Daily Word: Numbers 2323 curses or blessings? You choose!

Today’s word is confirmed by two witnesses. I opened my Bible and was led to read this: Numbers 23:23 in which God declares: “No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel.” After reading and meditating on its implication today, I looked at emails that came through during the night and found a reader’s request to comment on a book, Derek Prince’s “Blessing or Curse: You can Choose” . I found the book and when opened it showed chapter 13, and the same reference to Numbers 22, 23 and 24 (alerting me to read Numbers 23:23).

In the Old Testament around 1407 BC a famous proficient “witch doctor” called Balaam was commissioned by a powerful rich king Balak to curse the people of God, the Israelites. But God says, NO CURSE CAN TOUCH JACOB, NO MAGIC HAS ANY POWER AGAINST ISRAEL. Balaam was a man well versed in using curses and magic power. But he could not use them against the chosen people of God.  God did not take it lightly. He turned the intended curses into blessings despite Balaam’s intention to curse as he commanded a high fee for his job and the terrified Moab king was willing to pay. Of course, when God intervened supernaturally, Balaam did not get his pay. He died a terrible death in the end.

Let us read some of the passages in Numbers 22, 23, 24. I deliberately quoted the blessings which still apply to God’s people today. The Christians who are the descendants of Abraham by faith. In spiritual reality, Jesus has accomplished the breaking of two major curses: the curse from the Law of Moses, and the curse from Adam’s fall. (Galatians 3:13-14) (The curses from the Law of Moses are recorded in Deuteronomy 28:15-68)

Numbers 22-24 New Living Translation (NLT)

Balak Sends for Balaam
22:1 Then the people of Israel traveled to the plains of Moab and camped east of the Jordan River, across from Jericho. 2 Balak .., the Moabite king, had seen everything the Israelites did to the Amorites…“This mob will devour everything in sight, like an ox devours grass in the field!”
So Balak, king of Moab, 5 sent messengers to call Balaam …6 Please come and curse these people for me because they are too powerful for me…

Balaam Blesses Israel
23:7 This was the message Balaam delivered:
8 “But how can I curse those
whom God has not cursed?
How can I condemn those
whom the Lord has not condemned?
…Let me die like the righteous;
let my life end like theirs.”

Balaam’s Second Message
16 And the Lord met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.”
18 This was the message Balaam delivered:…
19 God is not a man, so he does not lie.
He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
20 Listen, I received a command to bless;
God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
21 No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob;
no trouble is in store for Israel.
For the Lord their God is with them;
he has been proclaimed their king.
22 God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
23 No curse can touch Jacob;
no magic has any power against Israel.
For now it will be said of Jacob,
‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
24 These people rise up like a lioness,
like a majestic lion rousing itself.
They refuse to rest
until they have feasted on prey,
drinking the blood of the slaughtered!”
25 Then Balak said to Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!”
26 But Balaam replied to Balak, “Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?”

Balaam’s Third Message
24:2 Then the Spirit of God came upon him, 3 and this is the message he delivered:
“This is the message of Balaam son of Beor,
the message of the man whose eyes see clearly,
4 the message of one who hears the words of God,
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
who bows down with eyes wide open:
5 How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob;
how lovely are your homes, O Israel!
6 They spread before me like palm groves,[e]
like gardens by the riverside.
They are like tall trees planted by the Lord,
like cedars beside the waters.
7 Water will flow from their buckets;
their offspring have all they need.
Their king will be greater than Agag;
their kingdom will be exalted.
8 God brought them out of Egypt;
for them he is as strong as a wild ox.
He devours all the nations that oppose him,
breaking their bones in pieces,
shooting them with arrows.
9 Like a lion, Israel crouches and lies down;
like a lioness, who dares to arouse her?
Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel,
and cursed is everyone who curses you.”

24:10 King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam…

Galatians 3:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[a] 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised[b] Holy Spirit through faith.

Footnotes:
3:13 Deut 21:23 (Greek version).
3:14 Some manuscripts read the blessing of the.

FREEDOM FROM CURSES IS BASED ON ONE CONDITION
Galatians 3:22 New Living Translation (NLT)

22 But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ.

Revelation 22:3

And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

IN “FORTY DAYS”: What it means in the last forty days in 2016

In forty days it will be the end of Year 2016. How does a follower of Jesus Christ spend the last forty days of this year? How important is forty days to the Lord God Creator Himself? I shall attempt to look at what God means by day and night and what forty days mean to Him. For those who have never encountered Jesus in a personal way, I pray you meet Him in these last days before you face the New Year 2017.

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF DAY/NIGHT (SEASONS, YEARS)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Here is a narration of what God means: Genesis 1:3-5,14 [Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. Then he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” And evening passed and morning came, marking the first day. Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.]

So it appears that God uses physical discernible signs (light. darkness) to separate two sections of time. Such sections are respectively called day and night. Other signs also include the physical variations of nature and living things (including a human growing/aging) presented by seasons and years.

Why “forty” days (And forty nights)? Here are some Bible verses on “forty days”. We can read that “forty” signifies a period in which one begins or ends. it is a term of assignment on earth. It is a period of performance record. It is a length of time just enough to show whether one passes or fails the test. It is a time in which an event takes on a spiritual implication which in turn impacts the physical outcome. What will you do from today until the end of this calendar year 2016?

This watchman will take heed of what the Lord Jesus has urged His followers and the apostles’ similar advice:
Nehemiah 4:9: Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.
Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 13:33: Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.
Mark 14:38: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Ephesians 6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
1 Peter 4:7: [ Serving for God’s Glory ] But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “FORTY DAYS” IN THE BIBLE:
IN THE BEGINNING OF EARTH TIME
Genesis 7:4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” Genesis 7:12 And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights. Genesis 7:17 Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. Genesis 8:6 So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.

THE BEGINNING OF MOSES’ MINISTRY JOURNEY AS A SERVANT OF GOD; “DOUBLE FORTY”
Exodus 24:18 So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
34:28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Deuteronomy 9:9,11,18 9:25 “Thus I prostrated myself before the Lord; forty days and forty nights I kept prostrating myself, because the Lord had said He would destroy you.10:10 “As at the first time, I stayed in the mountain forty days and forty nights; the Lord also heard me at that time, and the Lord chose not to destroy you.

THE FIRST SPYING ASSIGNMENT AND ITS FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCE; “DOUBLE FORTY; “EXPONENTIAL IMPACT” FROM “DAY” TO “YEAR”!
Numbers 13:25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days.
14:34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.

A SNAPSHOT OF THE TORMENTOR(ENEMY)’S TACTICS
1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine (GOLIATH) drew near and presented (STRUTTED) himself forty days, morning and evening.

ELIJAH’S PREPARATION TO COMPLETE HIS LAST RACE AS A PROPHET OF GOD
1 Kings 19:8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

EZEKIEL’S PROPHETIC ACT AS A TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD
Ezekiel 4:6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year.

JONAH’S MISSION AS A TRUE MESSENGER OF GOD
Jonah 3:4 And Jonah began to enter the city on the first day’s walk. Then he cried out and said, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH
Matthew 4:2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
Mark 1:13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Luke 4:2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.

THE END OF JESUS’ MISSION ON EARTH BEFORE ASCENDING TO HEAVEN
Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

FOR FURTHER READING, I LIST BELOW THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “FORTY” IN THE BIBLE.
Mentioning 146 times in Scripture, the number 40 generally symbolizes a period of testing, trial or probation, as a time of consecration and as a period of trial. The number forty can also represent a generation of man. Because of their sins after leaving Egypt, The children of Israel were punished by wandering the wilderness for 40 years before a new generation was allowed to possess the promised land. Jesus, just days before his crucifixion, prophesied the total destruction of Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-2, Mark 13:1-2). Forty years after his crucifixion in 30 A.D., the Roman Empire destroyed the city and burned its beloved temple to the ground.

Forty day epic periods of great flood [Gen.7:4,12,17, 8:6].
Forty years was the age of Isaac when he married Rebekah [Gen.25:20].
Forty years of Moses in Egypt [Ex.7:7; Deut.34:7; Acts 7:30].
Forty years of Moses in Midian before return to Egypt [Acts 7:30].
Forty years from the Exodus until Moses’ death [Deut.1:3;34:7].
Forty years Israel ate manna [Ex.16:4,15,35; Deut.29:5; 1Cor.10:3] which means “what is it?” , “spiritual food”.
Forty days Moses was on the Mountain to receive from God the Law of the Sinai Covenant [Ex.24:18].
Forty days the children of Israel were tested while Moses was on the mountain [Ex.32:1].
Forty days Moses was on the Mountain after the children of Israel committed the golden calf idolatry [Ex.34:28]. He received from God and wrote down the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments again.
Forty days the Israelite 12 spies surveyed the land of Canaan [Num.13:25].
Forty years was Caleb’s age when Moses sent him as one of the spies to check out the promised land [Josh.14:7].
Forty years that Israel spent in the wilderness [Num.14:33; Deut.1:1-3; 8:2].
Forty years from the giving of the Law at Sinai to the conquest of the Promised land [Josh.5:6].
Forty year intervals of peace in the age of the Judges (Judg.3:11; 5:31; 8:28)
Forty years Eli the High Priest judged Israel [1 Sam.4:18].
Forty years David ruled as King of Israel [2 Sam.5:5; 1 Chr.29:26-27].
Forty years Solomon ruled Israel [2 Chr.9:30].
Forty years Josiah ruled Judah [2 Kin.12:1-2].
Forty days and nights Elijah traveled to Mt. Horeb/Sinai [1 Kin.19:8].
Forty days reluctant missionary/prophet Jonah was assigned to station in the Assyrian city of Nineveh [Jon.3:4] preaching repentance message.
Forty days Ezekiel was instructed to lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah’s transgressions [Ezek.4:6].
Forty years of judgment that Ezekiel prophesied on Egypt’s desolation [Ezek.29:11-13].
Forty days Jesus fasted in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan [Matt.4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2].
Forty days Jesus taught His disciples PERTAINING TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND APPEARED TO OVER FIVE HUNDRED FOLLOWERS after the Resurrection. On the fortieth day He ascended to the Father in Heaven [Acts 1:3; 1 COR.15:3-7].

“In that day a fountain shall be opened”

Zechariah 13 (NKJV) Idolatry Cut Off “In that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.

2 “It shall be in that day,” says the Lord of hosts, “that I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they shall no longer be remembered. I will also cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to depart from the land. 3 It shall come to pass that if anyone still prophesies, then his father and mother who begot him will say to him, ‘You shall not live, because you have spoken lies in the name of the Lord.’ And his father and mother who begot him shall thrust him through when he prophesies.

4 “And it shall be in that day that every prophet will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; they will not wear a robe of coarse hair to deceive. 5 But he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a farmer; for a man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.’ 6 And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’[a] Then he will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Savior
7 “Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd,
Against the Man who is My Companion,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“Strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered;
Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.
8 And it shall come to pass in all the land,”
Says the Lord,
“That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,
But one–third shall be left in it:
9 I will bring the one–third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”

Footnotes:
Zechariah 13:6 Or hands

John 13 (NKJV) Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

2 And supper being ended,[a] the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, 4 rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

12 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Jesus Identifies His Betrayer

18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me[b] has lifted up his heel against Me.’[c] 19 Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He. 20 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.”

21 When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” 22 Then the disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom He spoke.

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke.

25 Then, leaning back[d] on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the table knew for what reason He said this to him. 29 For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

30 Having received the piece of bread, he then went out immediately. And it was night.

The New Commandment

31 So, when he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. 32 If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. 33 Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

36 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

38 Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

Footnotes:
John 13:2 NU-Text reads And during supper.
John 13:18 NU-Text reads My bread.
John 13:18 Psalm 41:9
John 13:25 NU-Text and M-Text add thus.

Bible verses quoted from New King James Version

a new message for Yom Kippur 2016 meditation (2): according to Torah

Romans 2 Tree of Life Version (TLV)

God’s Judgment on Unrighteousness

2 Therefore you are without excuse, O man—every one of you who is judging. For by whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. ^a]”>[a] 2 We know that God’s judgment on those who practice such things is based on truth. ³ But you, O man—judging those practicing such things yet doing the same—do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you belittle the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience—not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

⁵ But by your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. ^b]”>[b] 6 He will pay back each person according to his deeds. ^c]”>[c] 7 To those who by perseverance in doing good are seeking glory, honor, and immortality—eternal life. ⁸ But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—wrath and fury. ⁹ There will be trouble and hardship for every human soul that does evil—to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁰ But there will be glory, honor, and shalom to everyone who does good—to the Jew first and also to the Greek.¹¹ For there is no partiality with God.^d]”>[d]

¹² For all who have sinned outside of Torah will also perish outside of Torah, and all who have sinned according to Torah will be judged by Torah. ¹³ For it is not the hearers of Torahwho are righteous before God; rather, it is the doers of Torah who will be justified.¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature the things of the Torah, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the Torah. ¹⁵ They show that the work of the Torah is written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts switching between accusing or defending them ¹⁶ on the day when God judges the secrets of men according to my Good News through Messiah Yeshua.

Jewish People Fall Short Too

¹⁷ But if you call yourself Jewish and rely upon the Torah and boast in God ¹⁸ and know His will and determine what matters because you are instructed from the Torah— ¹⁹ and you are sure that you are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Torah the embodiment of knowledge and the truth—

²¹ you then who teach another, do you not teach yourself?
You who preach not to steal, do you steal?
²² You who say not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery?
You who detest idols, do you rob temples?
²³ You who take pride in the Torah,
through your violation of the Torah, do you dishonor God?
²⁴ For as it is written, “the name of God is slandered among the nations because of you.”^e]”>[e]

²⁵ Circumcision is indeed worthwhile if you keep the Torah; but if you break the Torah, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. ^{f]”>[f] 26} Therefore, if the uncircumcised keeps the righteous decrees of the Torah, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? ^g]”>[g]27 Indeed, the one not circumcised physically who fulfills the Torah will judge you^h]”>[h] who—even with the written code^i]”>[i] and circumcision—break the Torah.²⁸ For one is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision something visible in the flesh. ²⁹ Rather, the Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—in Spirit not in letter. His praise is not from men, but from God.^j]”>[j]

Footnotes:

a)   Romans 2:2 cf. 2 Sam. 12:5-7; Matt. 7:1-2.

b)   Romans 2:6 cf. Deut. 32:34-35.

c)   Romans 2:7 cf. Ps. 62:12, Prov. 24:12, Matt. 16:27, 2 Cor. 5:10, Col. 3:25, 2 Tim. 4:14, 1 Pet. 1:17, Rev. 2:23.

d)   Romans 2:11 cf. Deut. 10:17.

e)   Romans 2:24 Isa. 52:5b(LXX).

f)   Romans 2:26 cf. Jer. 9:24-26.

g)   Romans 2:27 cf. Deut. 10:16; 30:6; Jer. 4:4.

h)   Romans 2:27 cf. Matt. 12:41-42; 19:28; Lk. 11:31; 22:30.

i)   Romans 2:27 Lit. letter.

j)   Romans 2:29 cf. Gen. 29:35; 49:8.

John 2 Tree of Life Version (TLV) Water to Wine 2 On the third day, there was a wedding at Cana in the Galilee. Yeshua’s mother was there,2 and Yeshua and His disciples were also invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine ran out, Yeshua’s mother said to Him, “They don’t have any wine!” 4 Yeshua said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with you and Me? My hour hasn’t come yet.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone jars, used for the Jewish ritual of purification, each holding two to three measures. a]”>[a] 7 Yeshua said to them, “Fill the jars with water!” So they filled them up to the top. 8 Then He said to them, “Take some water out, and give it to the headwaiter.” And they brought it. 9 Now the headwaiter did not know where it had come from, but the servants who had drawn the water knew. As the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, he calls the bridegroom 10 and says to him, “Everyone brings out the good wine first, and whenever they are drunk, then the worse. But you’ve reserved the good wine until now!” 11 Yeshua did this, the first of the signs, in Cana of the Galilee—He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. Yeshua Purges the Temple 12 After this Yeshua went down to Capernaum with His mother, brothers,b]”>[b] and disciples, and they stayed there a few days. 13 The Jewish feast of Passover was near, so Yeshua went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple, He found the merchants selling oxen, sheep, and doves; also the moneychangers sitting there. 15 Then He made a whip of cords and drove them all out of the Temple, both the sheep and oxen. He dumped out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables. 16 To those selling doves, He said, “Get these things out of here! Stop making My Father’s house a marketplace!”17 His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for your House will consume Me!”c]”>[c] 18 The Judean leaders responded, “What sign do You show us, since You are doing these things?” 19 “Destroy this Temple,” Yeshua answered them, “and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Judean leaders then said to Him, “Forty-six years this Temple was being built, and You will raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was talking about the temple of His body. 22 So after He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He was talking about this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Yeshua had spoken. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem for the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, seeing the signs He was doing. 24 But Yeshua did not entrust Himself to them, because He knew all men. 25 He did not need anyone to testify about man, for He knew what was in man. Footnotes: a)   John 2:7 About 20-25 gallons; 1 measure is about 9 gallons. b)   John 2:12 Some mss. say brethren. c)   John 2:17 Ps. 69:10(9). Tree of Life Version (TLV)Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.

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