One of the seven God-ordained Feasts in Leviticus 23, Shavuot, is also called the Feast of Weeks. It’s a harvest festival, specifically the wheat harvest, a type of Biblical Thanksgiving. It celebrates God’s provision for our physical and spiritual needs. Jews mainly observe Shavuot, but Pentecost, Shavuot’s …
That Time Jesus Quoted the Torah
Many of Jesus’s most well-known words have even more meaning than we think! He often quoted the Old Testament in his teachings, bringing its laws and lessons to the forefront of the Christian faith. The Torah The term Torah can refer to a few different things. While …
Havdalah: Separation Between the Holy and the Common
I’ve previously written about the importance of the Sabbath (Shabbat) and how to observe it. We light candles and say blessings to set the Sabbath apart from all other days. In addition, there’s a tradition that reminds us when the Sabbath is over, and we return to our …
Step-by-Step Guide to a Messianic Sabbath
Shalom! I’m so glad you’ve decided to observe a traditional Messianic Sabbath evening. I hope it becomes one of your family’s most-loved traditions, as it has in mine. The Sabbath is not only one of the 10 Commandments; it’s a sign that we are God’s …
What DO We Do on the Sabbath?
What does keeping the Sabbath look like? The fourth commandment is clear, and numerous other places throughout the Bible make it evident that God finds observation of the Sabbath something all His people should do. Keeping the Sabbath means, in part, not working on that …
Parashōt, The Original Bible Study!
As Believers, we’re familiar with numerous Bible studies on many subjects, but this one is unique because it’s over 2500 years old! It’s collectively called the parashōt and is believed to originate from the time of Ezra (see below). The word parsha (plural parashōt) means …
Challah Bread Recipe
Challah bread is a beautiful and delicious Jewish bread eaten on Shabbat (the Sabbath), holidays, and other special days (except during Passover). It is made from a heavy dough that is separated and braided. A topping is usually added before baking—poppy seeds and sesame seeds …
Is the Sabbath Really THAT Important to God?
Does God really care that much whether we keep the Sabbath? What difference does taking a day off work make? Couldn’t we take a vacation for rest or worship Him at any convenient time? A basic rule of Bible study is to pay special attention …
Why Count the Omer?
Sometime between Passover and Shavuot, many people “count the omer.” While that may sound complicated, it merely means counting each of the 50 days until Shavuot. But why count? Can’t we just look at our calendars to see when Shavuot is? What should we be doing while we’re …