RR Gracious Greetings (Part 2) By David Harwood
Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, August 23, 2025
Shabbat Shalom,
Yeshua’s Emissaries would begin their correspondences releasing the blessing of “favor (charis/grace) and shalom.” The favor they authoritatively declared was from the One who sent them.
Out of the sixteen times we read these salutations, the charis/favor mentioned has its origins in the Father (specifically mentioned 14 times), and Yeshua (specifically mentioned thirteen times). The formula, “Favor (charis) and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah” is ubiquitous.
How well did these Apostles represent the One who sent them? They were Yeshua’s emissaries. Were they faithful to Yeshua’s nature? Were they obedient? How well did they understand Him? To what degree was their outlook and emotions conformed to His heart? Did they know the Savior’s motives well enough to speak words that revealed His heart? Put another way, did their words reveal the Redeemer’s heart? Did they impart God’s heart?
Consider that Shaul called his disciples to imitate him because he was a flesh and blood exemplification of the Messiah.
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Messiah. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord... (1 Thessalonians 1:6a)
Yeshua deliberately gave His disciples the pattern of His life as a guide.
I have given you an example—you should do for each other what I have done for you. (John 13:15)
Was this imitation primarily referring to externalities? I can’t believe that. Believers are to be conformed to the Messiah’s mindset.
Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua, (Philippians 2:5)
How they lived, what they taught, how they died, what they left behind, indicates that the Lord’s leaders had His heart. They righteously represented Yeshua. May this be said of us within the spheres of our relationships and responsibilities.
The basic introductory pattern of the Apostolic letters is this: The writers would introduce themselves and their ministry function/office. Then they would identify those to whom the letter was sent. Immediately thereafter they would greet them with the blessing, “grace and peace”.
Written communication has its limitations. The reader tends to project and read into it his own attitude. At times, in some personal communications, I’ll ask a reader to read something with a specific attitude. For example, “Please read the following with a gentle tone.”
Along those lines, amongst other things, these Apostolic salutations would set the emotional framework for how the letter was to be read. What was the tone of the letter? Was it harsh? Was it a word of prophetic condemnation? No, the greeting concisely conveyed God’s purpose, i.e. to give the believers charis and shalom: favor and peace.
I love the greetings in the beginning of these letters. I especially enjoy them when I consider that, while being completely faithful to the text, I can use the word favor in the place of grace.
Consider the emotional warmth conveyed in these greetings. Here’s a typical one:
To the kedoshim, the faithful brothers and sisters in Messiah, who are at Colossae: (Favor) and shalom to you from God our Father! (Colossians 1:2)
Favor (charis) is given because the favored person, or group, has found favor in the eyes of God. When He considers them, He likes what he sees. Charis conveys emotional warmth.
Look at this greeting:
May favor (charis) and shalom be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:2b)
Is favor static or dynamic? Is it immutable or changeable?
Yes.
The saving favor we have received is unchangeable. However, grace may also be dynamic. The experience of relational and enabling favor can wax or wane. Peter’s blessing was that favor and shalom would be multiplied(!) to the believers. This is not saving favor, is it? No, it is the experience of saving favor, or it is relational, or situational favor.
John wrote about charis on top of charis.
... we have all received (favor) on top of (favor). (John 1:16b)
When you read the Scriptures, consider positioning yourself before God as someone who is favored. You’ll be reading the text the way it is intended.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat23-Aug 2025 29th of Av, 5785 Parashat Re’eh
De 15:19-16:17Isa 54:11-55:5Rev 21:9-27
Shabbat Shalom,
Yeshua’s Emissaries would begin their correspondences releasing the blessing of “favor (charis/grace) and shalom.” The favor they authoritatively declared was from the One who sent them.
Out of the sixteen times we read these salutations, the charis/favor mentioned has its origins in the Father (specifically mentioned 14 times), and Yeshua (specifically mentioned thirteen times). The formula, “Favor (charis) and shalom from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah” is ubiquitous.
How well did these Apostles represent the One who sent them? They were Yeshua’s emissaries. Were they faithful to Yeshua’s nature? Were they obedient? How well did they understand Him? To what degree was their outlook and emotions conformed to His heart? Did they know the Savior’s motives well enough to speak words that revealed His heart? Put another way, did their words reveal the Redeemer’s heart? Did they impart God’s heart?
Consider that Shaul called his disciples to imitate him because he was a flesh and blood exemplification of the Messiah.
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Messiah. (1 Corinthians 11:1)
You also became imitators of us and of the Lord... (1 Thessalonians 1:6a)
Yeshua deliberately gave His disciples the pattern of His life as a guide.
I have given you an example—you should do for each other what I have done for you. (John 13:15)
Was this imitation primarily referring to externalities? I can’t believe that. Believers are to be conformed to the Messiah’s mindset.
Have this attitude in yourselves, which also was in Messiah Yeshua, (Philippians 2:5)
How they lived, what they taught, how they died, what they left behind, indicates that the Lord’s leaders had His heart. They righteously represented Yeshua. May this be said of us within the spheres of our relationships and responsibilities.
The basic introductory pattern of the Apostolic letters is this: The writers would introduce themselves and their ministry function/office. Then they would identify those to whom the letter was sent. Immediately thereafter they would greet them with the blessing, “grace and peace”.
Written communication has its limitations. The reader tends to project and read into it his own attitude. At times, in some personal communications, I’ll ask a reader to read something with a specific attitude. For example, “Please read the following with a gentle tone.”
Along those lines, amongst other things, these Apostolic salutations would set the emotional framework for how the letter was to be read. What was the tone of the letter? Was it harsh? Was it a word of prophetic condemnation? No, the greeting concisely conveyed God’s purpose, i.e. to give the believers charis and shalom: favor and peace.
I love the greetings in the beginning of these letters. I especially enjoy them when I consider that, while being completely faithful to the text, I can use the word favor in the place of grace.
Consider the emotional warmth conveyed in these greetings. Here’s a typical one:
To the kedoshim, the faithful brothers and sisters in Messiah, who are at Colossae: (Favor) and shalom to you from God our Father! (Colossians 1:2)
Favor (charis) is given because the favored person, or group, has found favor in the eyes of God. When He considers them, He likes what he sees. Charis conveys emotional warmth.
Look at this greeting:
May favor (charis) and shalom be multiplied to you. (1 Peter 1:2b)
Is favor static or dynamic? Is it immutable or changeable?
Yes.
The saving favor we have received is unchangeable. However, grace may also be dynamic. The experience of relational and enabling favor can wax or wane. Peter’s blessing was that favor and shalom would be multiplied(!) to the believers. This is not saving favor, is it? No, it is the experience of saving favor, or it is relational, or situational favor.
John wrote about charis on top of charis.
... we have all received (favor) on top of (favor). (John 1:16b)
When you read the Scriptures, consider positioning yourself before God as someone who is favored. You’ll be reading the text the way it is intended.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat23-Aug 2025 29th of Av, 5785 Parashat Re’eh
De 15:19-16:17Isa 54:11-55:5Rev 21:9-27
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2025
May
RR Psalm 28:5 Part 5RR Psalm 28:6 Part 6RR Psalm 28:7a Part 7RR Psalm 28:7b Part 8RR Psalm 28:7c Part 9RR Psalm 28:7d Part 10RR Psalm 28:8 Part 11Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, May 10, 2025 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 28:9 Part 12RR Psalm 28:9 Part 13RR Psalm 28:9 Part 14RR Psalm 28:9 Part 15RR Psalm 29:1 Part 1RR Psalm 29:2 Part 2Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:3 Part 3RR Psalm 29:4 Part 4RR Psalm 29:5 Part 5RR Psalm 29:6 Part 6RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7Favor/Grace in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:8 Part 8RR Psalm 29:10 Part 10RR Psalm 29:9 Part 9RR Psalm 29:11 Paert 11RR Psalm 30:1,2 Part 1RR Psalms 30:3 Part 2RR Psalm 30:4 Part 3Favor (Chen/Charis) in the Psalms By David HarwoodRR Psalm 30:5 Part 4
June
RR Psalm 30:6 Part 5RR Psalm 30:7 Part 6RR Psalm 30:8 Part 7RR - Psalm 30:9-11 Part 8RR Psalm 30:12,13 Part 9RR Favor (Chen/Charis) in Proverbs By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 31:3 Part 2RR Psalm 31:4 Part 3RR Psalm 31:5 Part 4RR Psalm 31:6 Part 5RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6RR Kohelet By David HarwoodRR “Taking Our Thoughts Captive – Part 2” By Jerry MillerRR Psalm 31:8 Part 7RR Psalm 31:8 Part 8RR Psalm 31:9 Part 9RR - Psalm 31:10 Part 10RR Psalm 31:11 Part 11Zechariah and Favor By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 31:12-14 Part 12RR Shalom SpecialRR Psalm 31:15 Part 13RR Psalm 31:16,17 Part 14RR Psalm 31:18 Part 15RR Psalm 31:19,20 Part 16RR Adonai-Tzva’ot and End-Time Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:21 Part 17RR Psalm 31:22 Part 18RR Psalm 31:23 Part 19
July
RR Psalm 31:24 Part 20RR Psalm 31:25 Part 21RR Psalm 32:1 Part 1Rabbi’s Reflections - Favor and Luke By David HarwoodRR Taking Thoughts Captive Part 3 by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 32:2 Part 2RR Psalm 32:3,4 Part 3RR Psalm 32:5 Part 4RR Psalm 32:5 Part 5RR Psalm 32:6 Part 6Some Nuances of Charis By David HarwoodRR Psalm 32:7 Part 7RR Psalm 32:8 Part 8RR Psalm 32:8 Part 9RR Psalm 32:9 Part 10RR Psalm 32:10 Part 11RR Psalm 32:11 Part 12RR Psalm 33:1 Part 1RR Psalm 33:2,3 Part 2RR Psalm 33:4,5 Part 3RR Psalm 33:6,7 Part 4RR Psalm 33:8,9,10 Part 5Favor In Acts 1 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 33:11,12 Part 6RR Psalm 33:13,14 Part 7RR Psalm 33:15,16 Part 8RR Psalm 33:17,18,19 Part 9RR Psalm 33:20,21 Part 10RR Psalm 33:22 Part 11RR Favor in Acts 2: Stephen by David HarwoodRR “Endurance for the Race” by Jerry Miller