Bearing Marks
R. Yehudah ben Shomeyr
Gal. 6:17 (KJV) From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus (Adon/Master Yeshua).
The word “trouble” is the Greek verbs “parechō” and “kopos” and Rav Sha’ul was saying he didn’t want anyone pitying him or to go to the trouble to console, comfort, serve or minister unto him. He didn’t want anyone making over him like royalty or putting themselves out to help him. He wanted no special treatment from others. Kopos means to grieve or beat ones chest in sorrow. The Rav wanted no one to mourn or grieve over him due to his imprisonment, and ill treatment at the hands of Jews and Gentiles. He didn’t want anyone to worry over him.
The Greek work “bear” is the verb “bastazō” meaning to willingly take, carry, sustain and or support a burden or load upon oneself.
“In my body” can mean both, inside and out, internally, as in mentally and spiritually, as well as outwardly in the physical.
“Marks” is the Greek word “stigma” and it is where we get the word used in religious circles, “stigmata” which refers to one mysteriously, without explanation taking on wound of Yeshua, bleeding from one’s head, hands, feet and side. The word “stigma” also means, “a mark pricked in or branded upon the body. To ancient oriental usage, slaves and soldiers bore the name or the stamp of their master or commander branded or pricked (cut) into their bodies to indicate what master or general they belonged to, and there were even some devotee's who stamped themselves in this way with the token of their gods.” -- http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G4742&t=KJV
Rav Sha’ul (Apostle Paul) was not saying he suffered from stigmata’s, we must look to the Torah to better understand what Rav Sha’ul meant by these words.
Exd 21:5-6 (KJV) And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free. Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.
Rav Sha’ul was implying several things:
1. Do not feel sorry for him because of all the hardships, unjust beatings and imprisonments he has suffered through the years at the hand of Jew and Gentile because he chose this path and likely knew such things would befall him; it comes with the territory as they say. Just as Messiah Himself was beaten and rejected so was he, just as Yeshua said believers would be.
Matt. 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
Matt. 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
2. That he is like that willing slave that is mentioned in the Torah (Exd. 21:5-6) to Yeshua the Messiah, and he will go and endure anything that is required of him.
The internal and external scars are badges of courage and honour and Rav Sha’ul wouldn’t have it any other way.
In this Torah Obedient Messianic/Natsari Movement it is easy to play the chameleon and blend in to whatever environment we find ourselves in. We can play both sides of the field if we wanted to. But do we love HaShem, Yeshua Ha Moshiach and The Torah enough to boldly, willingly, unashamedly, and even gladly endure rejection by Christendom and Judaism at large? Do we love HaShem, Yeshua Ha Moshiach and The Torah enough to boldly, willingly, unashamedly, and even gladly endure threats and mistreatment by the hand of Christian or Jew? Do we love HaShem, Yeshua Ha Moshiach and The Torah enough to boldly, willingly, unashamedly, and even gladly endure being spat upon or even be pelted with stone as we are booted out of churches or synagogues? I am not saying have a sadistic martyr complex, but what I am saying is, do you unashamedly want to stand up for the Truth (Jude 1:3) despite what consequences may come, or do you just want to blend in and not rock the boat; tuck in your tzitzit around Christians and hide your Brit Chadasha (New Testament) around Jews?
Yeshua said in Matt. 10:33 “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
