The Rabbi and the Unkosher Man

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

A man burdened with guilt, goes to his rabbi: "Rabbi, I have to admit, I ate without saying the blessing." "Certainly, God will forgive," said the rabbi, "Why didn't you say the blessing?" "I couldn't," said the man, "I was eating with unwashed hands." "That's not good," said the rabbi, "but I'm sure God will forgive. Why didn't you wash?" "Because I was in a gentile home." "Why weren't you eating in an orthodox home?" "I was eating pork chops because no Jewish person would give me food." "What?" said the rabbi, "Pork isn't kosher! That's nonsense, I know a Jewish person would've given you food." "They couldn't," said the man, "It was Yom Kippur and they were all fasting." This illustrates how we go to God with a sense of sin, but no concept of how horrible or grievous our sin is. If we'd see our sin as God does or how great His grace is to forgive, we'd stop sinning. Don't be like that man who ate the pork chop. Let the grace of God lead you to repentance. Because Messiah's grace is greater than anything we could ever imagine.

From Message #502 - Mercy And Truth