further and winding up in court.
