own administrative authority, so that they are incapable of making any universal decisions that would affect
all Christians. The growing Messianic faith is also divided into a number of rival factions with each claiming
some degree of authority, but lacking the unity that existed in the early church. Since the Jerusalem Council
was scattered, there has never been anything like it; and there probably never will be until Y‘shua returns
and establishes His authority.
If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my
Father, which is in heaven
Many critics will point to the countless unanswered prayers of people as evidence that Y‘shua's statement
isn't true. Many answers are given in response to this challenge; however, the words of Scripture can't be
ignored:
(3) ―Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
(4) Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
(5) Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
(6) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble.‖ (James 4:3-6)
The adultery James speaks of as the source of prayer not being answered is spiritual adultery, as seen by
his description of it being ―friendship of the world". As said throughout this study, the way of YHWH is the
light of Torah – which is Y‘shua. Outside of Torah is darkness - "the way of the world".
We like to think that we're out of the dark ages with regard to receiving spiritual light from YHWH. However,
with the overwhelming number of people in the world today rejecting either the written Torah (in the case of
most of Christianity); or Y‘shua, the walking Torah (in the case of most of Judaism); is it any wonder that
YHWH's blessings are not as prevalent as they should be?
"James" (Jacob) says, "We ask amiss" – amiss of what? We are amiss of the will of YHWH, which is
revealed through His Torah. He reiterates that YHWH's grace (answer to prayer) is given to the humble.
Humility comes from denying ourselves and accepting His Torah. Spiritual pride/arrogance comes from
rejecting Torah in favour of some other religious belief that allows for "picking and choosing" from the
commandments of YHWH.
Some would here interject, "What about the Holy Spirit? Doesn't the Spirit reveal to us the will of YHWH?
The answer is yes - but the will of YHWH that the Spirit will reveal, IS His Torah. The Spirit will make clear to
us the deeper meaning of the Torah and how to apply it to our lives. The true Spirit will never lead anyone
against YHWH's Torah. If someone "prays in the Spirit" and is told that YHWH's Torah is not for today, they
are hearing from a spirit that is not of YHWH.
Paul gives the same message as James/Ya‘acov: if you consider yourself as not subject to YHWH's Torah,
then you are of the world and not of the Spirit:
―Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can
be.‖ (Rom 8:7)
18:21-22 How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?......................
―(21) Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till
seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times
seven.‖
The Sanhedrin had two main functions: to resolve questions about how to observe the Torah, and to resolve
disputes between opposing parties. Peter's question was not just a personal one about how many times he
would have to forgive someone, but about how he could resolve disputes where someone needed to forgive
someone else. The phrase, ―seventy times seven" is not just a large number. It refers to the Messianic
expectation – and this phrase must have been on everybody's lips at the time of Y‘shua, because they knew
they had reached the end of the "seventy weeks" that were prophesied by Daniel – meaning, seventy weeks
of years; or 490 years (Dan 9:24-27). Forgiving someone ―seventy times seven‖ means continuing to forgive
until Messiah comes.
Also see explanation at the end of verse 35.