Peter’s sheet & Moses’ seat
Dear Children,
You would be surprised how many people truly believe the vision Peter had on the rooftop in Joppa was a message from Elohim saying that the animal He had said were unclean and not to be eaten could not be eaten. Some people sincerely believe that is the lesson of Peter’s vision. Generally, these same people believe that the Torah, the statutes and the ordinances were nailed to a cross when the person of Yeshua was crucified.
The whole story is in Acts chapter 10, but let’s go straight to the vision.
Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel (apparatus) descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet (linen, sail) knit (bound) at the four corners ( commencement, chief. This passage is the only place the word G746 was expressed as a corner), and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts (G5074) of the earth, and wild beasts (G2342), and creeping things(G2062), and fowls (G4071) of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Arise Peter; kill and eat.
These same terms from verse twelve fourfooted beasts (G5074 quadruped), wild beast (G2342 dangerous animal), creeping thing (G2062 reptile) and fowls (G4071 a flying animal) of the air are almost identical to the terms that Paul uses in Romans 1:22-25 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (G444 manfaced, human being), to birds (G4071 a flying animal), and fourfooted beasts (G5074 quadruped), and creeping things (G2062 reptile) 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their heart, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
God gave a group of people up to uncleanness because of the lusts in their heart. Who was Paul speaking about in this passage? He was speaking about the Northern nation of Israel, Ephraim, the ten lost tribes who weren’t yet really completely lost but still know and coming to Israel during the Feasts. In fact, Cornelius was one of those from the Northern Kingdom and the pattern and words show us in Acts 11. (see teaching on Who are the New Gentiles and Cornelius)
2 Kings 17:7 For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, 8 And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. 9 And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. 10 And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: 11 And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger: 12 For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. 13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. 14 Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. 15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. 16 And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. 17 And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. 19 Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. 20 And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. 21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. 22 For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; 23 Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
The Northern Kingdom had become known by the terms of the unclean things they worshiped. The uncleanness that they obtained by walking in the ways of the heathen was now the spiritual symbol of the Northern Nation. It represented what they did and was a symbol of their sin.
But the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was not the only unclean kingdom
Jeremiah 3 8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel (the Northern Kingdom) committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah (the Southern Kingdom, the Jews) feared not, but went and played the harlot also. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. 11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
A harlot is a nation that did not adhere to the marriage covenant they entered into with Yehovah. Instead of remaining true to the conditions of the ketubah or marriage contract they followed the ways of the heathen who worshipped false gods (2 Kings 17:8)
Now we are going back to Acts 11 and the vision Peter is given.
Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel (apparatus) descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet (linen, sail) knit (bound) at the four corners ( commencement, chief) and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Arise Peter; kill and eat.
What I am going to show you now are images from the ruins of various synagogues around the Galilee that I believe is what Peter saw in his three visions.
This is just three images. There has been a recent discovery with another zodiac on the floor at another synagogue. You can search the internet and you will find plenty of pagan images associated with synagogues during the time of Yeshua.
Granted all of these images are from a later period than the story of Peter’s vision. However, Jeremiah 3:11 tells us about the condition of Judah and why we would see these in the synagogues.
Then the Lord said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah Jeremiah 3:11
This is what Ezekiel eight has to say about Judah and the Temple:
Take a good look at the photos again. It’s all there: fourfooted beasts (G5074 quadruped), wild beast (G2342 dangerous animal) and creeping thing (G2062 reptile) and fowls (G4071 a flying animal) of the air. These images are laying on a square sheet of linen-(in appearance) bound by four chiefs or authorities on the four corners and full of unclean animals in the center. I’m going to write the verse again with the definition replacing the King James word:
And saw heaven opened, and a certain apparatus descending unto him, in the manner a great linen, it was bound by four chiefs and let down to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping thing and fowls of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him, Arise Peter; kill and eat.
I believe that when Paul refers to “And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man (G444 manfaced, human being)” it corresponded to the four chiefs of the zodiac in the photos.
Deuteronomy 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: 19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. 20 But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
The Southern Kingdom of Judah was no better than her sister, the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Yet Judah or the Southern Kingdom was not divorced, Yehovah had only divorced Israel or the Northern Kingdom and set her out of His household. Being set out for spiritual adultery was being spiritually unclean, a spiritual harlot with lovers of pagan gods. This is the spiritual application of the law in Numbers 5:29:
This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband, and is defiled;
Listen to Peter in Acts 10:28 as he defends himself for going into the household of Cornelius, who I believe was a descendant from the Northern Kingdom (please read the teaching on Cornelius).
Acts 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto (approach, come near, visit) (one of another: added words) nation (foreign, specifically Gentile); but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man unclean. The same word as used in Acts 10:14) or unclean (G169 impure). The same word as Acts 10:14).
Now let me write Acts 10:28 for you again without the extra King James words and afterwards the portion that used the same words from Acts 10:14:
Acts 10:28 “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew (from the Southern Kingdom of Judah) to keep company, or to come unto a Gentile (an Israelite from the Northern Kingdom whom Yehovah divorced when she became as unclean as the things she worshiped); but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.”
Acts 10:14….for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
By using the zodiac which represented the statues of the pagan (2 King17:8) and was the reason that the Northern Kingdom was divorced, we see that salvation was offered to the Northern Kingdom in the household of Cornelius, his kinsman, and near friends.
You should also know that not every synagogue that is excavated in the Galilee has had pagan reliefs. The synagogues of Magdala and Capernaum did not have forbidden images, just to name a couple of synagogues you might know the names of from scripture.
Korazim mentioned by Yeshua is where I want to take you next.
On the left is a photo of a relief of the Greek goddess Medusa found at Korazim inside of its synagogue. In the center, you are looking at a replica of the Seat of Moses that was found in this location. The original seat is in a museum in Jerusalem. On the right is a photo of my Moshe Ken sitting in the replica of the Seat of Moses taken while we were in Korazim.
The Seat of Moses
Matthew 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
There was a man who came to Israel this year (2017) with a desire to see the barley. I didn’t know he was coming. He contacted me after his arrival to Jerusalem. In an effort to keep the story short: He has a ministry with around 1.000 followers on Facebook. He teaches that we who believe Yeshua is the Son of God are to obey the rabbis. He told me he previously believed that we weren’t to obey them but assured me the Messiah says that we are to obey them, even all that they command and instruct because of this passage.
Now, the first thing to realize is that the Seat of Moses never existed from Genesis to Malachi. It was never prophesied to come. It literally has no Torah significance to a Israelite in the Old Testament following Torah in purity. The best guess of the origins of others sitting to judge from a seat is in Exodus 18
13 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening. 14 And when Moses’ father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses’ father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. 18 Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone. 19 Hearken now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: 20 And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: 22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. 26And they judged (שפט judge; create order and harmony) the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves.
If this was to origin of the seat of Moses and an authority given to a group of men, then the purpose of setting in the Seat of Moses in the first century should have been for judging the people according to the law and judging between people.
These elected men were to be taught by Moses “ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do”
In Matthew 23 it was scribes (G1121 writer, scribe) and Pharisees that Yeshua said sat in the Seat of Moses. The scribes are defined as a man learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law; added to the Mosaic law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion. Since the advice of men skilled in the law was needed in the examination in the causes and the solution of the difficult questions, they were enrolled in the Sanhedrin; and are mentioned in connection with the priests and elders of the people.
It certainly sounds like that the scribes were holding themselves out to be authorities on the Mosaic law by setting in the Seat of Moses
There is a gap of about 300 years between Matthew’s reference to the seat of Moses and its next mention in Jewish literature, the Pesikta de-Rab Kahana, one of the oldest homiletic Midrashim (ca. 4th century),[2] has a passage where R. Aha describes Solomon’s throne, and says it is “like the Kathedra of Moses” (כהדא קתדרא דמשה), καθεδρα being the same Greek word used in Matt 23:2 for the seat of Moses. Matthew and Yeshua use the phrase as though their audience knows what is meant.”
Here is what I believe that verse three says based on the rest of the text that follows it:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe (G2334 watch, guard), that observe and do; but do not ye after their works (what they do): for they say (the laws of Moses), and do not (the law of Moses)
Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. Numbers 12:3.
The Pharisee and Scribes were anything BUT meek and Yeshua makes it quite clear they are lacking in the area of the Mosaic law:
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant (G1249 to run errand, an attendant, a waiter).
Where was Moses found in Exodus 18? He was found attending to and hearing the people.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
All of Israel was commanded to care for the widows according to the Levitical Law.
Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. Exodus 22:22
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. 16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! 17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold? 18And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. 19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift? 20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon. 21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein. 22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law,(which are) judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. 31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. 32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
My understanding is that the Scribes and Pharisees were still correctly representing the Mosaic law from the Seat of Moses, but they themselves were not obeying it. Unlike Moses who was the most humble man on earth during his lifetime the Scribes and Pharisees loved the fame and recognition. Therefore in the context of what we are given I believe Yeshua was saying observe what the Pharisees and Scribes say that Moses said but don’t do the things that the Scribes and Pharisees do which was breaking the Mosaic Law and exalting themselves.
WIthout a doubt these Seats had become symbols of authority; exalted positions for men who loved fame and recognition. Where does that leave us today? What should we do about a person that want to tell us they have this authority or another person, like my friend visiting Israel, who tell us this scripture is why the rabbis have this authority?
It is most important to understand that today (2019) the rabbis largely teach from writings that are not of Moses. They teach from the teachers that expounded the Mosaic laws in their fleshly understanding. They have actually begun to call these commentary Torah and further confuse the people who hear them. If you COULD find a rabbi that teaches the Mosaic Law through the understanding the Holy Spirit gives, a man who was a true humble servant, then we should listen to his words IF they accurately reflect the Mosaic law. There was this one man that fit that description, His name is Yeshua.
My understanding of the term rabbi is that it is a title of exaltation; Yeshua says here in the Matthew passage we are looking at not to call any man rabbi, father, etc which exalts of the flesh, he further says to be great we need to be humble, a servent. That was the work the Scribes and Pharisees were to do. Let me quote a sentence I’ve already written again here: These elected men were to be taught by Moses “ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do”. If Moses was the most humble man alive in his day it was because he was the greatest servant of his day.
I’m very sure that The Righteous Judge, the Living Word made flesh would not be saying that we are to obey the Pharisees in anything other than the Mosaic Law. However, as the brother I mention earlier, there is a large group of Believers in Yeshua that think we are to blindly follow what the rabbis TODAY say. They rigurously uphold their belief with these very passages we just inspected. How sad, they are off The Way of Yeshua, which was and it the Mosaic Law made flesh that walked with man. Yeshua was then the complete expression and understanding of what had been given to humans to guard and protect that would make the Holy to Elohim, that is set apart from the other nations of the world.
If these rabbis claim as the scribes and Pharisee that the authority to teach came from Exoudus 18 and that they sit in the seat of Moses which it the knowledge and understanding of the Mosaic Law, then the Mosaic Law is all they are authorized to teach today. It’s an interesting fact that today’s rabbi proudly claim that they trace their roots back to the Pharisee. ….. so then, what it the ONLY thing they are authorized to teach? Torah; meaning the Mosaic Law and teaching it with a servant’s heart is part of the job description.
It begs to be explained here that this is one of the sign of Yeshua how would come that would be like Moses.
For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. Acts 3:22 and Deuteronomy 18:15
Yeshua said he did not come to be served but to serve:
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45