RR The Word of His Favor By David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom,
Beloved, do you believe it?
Do you believe that you are favored by God?
Such a thing can be difficult to believe, so let me approach this another way. Do you believe that you have received grace from God? If so, then let’s work with the vocabulary. Let’s take some steps towards appreciating this reality: You are favored.
Step one: Charis is the Greek word that is overwhelmingly translated into English renderings of the New Covenant Scriptures as grace.
Step two: Charis is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word, chen.
Step three: What does chen mean? Favor.
Step four: if charis translates chen (which means favor), what does charis (grace) mean?
If you believe that God is gracious to you, if you believe you have received grace, then consider this: you have actually received favor. By the way, God wants you to believe that you have His favor. Look at what Paul said to the Ephesian elders.
Now I commit you to God and the word of His grace (charis/favor), which is strong to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who have been made holy. (Acts 20:32)
Entrusted to God and the word of His favor...
When considering our Father, we would do well to remember that His word towards us is motivated by His desire for us to be built up. The word of God’s charis (favor/grace) is to be esteemed as invaluable to that process. Elders of believing communities may wisely take note. They are responsible to meditate upon the word of God’s charis. It will build them up. Of course, they are to faithfully transmit the Good News: “Our Father and Yeshua favor you.” This will help to develop an environment of charis.
Remember the idiom, “finding favor (chen/charis) in someone’s eyes.” Recall that it has to with someone liking who they see. Favor is expressed towards those who provoke favor. The elders of Ephesus have found favor in God’s eyes, and spiritually mature people see others as worthy of their favor/charis.
What is this edifying word of God’s grace? What strengthens believers? Such a message has its origin in God’s love. This is succinct:
... love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1c)
Words that convey loving-favor build up the believing community. Such words give enabling favor. Everyone is called to participate in this process. Please read Ephesians 4:29 in that context.
Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace (charis/favor) to those who hear it. (Ephesians 4:29)
Many believe that “the word of His grace/favor” (Acts 20:32) refers solely to the Good News of God’s saving favor. I disagree. However, the Good News is the indispensable foundation of our understanding of the charis (grace/favor) we continually receive. Saving favor is foundational and is to be built upon so as to build up (edify) the believing community.
Yeshua commanded us to abide in Him through abiding in His love for us. (John 15:9) The awareness of Yeshua’s love is the key to fruitfulness and is the wellspring of His favor (charis/grace). The message that emphasizes God’s favor should be a part of our personal and communal outlook.
Yeshua’s favor was invoked at the beginning and the end of most of the epistles. Let’s allow that to capture our consideration. The message of ongoing favor enables believers to appropriate God’s presence, direction, and intervention. Faith in the Lord’s good will, and His willingness to do good, is an important part of our receiving the loving God’s enabling favor.
The believing community is to live, move, and exist, in the environment of favor/charis. Let us be assured of Yeshua’s favor, confident in His gracious activity, and imitate His example.
The degree of affection a favor-giver has for a favored person determines the quality of the favor offered and received. As we consider the width, length, height and depth of Yeshua’s love we will reinforce the realization of the favor directed towards us. He favors who He loves, and we are to reassure one another, “Yeshua favors you!”
“Yeshua favors you!” is a quick summation of “the word of His grace which is able to build (us) up (Acts 20:32).”
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat4 Oct 202512th of Tishrei, 5786 Parashat Ha’Azinu
De 32:40-522 Sa 22Rev 15
Beloved, do you believe it?
Do you believe that you are favored by God?
Such a thing can be difficult to believe, so let me approach this another way. Do you believe that you have received grace from God? If so, then let’s work with the vocabulary. Let’s take some steps towards appreciating this reality: You are favored.
Step one: Charis is the Greek word that is overwhelmingly translated into English renderings of the New Covenant Scriptures as grace.
Step two: Charis is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word, chen.
Step three: What does chen mean? Favor.
Step four: if charis translates chen (which means favor), what does charis (grace) mean?
If you believe that God is gracious to you, if you believe you have received grace, then consider this: you have actually received favor. By the way, God wants you to believe that you have His favor. Look at what Paul said to the Ephesian elders.
Now I commit you to God and the word of His grace (charis/favor), which is strong to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who have been made holy. (Acts 20:32)
Entrusted to God and the word of His favor...
When considering our Father, we would do well to remember that His word towards us is motivated by His desire for us to be built up. The word of God’s charis (favor/grace) is to be esteemed as invaluable to that process. Elders of believing communities may wisely take note. They are responsible to meditate upon the word of God’s charis. It will build them up. Of course, they are to faithfully transmit the Good News: “Our Father and Yeshua favor you.” This will help to develop an environment of charis.
Remember the idiom, “finding favor (chen/charis) in someone’s eyes.” Recall that it has to with someone liking who they see. Favor is expressed towards those who provoke favor. The elders of Ephesus have found favor in God’s eyes, and spiritually mature people see others as worthy of their favor/charis.
What is this edifying word of God’s grace? What strengthens believers? Such a message has its origin in God’s love. This is succinct:
... love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1c)
Words that convey loving-favor build up the believing community. Such words give enabling favor. Everyone is called to participate in this process. Please read Ephesians 4:29 in that context.
Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace (charis/favor) to those who hear it. (Ephesians 4:29)
Many believe that “the word of His grace/favor” (Acts 20:32) refers solely to the Good News of God’s saving favor. I disagree. However, the Good News is the indispensable foundation of our understanding of the charis (grace/favor) we continually receive. Saving favor is foundational and is to be built upon so as to build up (edify) the believing community.
Yeshua commanded us to abide in Him through abiding in His love for us. (John 15:9) The awareness of Yeshua’s love is the key to fruitfulness and is the wellspring of His favor (charis/grace). The message that emphasizes God’s favor should be a part of our personal and communal outlook.
Yeshua’s favor was invoked at the beginning and the end of most of the epistles. Let’s allow that to capture our consideration. The message of ongoing favor enables believers to appropriate God’s presence, direction, and intervention. Faith in the Lord’s good will, and His willingness to do good, is an important part of our receiving the loving God’s enabling favor.
The believing community is to live, move, and exist, in the environment of favor/charis. Let us be assured of Yeshua’s favor, confident in His gracious activity, and imitate His example.
The degree of affection a favor-giver has for a favored person determines the quality of the favor offered and received. As we consider the width, length, height and depth of Yeshua’s love we will reinforce the realization of the favor directed towards us. He favors who He loves, and we are to reassure one another, “Yeshua favors you!”
“Yeshua favors you!” is a quick summation of “the word of His grace which is able to build (us) up (Acts 20:32).”
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat4 Oct 202512th of Tishrei, 5786 Parashat Ha’Azinu
De 32:40-522 Sa 22Rev 15
Posted in Rabbis Reflections
Recent
Archive
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