Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are thanking the LORD for your faithfulness to partner with us to bring the GOOD NEWS to a multitude of people in the Middle East and beyond through the Seed of Abraham Radio Bible Ministry.

With the recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, and the rapid increase in antisemitism, I (Pat) wrote a profile which will be published in the Joshua Report on the English-speaking Jewish people in Israel and other Jews. Israel is escalating each day. I cannot stress enough how important it is that this ministry, Seed of Abraham Bible—please PRAY and pass on the information to others.

Together, we can definitely make a difference in the lives of the Jewish people in Israel and the Muslims in the Middle East. I and the board (Pastor Shane and Elisa Beeson, Michael Milburn, Linda Blakely, and Lori Gardner) are so grateful for your faithfulness, prayers, and support!

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Thoughts and Comments on the Seed of Abraham Bible Broadcast

From Dr. Pat Depew
The Book of Luke 5:17–26 & Mark 2:1–12
Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man

(Note: All Seed of Abraham broadcasts continue from the archives of the Seed of Abraham that were produced by the late founder of the Seed Ministry, Dr. David Depew.)

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the LORD was with Jesus to heal the sick.

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

So He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

In this wonderful gospel message from the Book of Luke, we learn so much about Jesus’ authority and healing power. Jewish teachers and religious leaders had come from every village in Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem to witness Jesus’ teaching. They came not to be blessed by Jesus but because they wanted to accuse Him of being a false teacher of God’s word.

When Jesus performed the miracle of healing the paralyzed man, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven,” which showed He had God’s authority—not only to heal but to forgive people of their sins when they confessed.

The remark made the Jewish teachers and Pharisees immediately accuse Jesus of blasphemy. They said, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Jesus immediately answered their question, “Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”

In His Word, God presents Himself as a God who is willing to forgive, who is by nature compassionate, kind, loving, merciful, and seeks to save sinners from their own sinful natures.

We read in Exodus 34:6–7:
“The LORD God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth, who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives evil, transgression, and sin.”

In Acts 13:38 we read:
“Therefore let it be known to you… that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you and it is granted to all those who believe.”

When you believe God’s promises to you and are willing to change your life, you will receive forgiveness of sins. There’s nothing more offensive to God than sin because He is holy—and yet He finds glory in the forgiveness of sinners.

This is why Jesus used this opportunity to let the paralyzed man know that what was more important than being healed from his physical problem was to have his sins forgiven—and that Jesus had the power from God to forgive his confession of sin.

At another time Jesus said, “What profit is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?” (Matthew 16:25).

When people face difficult problems in life that can be related to their health, family, finances, natural disasters, or conflicts in their countries, it can cause them to seek God’s mercy. The psalmist said:
“Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67).

People need to know with assurance from God that their sins are forgiven. When Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man and his friends, He let them know their sins were forgiven. Their lives were changed through God’s compassion, and this event was the time that God selected to show that Jesus had the same power as God to forgive sin.

The effort that the paralyzed man’s friends went to in order that he would be touched by Jesus shows how God’s followers need to have the same persistence to see the lost come to the LORD and be forgiven for their sins.

When Jesus healed the paralyzed man, he was no longer helpless! He picked up his mat and walked away, “praising God” for his healing—and above all, his new life as a follower of Jesus.

This was in complete contrast to the Pharisees who were there as critics for the purpose of finding fault with Jesus. They had no concern for the paralytic man. They felt no great joy when Jesus healed him. In spite of the miracle, they left that day even more critical, ready to take their charge of blasphemy against Jesus.

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The Following Is a Synopsis of an Article for the Joshua Project Written by Pat

Related to Praying for the Jewish People Globally as Antisemitism Is Growing and Israel Is Facing Many Challenges

When Israel went to war again to defend its nation following the terrorist attack by Hamas on its people in 2023, the antisemitism threats to the Jewish people worldwide surged.

This was definitely evident in the English-speaking (ES) countries, which include Britain, Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and a small number in South Africa. These countries had been at one time the safest places for Jewish people to live other than Israel.

However, in almost every one of these countries, antisemitism increased by 50 percent or more. This was especially noted in the United States, where the population of ES Jewish people is the highest in the world.

In the U.S., the organization Nefesh B’Nefesh has had to increase their staff to accommodate the Olim (new immigrants) wanting to perform Aliyah (immigration) to Israel. The requirement, as it is for all Olim, was that the ESJs must have a grandparent who was Jewish and not belong to any other religion other than Judaism.

Within 18 months following the Hamas attack, the increase of Olim to Israel reached a 30-year high, according to Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah. In addition, the highest number of applications for Aliyah was from Jews coming from English-speaking countries!

This placed Israel into a crisis to accommodate the new Olim. It meant Israel had to expand more settlements into some regions of the West Bank (primarily occupied by Arab nationals). They had the legal right to do this; however, previously they did not build their settlements in this region, as they were allowing the Arab people to have their own cultural communities.

This added fuel and increased the number of antisemitic attacks around the world against ESJs and other Jewish people.

Throughout their history, the Jews have faced trials, discrimination, and persecution. They need spiritual and emotional healing that can only come when they surrender their lives to the power and glory of their Maker, God (Exodus 3:14 in Hebrew); Elohim (Genesis 1:1) and resurrection of Jesus (Yeshua – John 14:6).

The Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12) promised the Messiah would come from and to the Jewish people. God fulfilled all of His promises.

When Jesus came, His ministry on Earth was directed to the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). The apostle Paul declared that the Gospel was for the Jewish people first and also to the Gentiles (Romans 1:16).

Each and every Jewish person—whether English-speaking or not—needs to hear Elohim speak to them personally and turn their lives over to Yeshua as their Messiah!

PRAY for the healing, revival, and salvation for English-speaking Jewish people and all Jewish people!

Isaiah 35:10 says:
“So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.”

Whatever may be their lot, may the Jewish people know in their hearts the love that Elohim has for them and His longing that they will stand strong and be His people and witness!

Thank you for praying!
God Bless You!
Seed of Abraham Board and Pat