Encounter Yeshua (Jesus) in the Scriptures with Emmaus Road Fellowship in Kingwood, TX. Our teachings reflect an appreciation of the historical and cultural context in which the Scriptures were written, recognizing the Jewishness of Jesus and God’s covenant faithfulness through the ages. Visit us at https://walkingemmausroad.org.
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Parashat Ki Tetze The Bible was written in a specific culture and language that most modern readers have never been introduced to, and understanding that framework can transform the way we read Scripture and live our faith. Jewish tradition offers a four-level approach to interpreting Scripture known as PaRDeS, which moves from the plain meaning of a text all the way to its deeper spiritual reality. When Yeshua said He came to fulfill the Torah, He was using language His audience understood clearly. In the rabbinic tradition, to fulfill the Torah meant to interpret it correctly so it could be
Parashat Shoftim God’s power flows through alignment with His word and His ways. Just as Gideon’s 300 men defeated an army of 135,000, the odds never matter when God goes before you. Unlike Pharaoh, who saw people as tools to be used, God sees every individual as valued and worthy of care. Alignment is not about striving or performing. It is about stepping into the current of where God is already moving. Hiding His word in your heart is what roots you, shapes your decisions, and positions you to walk in His power. The invitation is simple: take one intentional step toward alignment this week,
Parashat Re’eh How we see God shapes everything. It influences how we make decisions, how we handle difficult seasons, and where we ultimately end up. The Torah portion Re’eh, meaning ‘to see’ or ‘behold,’ opens with Moses standing before the Israelites and calling them into a new way of seeing. He places before them a blessing and a curse, not as a threat, but as an invitation to look clearly at where each path leads. Research on the brain and belief confirms what Scripture has always taught: a fear-based view of God activates stress and survival responses, while a love-based view calms fear,
Parashat Eikev God cares about both the great and the small moments of our faith. The Hebrew word eikev, rooted in the word for heel, reminds us that the things we tread on, even the small, seemingly insignificant commands, matter deeply to God. Abraham was blessed not only because of his willingness to offer Isaac, but because of his daily walk of faithfulness in everything God commanded him. Yeshua affirmed this kind of faithfulness, teaching that not even the smallest part of God’s Word would pass away. The call is not to achieve perfection through our own effort, but to walk toward God day
Parashat Va’etchanan No matter how far we have wandered, God is always calling His people back. From Moses in Deuteronomy to Isaiah’s words of comfort to Yeshua preaching repentance in Capernaum, Scripture consistently points to a God who restores what has been broken. Biblical repentance, drawn from the Hebrew word teshuvah and the Greek words metanoeo and epistrepho, involves both a renewed mind and a changed direction. It is internal transformation expressed through outward action, a complete return to God. Like the assembly at Ephesus, many of us may still be going through the motions of f
Parashat Devarim Faith is more than intellectual agreement with the existence of God. The Hebrew word emunah describes a steadfast, persevering trust, the kind that holds firm even when the path forward looks impossible. This is the faith God called His people to when they stood on the edge of the Promised Land, and it is the same faith He calls us to today. When ten of the twelve spies returned from Canaan with a discouraging report, the hearts of the people melted. They did not stop believing God existed. They lost their confidence in His power and faithfulness, and that loss cost them every
Parashat Mattot-Masei The 42 wilderness journeys recorded in Numbers 33 are far more than a travel log. Each movement of Israel was initiated by God Himself, described in Hebrew as happening at the mouth of God. He was not simply directing traffic, he was actively forming a people. God intentionally took Israel the long way to the Promised Land because He knew the direct route would expose them to battles they were not yet ready to fight. This is a picture of a God who is deeply attentive to where His people are in their formation, far more interested in who they are becoming than in how quick
Parashat Pinchas True legacy has never belonged to those who sought the greatest names for themselves. From the founding of America to the pages of Scripture, the men and women who left the most enduring marks on history were those who gave everything and took nothing. As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, that milestone carries a striking biblical parallel. From Jacob’s arrival in Egypt to the entrance into the Promised Land was 250 years, a journey marked by exile, wilderness, and ultimately restoration. The number itself points to grace and freedom/restoration: 5 (grace) x 50 (jubile
Parashat Chukat-Balak What happens when someone tries to curse what God has already blessed? The answer, found throughout the pages of Scripture, is that God has the final word every time. This teaching walks through some of the more mystifying stories in the Book of Numbers, including the account of Balak and Balaam, the red heifer, and the bronze serpent in the wilderness, to show how God consistently turns curses into blessings for those He loves. In the story of the bronze serpent in Numbers 21, God used the very image of the thing causing death as the instrument of healing for all who wou
Parashat Korach In this teaching on Parashat Korach (Numbers 16–18), we explore how God’s judgment is always tempered by His mercy. Through Korah’s rebellion, Aaron’s intercession, and the imagery of the Mishkan and the holy vessels, we see that God continually provides a way for His people to draw near to Him lest they die. This message traces the theme of God’s preserving grace throughout Scripture, showing how Moses and Aaron foreshadow Yeshua, the ultimate Intercessor who stood between the living and the dead so that we might have life. Rather than exalting ourselves, we are called to walk
Parashat Shelach Are you letting fear or faith take root in your heart? The parable of the sower in Matthew 13 is not just a story about farming. It is a picture of how the condition of your heart determines what grows in your life. Yeshua makes clear that what we hear and what we allow in will either strengthen our faith or erode it, and that principle plays out in one of the most dramatic moments in all of Scripture. In Numbers 13 and 14, Moses sends twelve respected leaders into the Promised Land. They all see the same land. They all encounter the same giants. But ten come back with a repor
Parashat Beha’alotcha What should have been an eleven-day trip from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land became a forty-year exile because of the people’s complaints and faithlessness. God had established His presence among them through the tabernacle, given them His law, and provided everything needed for the journey ahead, including God’s miraculous provision of manna, bread from heaven. The manna serves as a powerful symbol throughout Scripture, pointing to Yeshua, the true bread from heaven. The Hebrew word for bread connects to additional concepts of joining together, waging war, and being a
Parashat Nasso The portion title ‘Nasso’ means take an account, counting the people, but its root nasah also means to uplift, showing that God doesn’t merely count His people but lifts them higher. This divine desire for elevation is seen throughout Scripture as God draws His children from darkness into His marvelous light. The Nazirite vow in Numbers 6 provides a unique opportunity for anyone to draw near to God. Through three specific restrictions, avoiding all grape products, not cutting hair, and avoiding contact with dead bodies, any man or woman could experience the same level of consecr
Sheni shel Shavuot God’s appointed times serve as ongoing opportunities for Him to meet with His people, transforming us through His Word and Spirit as we learn to celebrate His faithfulness in all circumstances. From Passover’s freedom and redemption to Shavuot’s receiving of God’s Word and Spirit for transformation, these aren’t merely historical remembrances but ongoing opportunities to rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Through the concept of the second tithe in Deuteronomy, we learn that God calls us to rejoice before Him, acknowledging Him as the source of all blessings. Even when circumstan
Parashat Bamidbar Life often feels like wandering in a wilderness, but these seasons serve a divine purpose. The Hebrew word Bamidbar means in the wilderness, representing a place of spiritual formation where God prepares us for what lies ahead. When God counted the Israelites in Numbers, He wasn’t conducting a census but lifting up their heads, recognizing each person individually and assigning them purpose. Just as baseball players need countless hours of preparation to react in 0.4 seconds to a fastball, we need spiritual preparation to respond correctly when life comes at us fast. Your wil
Parashat Behar-Bechukotai The Hebrew word Geulah, meaning redemption, first appears in Leviticus 25 and reveals God’s heart for relationship with His people. Redemption means to buy back, like a nearest relative with authority to restore family property. The Hebrew words for exile (Golah) and redemption (Geulah) differ by only one letter, showing how close we are to God’s restoration. The Aleph in redemption represents God’s two hands working together – His Word and His Spirit. God warns against having a casual relationship with Him, expecting us to draw close through both Scripture and prayer
Parashat Emor God has designed sacred rhythms that permeate our spiritual lives through daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly cycles intended to keep Him at the center of our lives. The Sabbath is interconnected with all of God’s appointed times, appearing first in Leviticus 23 and woven into every other holy day. This creates a divine pattern where the number seven represents completion and preparation for something new, as seen throughout Scripture in various cleansing and consecration processes. The Hebrew word menuchah means rest and peace and the Sages connect it to how God finished His work
Parashat Acharei Mot – Kedoshim Through the Day of Atonement, God provided a way for His Presence to dwell among His people by removing every obstacle that impedes His presence. Atonement is the purification from the stain of sin. It removes the contamination to sanctify the Holy Place of God’s Presence. Both the Tabernacle and the people needed purification from accumulated contamination. Through Yeshua, who serves as our mercy seat, believers receive an atonement greater than the blood of bulls and goats, an atonement that enables God’s Spirit to dwell within us. This cleansing comes with pu
Parashat Tazria-Metzora The Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora present challenging passages about ritual purity and leprosy and hint at elements of God’s redemptive plan. These detailed laws point to how God brings His people from death to life, from exile to His presence. Biblical leprosy is understood as a spiritual condition that manifestation in a physical malady. The Sages derive from Scripture that evil speech, pride, lack of care for others, and other heart issues are the root causes, which aligns with Yeshua’s teaching about defilement coming from within. Just as individuals with tza
Parashat Shemini God calls His people to be holy as He is holy. The Hebrew word kadosh means to be separated and set apart. This separation isn’t about superiority but about calling and purpose – God’s people are meant to be a kingdom of priests representing Him to the world through all their conduct, including their dietary choices. The Jewish understanding teaches that our dining table should function like God’s altar, transforming ordinary eating into an act of worship. Traditional practices like washing hands before meals, sprinkling salt on bread, and blessing God for His provision all re
Shabbat Chol HaMo’ed Pesach The season of Passover and the counting of the Omer reveals that God’s redemption extends far beyond a single moment of deliverance into an ongoing journey of spiritual transformation. At the heart of this journey lies God’s abundant mercy, demonstrated when He proclaimed His name to Moses after Israel’s sin with the golden calf. The sages teach that God’s name was spoken twice to represent His mercy shown both before we sin and after we repent, revealing that His compassion flows from His character rather than our merit. Spiritual rebirth, as Yeshua explained to Ni
Parashat Tzav When describing those who bring offerings, Scripture uses the word nephesh (soul) rather than the typical ish (man), emphasizing that these sacrifices involve the very soul of the person approaching God. Most significantly, the burnt offering uses the word Adam, pointing to Yeshua as the last Adam who would offer himself completely, holding nothing back, just as an olah is completely consumed on the altar. Paul’s teaching in Romans 5 illuminates the contrast between the first and last Adam using a kal vachomer technique – if one man’s disobedience could spread death to many, how
Parashat Vayikra The book of Leviticus, often viewed as difficult and foreign, reveals unexpected truths about God’s desire for relationship with His people. Throughout Leviticus, God’s name representing mercy and compassion appears 209 times while His name representing justice appears only 5 times, indicating that the sacrificial system was rooted in compassion, not anger. The Hebrew word for offering, korban, comes from the root meaning to draw near, further demonstrating that God’s primary purpose was enabling relationship between holy God and fallen humanity. The five types of offerings pr
Parashat Vayakhel – Pekudei As we enter the season of Passover, we’re reminded of God’s desire to dwell among His people. The tabernacle wasn’t just an ancient structure – it represents God’s heart to live intimately with us, both among us and within us. God required His people to participate in creating both space (the tabernacle) and time (the Sabbath) for His presence. Today, we’re called to be living temples, actively creating room for God’s dwelling presence in our lives, communities, and world through willing hearts and intentional offerings. The post Time and Space appeared first on Emm
Parashat Ki Tisa The ancient ritual of the red heifer stands as one of Scripture’s most mysterious commandments, yet it reveals profound truths about God’s provision for cleansing and His incredible mercy. This special sacrifice, described in Numbers 19, was designed to purify those who had contact with death – a ritual impurity that prevented participation in temple worship. The process itself contained apparent contradictions: those who prepared the purifying ashes became impure through the process, yet the waters they created could cleanse the impure. This type of commandment, called a chok
