Tim Johnson Sept. 20, 2025
This week’s parashah is called Nitzavim. The way it starts out in Hebrew is: Atem nitzavim ha’yom… which being translated is “Y’all are standing today…” This portion follows what Keith read to us last week when he read the long passage of the curse. Like he said, one would think that maybe one or two of those terrible things would be enough to make God’s people stand up for what is right, and not dabble any more with all this evil stuff that God is warning about. But God knows. He goes on and on. Elucidating further and further what it is that will happen to the Children of Israel if and when they continue to abandon Him and cling to other gods; if they continue to reject His Torah. It’s a whole lot of bad stuff, and it all happened as well. As we know, the way the Bible story goes, Israel up north gets carried away to Assyria, and not too much later, eventually Judah down south gets carried away to Babylon. So these curses did come to pass.
What I would like to teach today, however, is that although these curses are still a powerful reminder to us as believers, they no longer apply to us because of our redemption in Yeshua.
Before I get to all that, I’ll read a bit of our portion to remind us what we are talking about.
Scripture quotations are from the NJV Bible (New Jerusalem Version).
Copyright © 2022 by Hineni Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Deuteronomy 29 (Nitzavim)
9 “All of you stand today in the presence of YHVH your God: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Israel, 10 your little ones, your wives, and the foreigners who are in the middle of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water, 11 that you may enter into the covenant of YHVH your God, and into his oath, which YHVH makes with you today, 12 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he spoke you and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
13 Neither do I make this covenant and this oath with you only, 14 but with those who stand here with us today before YHVH, our God, and also with those who are not here with us today. 15 (For you know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the middle of the nations through which you passed; 16 and you have seen their abominations and their idols of wood, stone, silver, and gold, which were among them). 17 Be sure there is no man, woman, family, or tribe whose heart turns away today from YHVH our God, to go to serve the gods of those nations; be sure there is no root among you bearing poisonous fruit and wormwood. 18 It shall be, when he hears the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, “I will have shalom though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart,” in order to destroy the moist with the dry. 19 YHVH will not pardon him, but then the anger of YHVH and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and all the curse that is written in this book will fall on him, and YHVH will blot out his name from under the heavens. 20 YHVH will set him apart for evil out of all the tribes of Israel, according to all the curses of the covenant written in the scroll of the Torah.
So that is how our portion begins. And it is not a long portion, less than two chapters. But it’s powerful, is it not? Those curses we heard last week, and continuing here in our portion are awful.
What happened with me last week was that as I was reading in my Bible along with Keith, I happened to see something that was in the context of a verse he was reading in Galatians chapter three, something about us being redeemed from the curse of the Torah. So I went back, and read that section, and then read the book from the beginning to get the whole context. And I thought that it would be nice to do the same thing with y’all here today, so we can see the same things. This is just as a reminder to us, because this is what we now all walk in in Messiah. I’m going to begin reading at the start of the book of Galatians, and the plan is to read all the way through chapter three. But I’ll stop along the way here and there to comment.
Galatians
New Jerusalem Version
Galatians 1
1 Paul, an emissary (sent one: apostle)—not from men, nor through man, but through Yeshua the Messiah, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
2 and all the brothers who are with me,
To the assemblies of Galatia:
3 Chesed to you and shalom from God the Father and our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 4 who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul is blessing the people of Galatia with chesed, or grace and love. Reminding them that it was Yeshua who gave himself for our sins, and that it is the will of God that we be delivered out of this present evil age. Our evil age is no better, and most likely worse than theirs. God continues to deliver us as well.
6 I marvel that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the chesed of Messiah to a different good news, 7 but there is not another good news. Only there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Messiah. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should proclaim to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. 9 As we have said before, so I now say again: if anyone preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
Here we have a Brit Khadashah, or New Testament curse. Who is cursed? Anyone who preaches another gospel than the one that was delivered by Paul the apostle. They are cursed.
10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I would not be a servant of Messiah. 11 But I make known to you, brothers, concerning the Good News which was preached by me, that it is not according to man. 12 For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came to me through revelation of Yeshua the Messiah.
We remember that Paul was on the road to Damascus when Yeshua appeared to him. Paul is saying that he did not make this doctrine up, but it was given to him by revelation of or from Yeshua.
13 For you have heard of my way of living in time past in Judaism, how that beyond measure I persecuted the assembly of God and ravaged it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his chesed, 16 to reveal his Son in me, that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood,
Here, we might as well read the actual account in the book of Acts of the conversion of Paul, or Saul. In Galatians the translator calls him Paul, but in Acts he is Saul.
Acts 9
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the kohen gadol, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 And as he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 Then he fell on the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Yeshua, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. 8 And Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!” And he said, “Behold, it is me, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus; for behold, he is praying 12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your holy ones at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief kohanim to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel to me to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the sons of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” 17 And Ananias departed and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Ruach HaKodesh.” 18 Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. And he arose and was immersed. 19 And he took food and was strengthened.
Now Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. 20 Immediately he proclaimed the Messiah in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard him were amazed, and said, “Is not this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief kohanim.” 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Messiah.
And now, the rest of the story… back to
Galatians 3
…I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were emissaries before me, but I went away into Arabia…
I find it interesting that Paul went into Ba’midbar… the wilderness in Arabia. (Remember, God brought the Children of Israel into Ba’midbar after leaving Egypt. Moses saw the burning bush in Ba’midbar.) I tried to imagine what it was like for him, for Paul.. He would have needed to carry water. But we know it’s very quiet out there in a place like that. This is where Paul communed with God and with Messiah Yeshua. I believe that this is where God really showed Paul what was indeed going on with the arrival, death and resurrection of Yeshua his Son. This is where Paul received and understood the doctrine of the Good News. This is so great, because Paul, a person who was not only zealous, but knowledgeable of the Torah, was a perfect choice for someone to reveal the Good News of Yeshua and what it all means. Paul had been studying Torah his whole life. I believe he knew it backwards and forwards, the way Dennis talks about. So he could definitely put things together for people to see this new revelation in the way God intended.
….Then I returned to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Peter, and stayed with him fifteen days. 19 But of the other emissaries I saw no one except Jacob, the Lord’s brother.
This is James. He is commonly attributed with being the man in charge of the believers in Jerusalem during these times.
20 Now about the things which I write to you, behold, before God, I am not lying. 21 Then I came to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown by face to the assemblies of Judea which were in Messiah, 23 but they only heard: He who once persecuted us now preaches the emunah that he once tried to destroy.” 24 So they glorified God in me.
Galatians 2
1 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.
So we have Damascus, then Arabia, back to Damascus, then three years go by. Then a visit to Jerusalem. Then fourteen years later, during which he has been out there spreading the Good News, he goes back to Jerusalem..
2 And I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I proclaim among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.
Obviously, Paul wants to make sure he is not off track with the things he believes and teaches. So he checks with the people in charge to make sure.
3 But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Messiah Yeshua, that they might bring us into bondage,
This is where we see what this is all about. Liberty versus being brought into bondage.
5 to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you. 6 But from those who were reputed to be important—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God does not show partiality to man—they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, 7 but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcised, just as Peter with the Good News for the circumcised—8 for he who worked through Peter in the apostleship with the circumcised also worked through me with the Gentiles— 9 and when they perceived the chesed that was given to me, Jacob and Kefa and Yochanan, those who were reputed to be pillars, gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 10 They only asked us to remember the poor—which very thing I was also zealous to do.
Paul finds out that he is on the right track. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter is the apostle to the Jews.
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before some people came from Jacob, (Remember, he’s the guy in charge.) he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. (Why? Because Jews do not eat with Gentiles.) 13 And the rest of the Jewish believers joined him in his hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they did not walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
15 “We, being Jews by birth, and not Gentile sinners, 16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Torah but through emunah in Yeshua the Messiah, even we believed in Messiah Yeshua, that we might be justified by emunah in Messiah, and not by the works of the Torah, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the Torah. 17 But if while we sought to be justified in Messiah, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Messiah a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker. 19 For I, through the Torah, died to the Torah, that I might live to God.
(There is an interesting comment, no? Remember, this is still a response to Peter.)
20 I have been crucified with Messiah, and it is no longer I that live, but Messiah lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by emunah in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. 21 I do not reject the chesed of God, for if righteousness is through the Torah, then Messiah died for nothing!”
These are revolutionary words. If righteousness is through the Torah, then Messiah died for nothing! We do not make our own righteousness, nor do we add to it. It all comes to us as a gift from Messiah Yeshua. Note, however, that Paul is not saying here that the Torah is no good, or doesn’t matter. He never says that. That’s not the point. The point is: Where do we get our righteousness and justification before God? Not from the Torah, but from Yeshua.
Galatians 3
1 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Yeshua the Messiah was openly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 I just want to learn this from you: did you receive the Ruach (Spirit) by the works of the Torah, or by hearing of emunah?
(It’s the same with us, too.)
3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Ruach, are you now going to be made complete by the flesh?
There is a question for all of us. After beginning with the Ruach, or Spirit, are we now going to improve on that. Are we going to impress God with the things we accomplish in the flesh? No, of course not! We have the righeousness of God by faith in Messiah Yeshua, we cannot improve on that. All we have to do is submit to Him and continue to obey. That is what we do. God is the one who gives the increase. We bring the little loaves and fishes, He is the one who multiplies them to feed the five thousand.
4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? 5 Therefore he who supplies the Ruach to you and does miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the Torah, or by hearing of emunah? (faith) 6 Just as Abraham “BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (It’s the same way with us.)
7 Know therefore that those who are of emunah are children of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by emunah, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “IN YOU ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED.” 9 So then, those who are of emunah are blessed with the faithful Abraham.
10 For as many as are of the works of the Torah are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT CONTINUE IN ALL THINGS THAT ARE WRITTEN IN THE SCROLL OF THE TORAH, TO DO THEM.” 11 Now that no man is justified by the Torah before God is evident, for, “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY EMUNAH.” (Hab. 2:4) 12 But the Torah is not of emunah, rather, “THE MAN WHO DOES THEM WILL LIVE BY THEM.” 13 Messiah redeemed us from the curse of the Torah by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE,”
There it is. We are redeemed from the curse of the Torah, which we read last week and today. Those curses no longer apply to us. Why? Because we live by faith. Faith in the Son of God who loved us and died for us. As I mentioned earlier, every curse is not necessarily removed, but the curse of the Torah is removed. If we teach another gospel, Paul has just said, let that person be cursed. And that remains true even today.
14 so that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Messiah Yeshua, so that we might receive the promise of the Ruach through emunah.
What Paul is getting at, is that the blessing of Abraham seems to almost jump right over the Torah, and land on us who live in faith in Yeshua. We live in amazing times. I’m so thankful that I don’t have to prove to God day after day that I am worthy of His love. He loved me before I was saved. Yeshua died for me and saved me while I was yet in my sin.
15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void or adds to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his offspring. (Seed) He does not say, “To descendants (Seeds),” as of many, but as of one, “TO YOUR OFFSPRING (Seed),” which is Messiah.
This is how it is worded in the Hebrew in
Genesis 13:15. Ki et col ha’aretz asher atah ro’eh l’cha et’nenah u’l’zaracha ad olam.
Because all the land which you see, to you I give you, and to your seed until forever.
Zerah is seed, and this word “seed” is not plural here, it is singular. This is indicating Messiah, like Paul says.
17 Now I say this: a covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Messiah, the Torah, which came four hundred thirty years after, (After Abraham) does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.
(You have the promise, then the Torah. The Torah does not annul the promise.)
18 For if the inheritance is of the Torah, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.
(Yes, we get the inheritance, not because of the Torah, but because of the promise to Abraham.)
19 Then why is there the Torah? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring (Seed) should come to whom the promise has been made. It (The Torah) was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not between one (You have to have at least two to need a mediator), but God is one. 21 Is the Torah then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by emunah in Yeshua the Messiah might be given to those who believe.
Note again, that Paul is not saying that the Torah is bad, or wrong, but that it was insufficient for bringing the righteousness of God to mankind. We needed faith in Messiah and his perfect sacrifice for that.
23 But before faith came (Before Yeshua), we were kept in custody under the Torah, confined for the emunah which should afterwards be revealed. 24 So that the Torah has become our tutor to bring us to (or until) Messiah, that we might be justified by emunah. 25 But now that emunah has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all children of God through emunah in Messiah Yeshua. 27 For as many of you as were immersed into Messiah have put on Messiah. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. 29 And if you are Messiah’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise.
This is the wonderfulness in which we all now live. This is what my Bible says. This is something that when we understand it, can cause real joy to blossom and bloom inside of us. The love that God had to send His Son to die for us… The love that Yeshua showed when he obeyed his Father and said…
Matthew 26
39 …“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.”
We who believe in Messiah Yeshua are no longer Jew and Gentile, slave or free man, or even male and female. When we are in Messiah, we are all one in Messiah. Remember:
Ephesians 2
4 But God, being rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah- by chesed you have been saved- 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua, 7 that in the olam haba (in the world to come) he might show the exceeding riches of his chesed in goodness toward us in Messiah Yeshua; 8 for by chesed you have been saved through emunah, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, that no one would boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.
That is now our job. Walk in his righteousness, walk in his good works. Walk in his workmanship that He has created within us in the Ruach.
We would not know the difference between good and evil if it were not for the Torah. But it is not the Torah that saves us. It is Yeshua who saves us.
Shabbat Shalom