puricare chronicles: Grapes

Showing posts with label Grapes. Show all posts

Saturday, April 3, 2021

THE NAZARITE / NAZIRITE VOW - Those who decided to dedicate themselves to God as a Nazarite had to abstain from eating any grapes or any product made from them like juice, raisins and so on. Those who were under the vow could not shave any hair on their head. A Nazarite was not permitted to come near a corpse, even if it was from a close family member, so that they would not be rendered unclean. While Jesus was raised in Nazareth (and hence called a Nazarene) he was NOT a Nazarite. He practiced things that would not be permitted if he were under the vow. Jesus could not be a Nazarite because He drank wine, and did so frequently enough, that he was accused (falsely) of being a "winebibber" or drunk. He also came close to or touched the dead bodies of at least three people, which would have been forbidden for him to do. The New Testament states that men were expected to have short hair. Since Christ never took up the Nazarite vow for himself, which would have allowed him to wear long hair, he almost certainly always wore his short (one proof the Shroud of Turin is a fake). - Those who took the Nazarite vow voluntary pledge consecrated himself or herself to some special service to the Eternal. God's law permitted both men and women to take on this pledge. Those desiring to take the vow of a Nazarite had to be willing to sacrifice certain aspects of their life for the duration of their pledge.

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The Nazarite Vow

What is the Nazarite / Nazirite Vow?

Those who decided to dedicate themselves to God as a Nazarite had to abstain from eating any grapes or any product made from them like juice, raisins and so on. Those who were under the vow could not shave any hair on their head. A Nazarite was not permitted to come near a corpse, even if it was from a close family member, so that they would not be rendered unclean.

While Jesus was raised in Nazareth (and hence called a Nazarene) he was NOT a Nazarite. He practiced things that would not be permitted if he were under the vow. Jesus could not be a Nazarite because He drank wine, and did so frequently enough, that he was accused (falsely) of being a "winebibber" or drunk. He also came close to or touched the dead bodies of at least three people, which would have been forbidden for him to do.

The New Testament states that men were expected to have short hair. Since Christ never took up the Nazarite vow for himself, which would have allowed him to wear long hair, he almost certainly always wore his short (one proof the Shroud of Turin is a fake).

BibleStudy.org

The requirements of the Nazarite vow are found primary in the Old Testament passages of Numbers 6:1-21, Judges 13:5-7, 16:17 and Amos 2:11-12.

Those who took this (usually) voluntary pledge consecrated himself or herself to some special service to the Eternal.

Those who wished to dedicate themselves as a Nazarite could do so for any period, although the Mishna (a collection of Jewish oral law) suggests a period of 30 days.

God's law permitted both men and women to take on this pledge (Numbers 6:2).

Those desiring to take the vow of a Nazarite had to be willing to sacrifice certain aspects of their life for the duration of their pledge.

They had to abstain entirely from wine or drinking anything with alcohol in it (Numbers 6:3, see also Amos 2:12).

In fact, those who decided to dedicate themselves to God as a Nazarite had to abstain from eating any grapes or any product made from them like juice, raisins and so on.

Those who were under the vow could not shave any hair on their head (e.g. beard, mustache, eyebrows - Numbers 6:5, Judges 13:5, 16:17).

This meant that those who promised to serve God in such a way were easily recognizable to other people, as they had long hair, bushy eyebrows, a long unkempt beard, etc.

A Nazarite was not permitted to come near a corpse, even if it was from a close family member, so that they would not be rendered unclean (Numbers 6:6-7).

After their period of dedicated service as a Nazarite ended, a person had to present burnt, sin and peace offerings at the temple (Numbers 6:13-21).

They were then to shave their head and burn the hairs, after which they were allowed to return to a normal life.

Although they existed before the time of Moses, the first person specifically mentioned in the Bible as being a Nazarite is Samson (Judges 13:7, 16:17).

He was among the very few dedicated as such from birth, along with Samuel (though not directly stated met the requirements – 1 Samuel 1:11), and John the Baptist (Luke 1:15).

Some Biblical commentaries believe that Absalom, one of King David's sons, took the vow (see 2 Samuel 14:26).

The apostle Paul seems to have also dedicated himself in this special way at least twice, near the end of his second missionary journey (Acts 18:18) and just before the start of his fourth one (Acts 21:23-26).

The New Testament also mentions others who took this pledge of a Nazarite (Acts 21:23-24).

One Christian tradition speculates that the Apostle James might also have taken this pledge (Eusebius, Ecclesiates History, ii. 23. 3).

While Jesus was raised in Nazareth (and hence called a Nazarene - Matthew 2:23) he was NOT a Nazarite.

He practiced things that would not be permitted if he were under the vow.

For example, Jesus could not be a Nazarite because He drank wine, and did so frequently enough, that he was accused (falsely) of being a "winebibber" (Matthew 11:19, Luke 7:34) or drunk.

Additionally, He also came close to or touched the dead bodies of at least three people (Luke 7:11-15, 8:49 - 55, John 11), which would have been forbidden for him to do.

The New Testament states that men were expected to have short hair (1 Corinthians 11:14, 16).

Since Christ never took up the Nazarite vow for himself, which would have allowed him to wear long hair, he almost certainly always wore his short (one proof the Shroud of Turin is a fake).

BibleStudy.org is an Christian outreach started in early 1996 by the site's webmaster who can be contacted by the below form. Bible study began as, and continues to be, an independent Bible-based service that is not operated by or affiliated with any corporate or religious entity. All of our content, offered free of charge, is made possible by financial gifts from visitors like you.

Bible study makes every effort to create content based on what Scripture teaches. Our independence allows us to make corrections to our content whenever God, and strong Biblical support, leads us to do so. Some of the beliefs supported by the site can be found in our article entitled "What are the Bible's basic teachings?"

https://www.biblestudy.org/maturart/what-is-the-nazarite-vow.html

Friday, February 19, 2021

GRAPES FROM THORNBUSHES - Trash is debris from plant materials, something worth little or nothing, and something thrown away. Trash is an excellent symbol for individuals who make a commitment to Jesus; then, quit living a Christian life because worldly cares choke their commitment. God’s judgment will fall on people who treat God and his laws as worthless, i.e., as if they are trash. If individuals want to be something thrown away like trash, God will allow them to be this way. God will give them over to a reprobate mind. - In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus averred that a man can’t gather grapes from thorn bushes. The second time that Jesus spoke of thorns in gospels was in the familiar parable of the sower and the seed. In the first century many farmers, scattered (broadcast) seed on top of the soil rather than plow soil, scattered seeds, then re-plowed soil to cover seeds. The challenge with broadcasting seed is that seed falls various places, i.e., on a pathway, in thin soil, among thorns. Seeds sprouted and grew; but, thorns can surround good seedlings and choke their growth. First century Palestine contained several types of thorns and thorn bushes. In Israel, buckthorns grow in wood, shrub-lands, and the mountain vegetation of Mount Hermon. The buckthorn is a slow-growing shrub, rarely reaching a height of six feet. The Palestine buckthorn is evergreen. It grows with a many-branched, tangled form, and velvety thorns.

Grapes from Thornbushes

Trash is debris from plant materials, something worth little or nothing, and something thrown away.

Trash is an excellent symbol for individuals who make a commitment to Jesus; then, quit living a Christian life because worldly cares choke their commitment. God’s judgment will fall on people who treat God and his laws as worthless, i.e., as if they are trash. If individuals want to be something thrown away like trash, God will allow them to be this way. God will give them over to a reprobate mind.

Carolyn Roth Ministry

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus averred that a man can’t gather grapes from thorn bushes.

The second time that Jesus spoke of thorns in gospels was in the familiar parable of the sower and the seed.

Most of us can recite this parable:

“A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” - (Matthew 13.3-8 ESV).

In the first century many farmers, scattered (broadcast) seed on top of the soil rather than plow soil, scattered seeds, then re-plowed soil to cover seeds.

The challenge with broadcasting seed is that seed falls various places, i.e., on a pathway, in thin soil, among thorns.

Seeds sprouted and grew; but, thorns can surround good seedlings and choke their growth.

Jesus’s interpretation of seed which fell among thorns is: “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (Matthew 13.22 ESV).

Thornbush

First century Palestine contained several types of thorns and thorn bushes.

The Bible names several to them, i.e., Jotham’s thorn tree in Judges, crackling thorn bushes in Ecclesiastes, and Isaiah’s buckthorn (Rhamnus lycioides, R. palaestinus).

In Israel, buckthorns grow in wood, shrub-lands, and the mountain vegetation of Mount Hermon. The buckthorn is a slow-growing shrub, rarely reaching a height of six feet.

The Palestine buckthorn is evergreen. It grows with a many-branched, tangled form, and velvety thorns.

Young stems are green; with maturity, bark turns gray.

The buckthorn fruit is a small (1/4 inch), oval berry.

Initially, the berry is green, but, turns black when ripe. Berries are poisonous to humans, but a good source of food for birds.

Symbolism: Trash

A Hebrew word for thorn is shayith which translates as trash, scrub, and thorn.

Trash is debris from plant materials, something worth little or nothing, and something thrown away.

Trash is an excellent symbol for individuals who make a commitment to Jesus; then, quit living a Christian life because worldly cares choke their commitment.

God’s judgment will fall on people who treat God and his laws as worthless, i.e., as if they are trash.

If individuals want to be something thrown away like trash, God will allow them to be this way (Romans 1.28).

God will give them over to a reprobate mind.

Reflection: How do you behave in a “trashy” manner?

Carolyn Roth Ministry (CarolynRothMinistry.com) offers research, education, and consultation to individuals and organizations who want to deepen their understanding of the Bible.

Welcome to godasagardener.com

As the site editor, participants should know I am a spiritual woman with a deep belief in God. Many friends would describe my Christian perspective as orthodox. I believe in the inspired, written word of God. I live in Roanoke, Virginia. I am a Virginia Master Gardener and a Tree Steward.

This website/blog glorifies God within the context of earth as His garden, describes Bible and other growing plants, and applies them to our Christian walk in the 21st century. On Creation day 3, God created vegetation, e.g., trees, herbs, flowers. On this site, the word plant will be used to encompass all types of vegetation. God created plants right after He created the heavens (Day 2) and before He created the sun, moon, and stars (Day 4). This creative order demonstrates that God valued and had a purpose for the varied flora in our world. Our response to this creative process should first be love for the Creator and second a reverence for this earthly garden.

https://godasagardener.com/2019/02/20/grapes-from-thornbushes/

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The Sermon on the Mount