Parable #8. Servants be watchful:

1. Today is Day #8
2. The Eighth Mashal of Messiah
3. A question joins the eighth and ninth meshalim of Messiah together
4. Prophetic Teaching
5. Harsh Criticism from the Messiah for the Religious Leaders
6. Lament over Jerusalem

Today is Day#8:

1. Today is “Day #8” in the forty-nine day Countdown to Shavuot.

2. Today is Eight days in the Omer.

Today is eight days which are one week and one day of the Omer.

היום שמונה ימים, שהם שבוע אחד ויום אחד בעומר.פ

Haiyom shmonah yamim, shehaym shavuah echad ba’omer.

“You shall count for yourselves — from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving — seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh sabbath you shall count, fifty days.” (Leviticus). “You shall count for yourselves seven weeks, from when the sickle is first put to the standing crop shall you begin counting seven weeks. Then you will observe the Festival of Shavu’ot for Adonai Eloheinu.” (Deuteronomy).

“Blessed are You, Adonai Eloheinu, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.”

ברוך אתה, אדוני אלוהינו, מלך העולם, אשר קדשנו במצוותיו וציוונו על ספירת העומר.פ

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sefirat ha’omer.

The Eighth Mashal of Messiah:

מָתְנֵיכֶם יִהְיוּ חֲגוּרִים וְהַנֵּרוֹת דֹּלְקִים׃ וְאַתֶּם הֱיוּ דֹמִים לָאֲנָשִׁים הַמְחַכִּים לָאֲדֹנֵיהֶם מָתַי יָשׁוּב מִן־הַחֲתֻנָּה וְכַאֲשֶׁר יָבוֹא וְדָפַק יִפְתְּחוּ־לוֹ כְּרָגַע׃ אַשְׁרֵי הָעֲבָדִים הָהֵם אֲשֶׁר הָאָדוֹן בְּבוֹאוֹ יִמְצָאֵם שֹׁקְדִים אָמֵן אֹמֵר אֲנִי לָכֶם כִּי יִתְאַזֵּר וְיוֹשִׁיבֵם וְהָלַךְ וְשֵׁרֵת אוֹתָם׃ וְאִם־יָבוֹא בָּאַשְׁמֻרָה הַשֵּׁנִית אוֹ בָּאַשְׁמֻרָה הַשְּׁלִישִׁית וְיִמְצָא כֵן אַשְׁרֵי הָעֲבָדִים הָהֵם׃ וְזֹאת דְּעוּ כִּי אִלּוּ יָדַע בַּעַל הַבַּיִת בְּאֵי־זוֹ שָׁעָה יָבוֹא הַגַּנָּב כִּי־עַתָּה שָׁקַד וְלֹא־נָתַן לַחְתֹּר אֶת־בֵּיתוֹ׃ לָכֵן גַּם־אַתֶּם הֱיוּ נְכוֹנִים כִּי בְשָׁעָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא פִלַּלְתֶּם יָבוֹא בֶּן־הָאָדָם׃

יהיו מתניכם חגורים ומנורותיכם דולקות. ואתם היו דומים לאנשים המחכים לאדונם בצפיה לבואו מן החתנה, באפן שבבואו ובדפקו יפתחו לו מיד. אשרי אותם העבדים אשר האדון בבואו ימצאם עומדים על המשמר. אמן אומר אני לכם, הוא יאזר את מתניו, יושיבם, ויגש לשרת אותם. ואם יבוא באשמרת השניה או באשמרת השלישית וימצאם כך, אשרי העבדים ההם. זאת דעו: אלו ידע בעל הבית באיזו שעה יבוא הגנב, לא היה מניח לחדר אל ביתו. גם אתם היו מוכנים, כי בשעה שלא תעלה על דעתכם יבוא בן-האדם.פ

[Lukas 12:35] “Have a belt on your waist and let your lamps be lit. As for yourselves, be like men who are waiting for the time that their master returns from the wedding. When he comes and knocks, they open for him instantly. O, the gladness of those servants whom the master finds watching when he enters! Amen, I say to you that he will gird himself and seat them and go in. And if he comes at the second watch or at the third watch and finds it to be so—O, the gladness of those servants! And know this: if the owner of the house knew what hour the thief would come, at that time he would watch and not let him break into his house. Therefore, you also be ready, because the Son of Man will come in the hour that you do not expect.”

A question joins the eighth and ninth meshalim together:

The eighth and ninth meshalim (משלים) of the Messiah are joined together by a question, who are the people that this teaching of the Messiah is directed at? Messiah’s talmidin? The people of Israel?” The answer is Yeshua is specifically directing his prophetic teaching here at the religious rulers (priests, rabbis) of Israel.

Like the Rich Fool described in the previous mashal the privileged religious leaders of Rabbi Yeshua’s day were unfaithful in their stewardship to HaShem. The faithful Individual Servant of the family of Israel is letting the unfaithful National Servant(s) of Israel know in his 8th and 9th parables that there will one day be an accounting to HaShem for their conduct as His religious servants.

Messiah, who is the trusted and faithful one is openly warning these (1st century CE) Jewish religious leaders that even though he will be leaving the earthly scene for a long-time he will return.He will return at a time that they (and their successors) will not know. Then, after the Messiah returns to Israel there will be an accounting for all of their (the religious leaders) conduct during his long-time of physical absence from his nation and people (family) of Israel.

Prophetic Teaching:

First, this teaching of Messiah is prophetic. At the time this teaching was delivered he had not yet explicitly revealed that he would die a sacrificial-redemptive death on the accursed tree, on the 3rd day be resurrected from the dead, and on the 40th day (after his resurrection) ascend into heaven. Now here he is – long before any of these events had occurred – supernaturally revealing events that will occur long after he ascends up into heaven—-when he *returns to (modern) Israel.

*We believe the Messiah will return to (modern) Israel in this 21st century.

Second, the Messiah warns these 1st century (CE) Jewish religious leaders that when he returns to Israel he will not return as the meek, lowly Suffering Servant (Messiah ben Joseph). He will return as the Conquering King, the Messiah ben David.

Third, as the “heir of all things and head of all things” the Messiah warns the 1st century religious leaders that they and their rabbinic successors would be judged for their service to God when he returns. It is a true saying:

There will be an accounting at the return of the Messiah ben David—for he is the *ultimate Master of the House.

*The Great (eternal) High Priest

In this soon to come accounting every word and deed that has been said and done in secret will be brought out into the open to be examined by the light of Messiah’s all-knowing righteousness and truth (his seven eyes) of the Spirit; and so he shall remove the iniquity of the (religious) rulers of Israel in one day. For it is written (Zechariah 3:9):

“For behold, the Stone that I have set before Joshua (Yehoshua, Yeshua); on one Stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it, declares Adonai Tzevaot, and I will remove the iniquity of that land (of Israel) in one day.”

Fourth, upon the Messiah’s triumphant return to Israel every religious leader of Israel from the past to the present will give an account to him of the works they did (both in secret and in public). The warning of the Master is true: The Household servants will all be judged. Some will be resurrected from  the dead and allowed (as immortals) to enter into the glorious Golden Age of the messianic kingdom. Others will not be allowed to enter the messianic kingdom!

Fifth, the Messiah of Israel, who is the Ruler over all the House of Adonai (the LORD), is warning any Yehudi who has ears to hear to get ready because the Son of Man will come at a time when you will not be expecting him.

Sixth, this eighth mashal of Messiah describes a scene where several of his servants are waiting for him to return from a wedding banquet. The servants were left with specific instructions to remain constantly vigilant so that the Master could come into his House at whatever time he might arrive.

Seventh, “whether he comes in the second watch or even in the third (watch)” and finds his Jewish servants vigilant, they shall be blessed. If the servants are faithfully “watching” and “ready” for his return the Messiah will “bless” them. The second watch was from 9 P.M. to midnight and the third watch was from midnight to 3 A.M.

Know this: if the Head of the House had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not allow his House to be broken into.

Eighth, the “Head of the House” used to be the title of the presiding Jewish High Priest. The presiding High Priest was the president of all of the treasures and worship activities of the Jerusalem Temple.

Ninth, in the future there will be a third Temple built in Jerusalem. A thief will come and he will break into this House. How will this be? When there are priests and Levites serving in this future Temple they will not know that in that hour they will not be properly worshiping God; rather, they will be insulting the Spirit of Grace (רוח החסד). How will this be? These Jewish priests will be insulting the Spirit of the Chesed of God by their rejection of the once-in-eternity (most holy) sacrifice of M’shicho (His – God’s Messiah).

Therefore, Messiah Yeshua’s prophecy here is specifically directed at the surprise of these past and future priests and Levites when they are deceived by “the thief” and are judged for insulting the Spirit of Chesed at the Jerusalem Temple Mount—and thereafter are then again judged by the Judge of the Living and the Dead (השופט החיים והמתים-Shofet haChayim v’hametim); when at the *close of human history the Messiah judges both the living and the dead.

*The Great White Throne Judgment (כִּסֵּא לָבָן גָּדוֹל).

Tenth, the main point of Messiah’s words here about the thief is that the servants of the Master must be ready for his return because the coming of the Son of Man will be unexpected. The incredible span of time between Messiah’s first and second appearance on earth will definitely cause the religious leaders of Israel to continue in their belief that Rabbi Yeshua is not the Messiah-Deliverer to come promised by Moses.

Eleventh, in addition to the past and future spiritual ignorance of the priests and Levites, the rabbis (teachers) of Israel will continue to believe that their unjust rejection of the (real) Messiah was just and right. Yet, to these men’s great surprise, Yeshua the Messiah will appear to to Israel a second time and all Israel (this time) will believe on him and then “all Israel will be saved!”

These Bramble Bush religious leaders (successors to the 1st century Prushim) have usurped the authority of the Messiah our King and have substituted their oral law as a replacement to the writings of the prophets and the shlichim and their testimony of the Messiah of God; and most hurtful of all is that their false (man-made) oral law has replaced the true (real) oral law—the Living Torah of the Indwelling Presence of the Spirit of the Holy One.

The Messiah knew that he would at the first be rejected by our people (Israel) and afterward we would be scattered to the four winds.

Yet, our Messiah also knew that one day in the future that our nation and people of Israel would be restored (20th century) and that thereafter (21st century) his people of Israel would return to full faith in God by believing on his name; therefore, believing in his redemptive sacrifice and teaching. He clearly and accurately prophesied of these things before his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

Harsh Criticism from the Messiah for the Religious Leaders:

“The scribes and the Prushim have seated themselves in the chair (throne) of Moses (הסופרים והפרושים יושבים על כסא משה). Do not do according to their deeds: for they say things and do not do them.” The Messiah delivered four judgments and gave four mitzvot (commandments) to his servants – the Jewish religious leaders. These are:

Judgment #1: The rabbis tie up heavy loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, yet they are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.
Judgment #2: They do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
Judgment #3: They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the Synagogues, and respectful greetings.
Judgment #4: But no one should (love to) be called rabbi; for one is your Teacher (the Messiah) and you are all brothers.
Mitzvah #1:    Do not call anyone on earth your Father (in the ultimate sense); for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
Mitzvah #2:    Do not (love to) be called leaders; for one is your leader, that is, the Mashiach.
Mitzvah #3:    But the greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mitzvah #4:    Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Today’s modern successors to the ancient Prushim still love their places of honor; rather than loving the honor of serving others. Fortunately, there is forgiveness for all of these sins today; otherwise all of us would be judged. Therefore it is written:

“Blessed (ashrei) are those slaves whom the Master (the Messiah) will find on the alert when he returns to Israel (a second time); Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.”

This service of Messiah to his faithful servants is the blessedness of our one day being transformed into his likeness and as sons of glory our serving our own Jewish people in restored Israel; and as well – our distributing HaShem’s generous grace and hospitality (הכנסת אורחים-hachnasat orchim) to all of the gentile nations, peoples, and families of the world (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).

“Happy are they who dwell in Your House; they will praise You, always!”

Lament over Jerusalem:

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way an eagle gathers together her brood under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your House is being [temporarily, for a time] left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say:

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF ADONAI!

The Messiah is speaking here of his return to modern Israel to establish his promised messianic kingdom. Fortunately for us, our Father in heaven and our resurrected-glorified Messiah, who presently sits at the right side of the Majesty in glory, are not finished with us. They are only finished with our sin! The King of Glory will soon return to deliver us from the evil that is growing in our world and that hates us Jews with a passion.

When our Messiah is seen again at his glorious return he will be accepted by all Israel. He will not be rejected by his people this time (cf. Zechariah 12:10). In this soon approaching day the people of Israel will say (Psalm 118:25-26):

HaShem save now! HaShem please bring Your prosperity now! Blessed is he who comes in the Name of HaShem; we bless you from the House of HaShem!

אנא ה’ הושיעה נא אנא ה’ הצליחה נא׃ ברוך הבא בשם ה’ ברכנוכם מבית ה’׃

Ana Adonai hoshi’ah na a’na Adonai hatzli’cha na. Baruch haba beShem Adonai berachnuchem mibeyt Adonai!

NEXT, PARABLE #9, WISE AND FOOLISH SERVANTS…

Messiah in Yom HaBikkurim Chapter 28 >>