Current Torah Portion
Torah Portion calendar
The readings from the Torah:
The name of this week’s Parshah is "Pinchas." It is named after Phineas, who zealously avenged G‑d’s name and purified Israel’s encampment from Zimri’s sin.
Because of his zealous act of service, God granted Phineas a covenant of peace and priesthood.
In the book of Acts, chapter 21, we see in verse 20 that Yeshua’s thousands of followers shared the same characteristic; they were all zealous for the law of God. We then conclude that being zealous about our faith and diligent regarding our role as Yeshua’s disciples, is the godly expected behavior to us.
In the past, we could easily identify a pious person in the streets. By his/her garments, by carrying a used Bible in his armpit, or by his/her moral behavior during business or when talking with other people. Currently, it’s becoming harder and harder to identify a Christian. Liberalism and humanism have been influencing the Body for a couple of centuries and consequently, mundane points of view corroded a once-solid bible-based Church. Now, the majority of Christian believers can hardly call themselves righteous. Promoting inclusiveness, the Bride left Her purity standards behind and accepted worldly behavior within. Trying to increase the Body’s numbers and fund the kingdom's expansion, its leaders compromised teaching, affiliation, worship, and discipline. Where are the zealots of today, to throw some spears through the bellies of prosperity gospel and megachurches?
God’s people are a special kind of breed. Israel’s calling to be set apart from all the nations made the Chosen People succeed in protecting God’s Word until the time was right for Mashiach. During the last millennia, God’s gospel has been preached throughout the world and, when Yeshua’s disciples managed to show what a true disciple is, many other true disciples were added to the Bride.
We’re not supposed to walk parallel to the world, we’re supposed to be running in the opposite direction! The current Church is becoming very different from “original” Christianity.
Eventually, true Jewish and Gentile believers will recognize each other as the prophesied remnant. Although having a passionate faith in God and the Scriptures does not replace godly love and kindness, I wouldn't be wrong in saying that both, the Jewish and Gentile “ecclesia” could use more zealous men and women. So, be like Pinchas!