(15) ―But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man
that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
(16) Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.‖ (1 Peter 3:15-16)
Are you ready to be a teacher? If not, why not? If you are new in the Faith, that is understandable; but if you
have been in the faith for a long while, isn‘t it time that you helped others to come to a correct knowledge of
their Saviour?
―For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the
first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong
meat.‖ (Heb 5:12)
The command to teach does not give a person license to go around teaching their pet theories. People,
especially those new to the Faith, need to see and learn by loving examples and right application the
principles found in the instruction book of YHWH (the Torah).
* YHWH‘s Blessings *The second paragraph of the Shema promises the blessings that will flow from YHWH as a result of
obedience. Remember that obedience is the result that should be evident in a Believer‘s life upon the receipt
of the earnest payment of the Holy Spirit given to those who believe and are walking the path called
salvation. It is not the other way around; salvation does not come as a result of obedience. However, there
are positive results that will accrue to the Believer who chooses to obey YHWH rather than the traditions of
men. There are also negative results that will accrue to those who choose to disobey YHWH‘s instructions.
This is the Biblical principle of reward and punishment.
* Reminders *The last principle taught by the Shema is that it is good to have physical reminders around us to help us stay
on the straight path.
―(13) Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and
many there be which go in thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.‖ (Matt 7:13-14)
Believers are still physical people with physical pulls. It is possible for someone who has dedicated the
entirety of their adult life in the service of YHWH to find themselves in a seriously compromising situation.
Under such circumstances, a physical reminder could possibly be the trigger that awakens them to an
approaching sin and thereby aids them to stand firm in the way that leads to life. It is the same as hanging a
big Bible around your neck.
A Righteous AdditionWhen Y‘shua answered the scribe, He stated the first line of the Shema (YHWH is one) and the first principle
of the Shema (to love YHWH). Then He amplified the instruction to teach others into a much greater and
broader principle.
―And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other
commandment greater than these.‖ (Mark 12:31)
However, this great principle also comes directly out of the Torah, the instruction book from YHWH. You will
find it at the very end of a rather lengthy list of instructions concerning how to treat other people.
―Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.‖ (Lev. 19:18)
One cannot truly love YHWH unless they first learn how to love their neighbour.
(20) ―If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he
hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?