Re’eh “See”
It is customary for religiously practicing Jews to read from an annual cycle of weekly Old Testament readings called Torah Portions. This is said to be the same reading schedule that was taught every Sabbath in the Synagogues during the times of Jesus in the first century.
As Christians who profess our faith in Jesus, we study the Old Testament to understand the historical, cultural, and contextual background of the history of our heritage in Jesus. This is commonly known as the Messianic teachings of Christianity and is a part of our Saturday Church in Norman, Oklahoma.
While customs are not commandments there is beauty for believers in Jesus (Yeshua) to understand their identity as grafted into the covenants with Israel. As descendants of Abraham, all Christians are heirs according to the promise given to Abraham even before Sinai. Christians should study and learn the Torah and show respect for their Jewish brothers and sisters. It is through the study of the law that we see another level of greatness in Jesus who is the lawgiver and the greatest Torah teacher of all time.
Re’eh is the Hebrew title for “See” and is the name for the weekly Torah portion reading for the Book of Deuteronomy starting in chapter 11 verse 26 and going through chapter 16 verse 17.
It is also important to point out that along with the Torah portion readings and teachings, there are what are called Haftarah portions which are readings from the Bible in the books of the prophets. This week’s haftarah reading comes from the book of Isaiah in chapter 54 verses 11 through chapter 55 verse 3.
The gospel readings that are incorporated with the weekly Torah portion readings come from the book of John in chapter 6 with verses 35 through 51.
As Christians exploring the Torah portion cycle we must maintain a balance of including the Old Testament, the prophets, and the gospels in our weekly bible study.
Torah Portion Overview-
The forty-seventh reading from the Weekly Torah Portion cycle is called Re’eh in Hebrew, which means “See” in English.
The Torah Portion Re’eh reviews the Feasts and Festivals of Israel as well as certain laws given earlier in the Torah from God through Moses.
Torah Portion Scriptural Highlights-
Deuteronomy 12:1 Pagan Idols to be destroyed
Deuteronomy 12:13 A set place of worship
Deuteronomy 12:29 Warning against Idolatry
Deuteronomy 14:1 Forbidden Pagan practice
Deuteronomy 14:3 Clean and Unclean Foods
Deuteronomy 14:22 Regulations for the Tithes
Deuteronomy 15:1 The Sabbatical Year
Deuteronomy 15:19 Firstborn of the livestock
Deuteronomy 16:1 Passover reviewed
Deuteronomy 16:9 Feast of Weeks (Pentecost)
Deuteronomy 16:13 Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot
Haftarah (Prophets) Scriptural Highlights-
Isaiah 54:1 God’s children to be brought home
Isaiah 55:1 The Servant’s Humiliation and Vindication
Brit (Gospel) Scriptural Highlights-
John 6:35 Jesus is the bread of life
John 6:38 Jesus is God
John 6:46 Jesus reveals He is Sent by the Father
The Book of Deuteronomy “Devarim” which means “Words.”
The Old Testament is commonly referred to as the Torah. It is the most sacred of all of Israel’s Scriptures. Most of our modern Bibles include the Old Testament “Torah” as the first five books in the Bible. The name in Hebrew of the fifth book of the Bible (Deuteronomy) is Devarim. The name “Devarim” comes from one of the opening phrases in the book of Deuteronomy which means “Words,”
The Greek Septuagint is where we find the English name for “Deuteronomos” called “Deuteronomy.”
The book of Deuteronomy is primarily comprised of the farewell teachings of Moses to the children of Israel. Like all good prophets and leaders in the Torah, Moses encourages the children of Israel to remain faithful to the covenants they made with God.
Moses then continues to review the stories of the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the journey to the Promised Land, the review of some of the Torah laws, and the introduction to new laws.
It is also important to point out that the format of the book of Deuteronomy also follows a general pattern of Ancient Near Eastern treaty documents.
As Messianic Christians, we find the book of Deuteronomy and the stories therein, as a historical account of how we as believers are grafted into the covenants and promises of God with our forefathers and how we can learn to walk and learn from their actions.
To Watch an overview of this week’s Torah Portion CLICK HERE
