"YESHUA DEMONSTRATES THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM" (MATTHEW 4:23-25)

 

By: Dr. Don Meecha
Light of Messiah Ministries, Int’l

The Galilean Ministry (4:23-25)
Teaching in the Synagogues (25A)
a. Teaching – Greek “Didasko” Meaning to teach. Yeshua’s Ministry is primarily revealed in the gospels as a teaching (Didastic) one. After all as a
Rabbi (Teacher) that would have been His main task. This teaching in Yeshua’s day was done mainly in the Synagogue.

b. Synagogue – Greek “Sunago” meaning to Gather, meet together. Yeshua showed respect for the Synagogue system and had the same feelings the common people did for the synagogue. It was the place of worship among the people i. Yeshua Endorsed It:
Luke 4:16; John 6:59;
John 18:20
ii. Early Believers were close to the Synagogue Acts 13:14; 14:1; 17:1, 10; 18:4;19:8

c. Synagogue Structure
i. 10 Men were needed to for an assembly, not just any 10 men, but learned men. Why 10 men? Numbers 14:27 “Evil Congregation” The bench of three judging magistrates
ii. Seven were deacons (Talmud: Tractate Sanhedrin)
1. “The seven good men of the city” of whom there are many Tal. Ref. (Lightfoot V2 P91)
2. Appointment – Came through the laying on of hands
a. Acts6:1-8
3. Qualifications – only those who have preformed the office & have obtained to themselves a good degree.
a. 1 Tim 3:13

d. One Magistrate who was called:
i. Chazan (Bishop) of the congregation
ii. “To Angelo Tes Ekklesia” (CF. Rev 2:1; 2:8; 2:12; 2:18; 3:1; 3:5; 3:7; 3:14)

e. There Was One Interpreter of “Tongues” (Languages)
i. Neh. 8:8 Translated – Targum – Targumist
ii. Larger cities developed more interpreters

f. Days of Worship were the Sabbath, the Second & Fifth Day of EveryWeek.
i. This Trad. Is Attributed to Ezra (Bab. Tal. Bava Metzia)
ii. Acts 13:42 – “Next Sabbath” is a poor translation of the word “metaxu.” It means “in the midst of, between,” only here in the N.T. is it translated. “in
between”
1. Matt 18:15 –
2. Matt 23:35 –
3. Luke 11:51 –
4. Luke 16:26 –
5. Acts 12:6 –
6. Acts 15:9 –
Of all the times Metaxu is used it is rendered “between.” ESP All its uses in the book of Acts meeting on the second and fifth day would allow
for this interpretation. But a lack of understanding concerning the Synagogue traditions would necessitate a translation of “Metzxu Sabbaton” as “Next Sabbath” instead of in “Between Shabbat.”
7. The Didache – Do not be like the hypocrites

g. The Service – i. Prayer, Psalms, Readings, Teachings, Exhortation
Eph 5:15 – Learned response from synagogue participation most people did not
have. ii. Men Separated from women
1. 1 Cor. 14:34