This subject is probably one of the most controversial subjects in all of the Word of YHWH. Why? Because there are so many opinions and beliefs concerning the answer...

Proverbs 16:25 - There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

How do we know if we are doing the will of YHWH?

Mark 1:14 - Now after that John was put in prison, Yahushua came into Galilee, preaching the glad tidings of the kingdom of YHWH, 15 And saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of YHWH is at hand: repent ye, and believe the glad tidings."

To repent means to turn, and go another direction.  Yahushua is commanding us to repent because of the sin in our lives (to stop sinning). When a person regrets the fact that they are a sinner, the first step that is required, to fix the problem, is to repent. The problem is, however, that we humans are cursed with human nature, which is evil, and causes us to sin!

That's the first thing that Yahushua taught, that we need to repent and believe the Glad Tidings. The Glad Tidings are defined as the teachings of the coming kingdom of heaven. How Yahushua and his words effect an individual is the focus of this study.

The following is a parable by Yahushua concerning this subject...

Matthew 13:1 - The same day went Yahushua out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, "Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Why did Yahushua speak in parables? Was it to make his teachings easier to understand? Continuing on in verse 10...

Matthew 13:10 - And the disciples came, and said unto him, "Why speakest thou unto them in parables?" 11 He answered and said unto them, "Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, 'By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

 Yahushua quoted the above from Isaiah chapter 6 verses 9 and 10. He then explains the parable of the sower to his followers...

Matthew 13:18 - Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

Yahushua explains why this is so...

John 3:19 - And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

Reprove means to "convince". In other words, people who love darkness will not come to the light, for fear that they will be convinced that things they do are evil. They do not have a desire to repent. They enjoy doing evil, and they desire to continue doing evil, but they do not want to have a guilty conscience.

Continuing on with the explanation of the parable...

Matthew 13:20 - But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and immediately with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

This person gladly receives Yahushua's teachings, but when tribulation or persecution arises because he is following the words of Yahushua, and they inevitably will, he quickly falls away. It is because he has no root in himself.

Luke 14:27 - And whosoever doth not bear his stake, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

The NIV has Matthew 13:21, as follows...

Matthew 13:21 NIV - But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.

Mark 8:38 - Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the splendour of his Father with the set apart angels.

Luke 7:23 - And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Now back to Matthew...

Matthew 13:22 - He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Yahushua  makes it clear that getting caught up in the "ways of the world" can make us unfruitful...

Luke 21:34 - And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with gluttony, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

Luke 10:38 - As Yahushua and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Miriam, who sat at Yahushua's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Rabbi, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," Yahushua answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Miriam has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Yes, Miriam's choice was to hunger and thirst after Yahushua's words. 

And concerning the deceitfulness of riches...

1Timothy 6:9 - But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

For Yahushua's explanation of the seed that made it to the good ground...

Matthew 13:23 - But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

For an illustration of someone bringing forth fruit a hundredfold...

Genesis 26:12 - Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and YHWH blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:

Notice that it is YHWH that makes the increase! Yahushua said...

John 6:44 - "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of YHWH.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

Yahushua said in another place...

John 15:16 - "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

When we decide to follow Yahushua, we are given an awesome responsibility! We need to take heed!!

2Kepha (Peter) 2:20 - For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Master and Saviour Yahushua the Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the set apart commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, "The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire."

Yahushua explains why this is so...

Matthew 12:43 - When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. 44 Then he saith, "I will return into my house from whence I came out." And when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Apparently, anyone who is a prisoner of sin, is under the influence of demons.

The Tenach (old testament) backs up this precept...

Job 2:1 - Again there was a day when the sons of Elohim came to present themselves before YHWH, and Satan came also among them to present himself before YHWH. 2 And YHWH said unto Satan, "From whence comest thou?" And Satan answered YHWH, and said, "From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

Kepha (Peter) admonishes us in this regard...

1Kepha 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour

Yes, the adversary is the elohim of this world, and if we don't have YHWH to protect us, we are at his mercy!

Ephesians 2:1 (ASV) And you [did he make alive], when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lust of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

John 8:34 (NIV) Yahushua replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

The following is another parable given by Yahushua; this time it is about the Great Banquet...

Luke 14:15 - And when one of them that sat at the table with him heard these things, he said unto him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of the Almighty." 16 Then said Yahushua unto him, "A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, 'Come; for all things are now ready.' 18 And they all, in the same way, began to make excuses. The first said unto him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it: I ask you to have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out: I ask you to have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So that servant came, and shewed his master these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.' 22 And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.' 23 And the master said unto the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.'"

Without actually saying it, Yahushua proceeds in the following verses, to explain the meaning of the preceding parable. Continuing on in verse 25...

Luke 14:25 - And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his stake, and come after me, cannot be my disciple."

Yahushua just said what we must be willing to hate (love less) in order to be his follower... When people hear this teaching, some say, "He didn't literally mean what he said." But, did he mean what he said? Yahushua said in John 12:24...

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

Revelation 12:11 - And they overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Yahushua said...

Matthew 10:39 - "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." 

In another parable, Yahushua said...

Matthew 22:8 - "Then saith he to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.' 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, 'Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."

We must be prepared to pay the price...

Luke 14:28 - "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? 29 Otherwise, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace."

For an example of making peace with an enemy that is stronger than you...

Deuteronomy 20:10 - When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. 11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be forced laborers unto thee, and they shall serve thee.

In other words, Yahushua was saying that if we surrender to his enemies, we are not worthy to follow him.

One might say upon hearing these things, "Who then will be saved?"

Luke 13:23 - Then said one unto him, "Rabbi, are there few that be saved?" And he said unto them, 24 "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

Luke 14:33 - So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. 34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

What is this salt that Yahushua is talking about? Salt is used in 2 Kings...

2Kings 2:20 - And he (Elisha) said, "Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein." And they brought it to him. 21 And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, "Thus saith YHWH, 'I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land."'

Paul also uses salt as a symbol...

Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech be always with favor, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

It appears from the preceding verses, that salt is something that preserves and purifies. It prevents putrefaction. What is it that Yahushua was saying needs to be preserved?

First, we need to establish whom Yahushua was speaking to. According to Matthew 5:1-2, he was speaking to his disciples amongst the multitude. And as he opened his mouth, he began to teach the blessings (beatiudes: Matthew 5:3-12) Immediately after the blessings, Yahushua said... 

Matthew 5:13 - Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

At this point, let's turn to the beatitudes (blessings) of Yahushua, beginning in Matthew 5:3...

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see YHWH. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of YHWH. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

If we possess these qualities, then we are both the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Yahushua said...

John 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

The preceding must be in conjunction with something else that Yahushua said...

Matthew 10:22 "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

Yes, we need to endure to the end!! We need to preserve our zealousness and love for Yahushua and his words! I believe that once a person has this quality, then looses it (salt loosing its savor), it might be that they can never get it back again.

What can help us to endure to the end?

Nehemiah 8:10b For the joy of YHWH is your strength.

It says that the joy of YHWH is our strength; so it seems that the joy of YHWH is essential in our walk with Yahushua...

Isaiah 12:1 - And in that day thou shalt say, "O YHWH, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. 2 Behold, Elohim is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for YAH YHWH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Is there anything that we can do to help assure that we will be in favor with the Heavenly Father, and have his joy?

Psalm 5:11 - But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. 12 For thou, YHWH, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

Here is another parable of Yahushua...

Matthew 6:22 - The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

Here Yahushua is comparing the physical with the spiritual. The light is wisdom. The eye is the mind. The body is our being. It is explained in James...

James 1:5 - If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of YHWH, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting. For he that doubteth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of YHWH. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

As a follower of Yahushua, one can not be double minded! In other words, the eye must be single! This applies to the entire being. In the broadest sense, we must not attempt to be righteous one day, and evil the next. But in the deepest sense, it envelops everything about us, including our thoughts from moment to moment. For instance, is what we are doing (thinking) at the moment, causing us to be in the will of YHWH, or that of the devil?

Matthew 15:7 - "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.'"

Ezekiel 33:31 - And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

In order to rectify this dilemma, admonition from the word of YHWH is in order...

James 4:8 - Draw nigh to YHWH, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Is there anything that we can do to help assure that we will have sufficient to complete it? In the following, Yahushua is showing the contrast between the walk of the Pharisees with that of the children of the kingdom...

Luke 14:1 - And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath day, that they watched him.

Then dropping down to verse 7...

Luke 14:7 - And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, 8 "When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; 9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. 10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have honour in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. 11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

Proverbs 15:33 - The fear of YHWH is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

Matthew 18:1 - At the same time came the disciples unto Yahushua , saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 And Yahushua called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, "Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

We must realize, the heart is deceptive above all things...

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

We need to pray as David prayed...

Psalms 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

We must pray always...

Luke 21:36 - Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

To escape the things that are coming to pass on the earth! That is another subject, but suffice it to say, that we cannot make it on our own! We must remember to be humble...

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. 

and...

Mark 9:49 For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 
50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. 

We need to pray that we will continually be led in the paths of righteousness through the loving kindness of our Heavenly Father.

1John 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of YHWH sinneth not; but he that is begotten of YHWH keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 19 And we know that we are of YHWH, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20 And we know that the Son of YHWH is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Yahushua the Messiah. This is the true Elohim, and eternal life.

And finally, Yahushua told us how it would be known that we are his followers...

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

And...

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

That seems to be the bottom line, that we have love for the brothers and sisters in Yahushua. Thank You Father!

Study by YermeYah