Ephesians Chapter 1 Breakdown

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

Paul is an apostle to the saints who are in Ephesus (Ephesians) and the faithful in Yeshua.

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

He wishes Grace upon them.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

This one sentence is made up of four verses. Something that stands out is many times people verse pluck and in doing so it is extremely easy to take a verse out of its intended context.

Here Paul is calling for blessings to YHWH, who has given spiritual blessings. He says we have been selected from before the foundation of the world. This means, YHWH knew His people before He created the world. He says we have been predestined to adoption, meaning being grafted into Israel. This is YHWH’s will.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

Through the Blood of Yeshua, there is redemption. The word used for redemption is Strong's G629 – apolytrōsis and its definition is a releasing effected by payment of ransom. In order to be released from something, one had to be bound by that thing. That being said, what is it the Ephesian believers have been released from? The next segment states forgiveness of sins. It seems Paul is saying believers, and not just the Ephesian, have been released from the bonds of their sin. I believe all preachers would agree that YHWH’s commands were given to Israel and not to gentiles. If that is the case, then how does the blood of Yeshua impact a gentile? I ask this with the thought process being sin is the breaking or disobeying of YHWH’s commands. That is how John defines sin.

1 John 3:4

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law

Then, to go further, many preachers today also teach that His law was given to only Israel, but it doesn’t apply to believers today. In the same breath they will say believers have been grafted into Israel. If His law was given to Israel, it is for Israel. If we are grafted, or adopted into Israel, it is for us. Next, Paul goes into the idea that YHWH has made known to us the mystery of His will. His will has always been to save all of Israel. Remember, it was Israel who sinned against YHWH causing Him to divorce her and scatter her among the gentiles. Now, Paul is preaching to the gentiles and saying the mystery of YHWH’s will has been revealed. So, what is the mystery? If everyone knows what His will was, it is stated numerous times throughout the Old Testament, why was it a mystery? It is simple. It was a mystery not the what, but the how. How was He going to fulfil His will? When YHWH sent the norther House of Israel away and scattered her among the nations, where she will continue to worship other gods, He divorced her first because she was unfaithful, or worshiping other gods. According to His own law, a man can never take a divorced wife back if she has become defiled with another man. The mystery, or the how was YHWH going to do this was through His own death. If the husband dies, the woman is released from the marriage covenant, making her free to marry anyone she chooses.

The Greek word used here for dispensation is Strong's G3622 – oikonomia and it means the management of a household or of household affairs. Paul is saying here the management of the end times is His gathering together all things which are in Yeshua. Dispensation, at least in this verse, does not mean YHWH is dealing with believers today differently than He did prior to Yeshau’s death.

11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

Believers have obtained an inheritance. The destiny of believers has been written according to the purpose of YHWH.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

The truth is the word. The only word at the time Paul is writing this is what we call the Old Testament. The gospel is about salvation. Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit and the Holy spirit causes men to keep YHWH commands, or in other words, the Holy Spirit causes men not to sin.

Ezekiel 36:27

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Paul is pleased with the faith of the Ephesians and prays for them. The specifics that are prayed for are as follows

1.       The spirit of wisdom and revelation in His knowledge

2.       Eyes for understanding being educated

3.       To know what is the hope of His calling

4.       To know the riches of His inheritance in the saints

5.       To know what the exceeding greatness of His power toward believers is

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

YHWH has put all things under His feet. Yeshua is the head, believers are the body.

Romans Chapter 16 Breakdown

1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Paul is sending Phoebe, a servant of YHWH form Cenchrea, which is in Corinth, to the Romans. He requests they take her in like they would any other of the saints. He also requests the Romans help her with anything she needs.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

A husband and wife who were companions of Paul in the work of spreading the scripture and word of Yeshua. These two risked their lives for Paul.

5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ.

Paul wants the Romans to draw themselves close to the church at the home of Priscilla and Aquila. He also suggest they draw closer to Epaenetus, who is of Corinth and one of Paul’s good friends.

6 Greet Mary, who labored much for us.

Also, draw close to Mary, she was also someone who worked hard in spreading the word of Christ along with Paul and the disciples.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Draw yourselves close to these two apostles, who were believers before Christ before Paul, and were prisoners with Paul.

8 Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.12 Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

Paul goes on to list a bunch of others who the Romans show become close with in order to learn from.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ greet you.

Draw close to one another and kiss each other to show your affection among fellow believers.

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

Paul specifically states that believers should avoid men who cause division among the believers who teach things contrary to the Torah. He says you should know who is saying these things and stay away from them. He says the same thing in his letter to Titus.

Titus 3:8-11

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

Throughout this letter to the Romans, Paul has continually argued against keeping the law for the purpose of salvation. He is saying here that believers should avoid these arguments. What Paul teaches is keeping the law out of love for YHWH, not to gain salvation. It is not a box check list of deeds to get into the kingdom of YHWH. What others were teaching was just that, “do these things, along with the Jewish oral traditions in order to be saved.”

18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Those who teach anything contrary to keeping the Torah out of love “do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Galatians 6:13

For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

Paul is referring to the Circumcision Sect of the Jews here. They use smooth and flattering words to deceive men because they wish to boast about how many converts they have, which is serving themselves. The more converts they have, the more money they will receive as the leaders of the Jewish Synagogues, therefore, they are serving their own bellies. They are deceiving those who do not know any better, those who do not study the entire Word for themselves. Also notice, Paul says right here that these people, who are teaching against Paul, do not keep the law themselves. They may be preaching it in order to be saved, but they are not keeping it.

19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.

Paul says the obedience to YHWH of the believers in Rome has become public knowledge. Paul is happy about this, but cautions them.  

20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Satan will be broken before the believers.

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you.

22 I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord.

Tertius of Iconium acted as scribe for Paul the Apostle.

23 Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother.

24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

What is the mystery from the beginning of the world Paul is referring to? The only way to know is to go back to the Torah to find out.

1 Peter 1:1-2

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter 1:10-12

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

We can see who Paul is speaking to, which are the elect from the gentile nations. These are the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Then, we can see the prophets and angels desired to look into this particular issue. How were these people supposed to be brought back to YHWH? This is a huge mystery that Paul refers to often.

Deuteronomy 24:4

then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled;…

Jeremiah 3:1, 7-8

“They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man’s, May he return to her again?’ Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return to Me,” says the Lord.

And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.

Jeremiah 32:37

Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely.

Hosea 2:23

Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, ‘You are My people!’ And they shall say, ‘You are my God!’”

If YHWH’s rule is a divorced wife can never return to the divorced husband, and the House of Israel was the divorced wife of YWHH, how can He take her back without breaking His own law? If YHWH breaks His own law, would that make His unjust? Would that not make Him a sinner? If He cannot be a sinner, as I believe, there is only one way for this to happen and Paul revealed it to us in chapter seven, and that is the husband has to die to release her from the original marriage covenant. Paul is simply reiterating what he has already told the Romans to finish up his letter.

Deuteronomy 4:27-31

And the Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the Lord will drive you. And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the Lord your God and obey His voice (for the Lord your God is a merciful God), He will not forsake you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which He swore to them.

Deuteronomy 30:1-6

“Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God drives you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul, that the Lord your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and gather you again from all the nations where the Lord your God has scattered you. If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the Lord your God will gather you, and from there He will bring you. Then the Lord your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers. And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.

Nehemiah 1:5-9

And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned. We have acted very corruptly against You, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’

As you can conclude from this entire letter Paul wrote, taking into consideration how much of the Old Testament Paul references, all these things work together and make the point that the “gentile” believers are to turn back to YHWH’s law, but not with the intention to use it for salvation, but rather with the intent to show our love and faith in YHWH.

Romans Chapter 15 Breakdown

1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Those of us who are strong in our belief should be patient with the consciences of those who are weak in their faith.

2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

The more we work toward helping and pleasing our neighbor, the stronger in their faith they will become.

3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

Psalm 69:9

Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.

Paul quotes from the Old Testament, and says even Yeshua went out of His way to please others, ultimately bringing them closer to YHWH. He took on the accusations of all believers.

4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Paul says everything in the Old Testament was written in order for us to learn. We can find hope in the comfort and patience of the Old Testament. We have to consider the fact that seems to be overlooked all too often. There was no New Testament when Paul wrote his letters. Every single time throughout the New Testament when the scriptures are being mentioned, it is always referring to the Old Testament. Paul never said, hold on, and let me check my letters to make sure what I say is correct. No. He says let me check the Torah, Prophets, and Old Testament writings. 

5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul is asking for the people to be like minded toward each other, following YHWH’s law.

7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Accept each other, help each other to the glory of YHWH.

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”

2 Samuel 22:50

Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

Psalm 18:49

Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

Yeshua became a servant to the circumcision, as in the Sect of Jews who preached the requirement of circumcision for salvation, for the truth of YHWH. This was to confirm the promises made to the Jews, and the Gentiles, who are the lost sheep of the House of Israel. Paul is quoting from the Old Testament.

10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”

Deuteronomy 32:43

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

Paul quotes directly from Torah. The Torah is speaking about the gentiles. That’s right, the gentiles are not a New Testament idea in terms of being connected to YHWH.

11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”

Psalm 117:1

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!

Again Paul quotes from the Scriptures about the inclusion of the gentiles.

12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

Isaiah 11:10

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

Paul pulls from the prophets to point to Yeshua and the plan for the lost sheep of the House of Israel, who became the gentiles.

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul requests YHWH fill all these newly converted believers with hope and joy from the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 119:74

Let those who respect you rejoice when they see me, because I put my hope in your word.

Psalm 119:14-16

I enjoy living by your rules as people enjoy great riches. I think about your orders and study your ways. I enjoy obeying your demands, and I will not forget your word.

Paul is saying, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you will have hope and joy, because the Holy Spirit causes men to obey His commands.

Ezekiel 36:27

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.

14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

Paul says he is confident that these men were full of good, and had the knowledge to rebuke one another for sins they were committing. The knowledge Paul speaks of is the knowledge of the scriptures. The only way to rebuke someone is to know what they are doing directly or indirectly contradicts God’s given scripture. When we study the scriptures, we gain knowledge. This knowledge is how we get closer to YHWH. He is the word, and the word is God.

John 1:1

[ The Eternal Word ] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Psalm 119:160

The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

The Hebrew word used for endures forever is Strong's H5769 - `owlam and it literally means forever, always, and perpetual. This is the eternal word John is referring to. This is the knowledge Paul is referring to. Knowing the word is knowing YHWH, the Father. Obeying the word is obeying YHWH, the Father.

15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Paul states he was more brash for certain issues than others. The Gospel or good news, is what allows the gentiles, the lost sheep of the House of Israel, to return back to YHWH because they are purified by the Holy Spirit. Remember, the Holy Spirit causes men to keep YHWH’s commands and laws. By coming to YHWH with faith, and then following His laws and commands, the gentiles will be sanctified.

17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God.

All things related to YHWH is reason to exalt Yeshua.

18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

Yeshua did things, outside of the words of Paul, which would cause gentiles to be obedient. These things include, signs and wonders which were from the power of the Spirit of YHWH. Paul merely went about teaching, while in the background, these things were happening causing the gentiles, including the lost sheep of the House of Israel, to believe and have faith in YHWH’s ways and laws to be beneficial for them.

20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written: “To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

Isaiah 52:15

So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.

Paul says it is his goal to preach Yeshua but not to the Jews, but rather to the gentiles and the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.

Because he is preaching to those who do not believe they are allowed to return to YHWH, and to those who never knew Him, Paul is having a hard time coming back to the Romans.

23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.

Paul states his plan to travel to Spain, and stop off in Rome on his way.

25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.

Before Paul heads to Spain, he is going to Israel first in order to preach to the Believers who are there.

26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem.

The saints are pleased because the poor among the saints were being taken care of. Macedonia is where the believers of Philippi and Thessalonica lived. Achaia is where the believers of Corinth lived. Paul speaks of these contributions in 2 Corinthians to some extent.

2 Corinthians 8:1-9, 15

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.

Exodus 16:18

So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need.

Paul always refers everything he says back to Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.

27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

The poor were partaking in the spiritual things, it was up to the wealthy believers to ensure the poor had material things as well. The poor were not to lack of things they needed.

28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain.

Once Paul delivers the money, or material items to the poor believers in Jerusalem, he plans to return to Rome on his way to Spain.

29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Paul stating a bit of his faith.

30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.

Paul asked the Romans to pray with him for him. He does not want to be caught by the non-believers, but he does want to be accepted by the saints. He also wants to ensure he makes it to Rome safely.

33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

He blesses the Romans as if he is ending the letter here. However, he finished the letter in the next chapter.

Romans Chapter 14 Breakdown

This chapter is a little different because it has been taken out of intended context so many times and used to teach against keeping YHWH’s law. Paul has just spent the past thirteen chapters discussing keeping YHWH’s law to show our love for Him, and arguing against trying to seek salvation by keeping the law, can we really say now, in chapter fourteen he is choosing to go against everything he was just written? This is a letter, and should be read in letter format, meaning there are no chapters and it is all one continuous message. Considering that is the case, there is no reason to think this particular section of the letter is arguing in favor of anything other than what Paul has already been saying. That all being said, to truly get an understanding of what Paul is talking about, we will need to read this chapter while keeping 1 Corinthians chapter eight in mind.

1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

Befriend even those who are weak in the faith, but do not argue over things that will cause a man to doubt YHWH’s commands.

2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.

The man who believes he can eat all things, not knowing whether it had been sacrificed to an idol is strong. The one who will only eat vegetables because he is worried about the meat having been sacrificed to an idol is weak.

1 Corinthians 8:7

However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

These two chapters use the very same terminology. There is no reason to believe Paul is discussing two different problems in the ancient world when he is talking to newly converted Believers.

3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

1 Corinthians 8:8

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.

Do not look down on one another based on how you feel about eating meats. It makes no difference to YHWH if you eat the meat or not, so long as it is not a sin. Meaning, you do not eat meat knowing it has been sacrificed to an idol.

4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Paul just reaffirming his statement of not judging one another based on whether or not they are eating meat.

5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.

Paul moves to discuss days of fasting. There is nothing in this entire chapter about holidays, so there is no reason to use this as an argument for celebrating any holiday you feel like celebrating.

6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Each believer does his own thing when it comes to fasting. If he believes he should fast every Friday, which is his prerogative.

7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.

All believers are living for YHWH.

8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

We are YHWH’s people regardless of which days we choose to fast.

9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

It is Yeshua’s death that allowed him to be Lord of the living and the dead.

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Paul points out, people are judging one another based on which day they choose to fast and whether or not they are eating meat.

11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

Isaiah 45:23

I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath.

Paul quotes from the prophets here, simply confirming his argument.

12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.

We will all stand before YHWH and give our story and excused why we chose to do what we did during our lifetime.

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

1 Corinthians 8:9

But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

We need not to judge other believers nor should we become a stumbling block to them. Again, this is the same terminology Paul uses in his letter to the Corinthians. The liberty mentioned by Paul is referring to the knowledge that there is only one God, and not knowing if the meat had been an idol sacrifice means YHWH will not hold it against you.

14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

Meat, meant as food, is not unclean of itself, but if it is considered unclean to a man, then to that man it is unclean. This verse does not extend to change YHWH’s definition of what is unclean. Paul does not outweigh YHWH in authority. This verse is specific to animals that are considered clean to eat. On top of that, this verse is referring to a man’s conscience in terms of if the meat had been sacrificed to an idol. If a man believes it had been sacrificed to another god, then he should not eat it. It has nothing to do with a man thinking pork is bad so it is only bad to that man. Again, Paul’s word does not override YHWH’s word.

15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 8:12-13

But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Sinning against a brother is to cause them to stumble, as in causing them to sin themselves. Notice also Paul says “I will never again eat meat” and he does not say he will never again eat pork, or snake, or hippo. It is meat, which may or may not have been offered to an idol in sacrifice. He says he will never again eat meat if he sees it becomes a problem which ultimately causes another believer to sin. Going back to 1 Corinthians we can see a little bit more on this.

1 Corinthians 8: 10

For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?

Basically, what Paul is saying is, if those who are still unsure of what is okay to eat, sees another believer eating in the temple of an idol, it will ultimately cause them to think it is okay to eat animals who have knowingly been sacrificed to idols, which is a sin. If you disagree with this, see what Paul says in Acts.

Acts 15: 28-29

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well.

Numbers 25:2

For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

Exodus 34:14-15

For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God: otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice,

We are not to eat sacrificed meat to another god due to its symbolic meaning of worship of that other god.

16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Do not let what you do be spoken of as evil. Simply meaning, do not do things that can be viewed as evil, such as eat in an idol temple, or let your actions cause others to sin.

18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Serve YHWH by not allowing your actions to cause others to sin, and you will be acceptable by YHWH, and approved by men.

19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

Go after things that will cause peace among men, and bring the knowledge of YHWH to men.

20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

The work of YHWH is his word, His commands. Do not allow food to cause your actions to not be loving toward others. Animals assigned at food are all pure to eat, but if your eating of those animals causes men to sin, it is evil.

21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.

Anything you do which causes other men to sin is not considered good.

22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

You will be happy if you do not condemn yourself in what you approve.

23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

If you eat the clean animal which you believe has been sacrificed to an idol, you are condemned. It is sin to eat something you do not believe is clean. Paul is making the case that specified clean animals are good to eat, so long as they have not been offered to another god. But, if they have been and the believer has no knowledge of it, they are still fine to eat. However, if the believer thinks they may have been offered to another god, they no longer can be eaten without committing sin.

Romans Chapter 13 Breakdown

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Every man should submit to their government due to YHWH putting each of those men in their position. Aside from breaking YHWH’s law, there is no reason to not keep the laws the government puts forth. Paul is not saying any government law is good to keep. Considering Hitler was a leader and he put forth laws that were significantly harmful toward YHWH’s people, I would suggest this does not apply to every government. It seems much more likely Paul is referring to leaders who teach YHWH’s law. The Greek words used for “governing authorities” do not necessarily mean governments. The Greek for governing is Strong's G5242 – hyperechō and it means superior or higher in rank. The Greek for authorities is Strong's G1849 – exousia and it means power or authority. So it can be translated as governing authorities, but it simply means those individuals who hold a higher rank in authority.

2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Because YHWH put these people in authority, do not resist them. They are there because it is part of YHWH’s plan. Here Paul suggests the leaders he is referring to are those who hold to the ordinance of YHWH. He goes on to say those who resist these ordinances will bring judgment upon themselves.

 

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Paul gives reason to believe what I have said previously is correct. The rulers are not a terror to good work, but to evil works. This was not the case for Adolf Hitler. He was a terror to good works. Hitler singled out the Torah following Jews as his target to exterminate due to his anti-Semite belief system. That being said, Paul is not telling believers they must submit to any and all rules their particular countries government puts forth.

4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Those in higher rank in terms of teaching Torah and authority, are ministers for good. If you are doing evil, as in anything contrary to keeping the law of YHWH, you should be afraid, because this minister of YHWH does not hold the sword in vain. Using this sword, which is the word of God, this minister executes wrath on those who practice evil.

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

This is why you should be subject to the “governing authorities”, because you fear YHWH, as well as your conscience, because if you know YHWH, you know His law, which is His word. Knowing His word means you know right from wrong.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.

Here we see Paul claiming the tax being paid goes to YHWH’s ministers who continually are working toward avenging to execute wrath on the evil doers.

7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Pay taxes to who they should be paid. Pay fees to who fees are due. And pay respect to who respect is do.

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

By doing this you will never owe anyone anything except love. By loving others we are keeping the law because the law was given to show us how to love our neighbor. Paul is talking about the law found in Leviticus.

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Paul understands that the whole point of the law of YHWH is to love not only YHWH, but also our neighbors.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Exodus 20:13–15, 17;

“You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal.

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

Deuteronomy 5:17–19, 21

‘You shall not murder. ‘You shall not commit adultery. ‘You shall not steal.

‘You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Paul simply sums up how all the laws given show love to our neighbor. Merely proving the statement I made above.

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Matthew 5:17

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

The word here for fulfil does not mean to abolish. The Greek word is  Strong's G4137 – plēroō. Its definitions are

A. to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full

B. to render full, i.e. to complete

I. to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim

II. to consummate: a number

a.       to carry through to the end, to accomplish, carry out, (some undertaking)

III.  to carry into effect, bring to realisation, realise

a.       of matters of duty: to perform, execute

b.      to fulfil, i.e. to cause God's will (as made known in the law) to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises (given through the prophets) to receive fulfilment

Matthew 3:15

But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him.

This is the very same word used for fulfil in both instances and the previous are the possible interpretations of the word. None of which imply bringing an end to YHWH’s law.

Because keeping the law shows love for our neighbor, and does no harm to them, it is how we should live, it is another reason to keep the law.

11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

Do these things, keep the law, pay what is due to who it is due, and love your neighbor. Believers have been lost far too long, but our salvation is much closer now than it was yesterday. 

12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

The time is now. Stop keeping the law of sin, continually breaking the law of YHWH. Keep His law, because this is putting on the armor of light. It is time for the House of Israel to begin keeping His law again.

13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.

To walk properly, in the light of day, meaning keeping His law. Do not continue walking in the dark, continually partying and being drunk. Get away from the ways of the world and come back to the ways of YHWH.

14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Do not walk in the flesh, committing the sins of the flesh. To avoid this, keep the law of YHWH. It is the only way to stop sin in your life.