Matthew 3:15
Hanach shekhen anu hayyavim lehashlim kol tsedaqah.
But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he permitted Him.
The "red letters" of the Bible are the words of Yeshua (Jesus) recorded in the Gospel of Matthew. According to Hebrew Gospel manuscripts, these teachings were originally spoken and preserved in Hebrew rather than Greek. The Red Letter Series examines these words in their original Hebrew language, history, and context, beginning with Yeshua's first words in Matthew 3:15 and continuing through the Sermon on the Mount.
This series draws on the research of Hebrew scholar Nehemia Gordon, who has traced numerous Hebrew manuscripts of the Gospel of Matthew held in libraries around the world. One of these, the Shem-Tob Hebrew Matthew, writes the Name of God in shorthand (ה׳) 19 times, in places where English Bibles read "the Lord." That detail shows the Name of Yehovah standing in the Hebrew text where Greek and English readers see "Lord." Keith Johnson walks through these Hebrew red letters verse by verse, uncovering what Yeshua's words meant to a first-century Hebrew-speaking audience. That insight is often lost in Greek-to-English translation. Read the full introduction to the Red Letter Series here.
The Red Letters in Hebrew (Line by Line)
Below are key passages from the Red Letter Series presented in Hebrew, with transliteration and a brief explanation of their meaning.
Matthew 4:4
Va-ya'an Yeshua va-yomer lo: katuv, ki lo al ha-lechem levado, v'go.
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”
Matthew 4:7
Va-ya'an elav Yeshua shenit: lo tenasseh et ה׳ Elohekha.
Jesus answered him again: You shall not tempt the Lord your God.
Matthew 4:10
Az anah lo, yeshakh lekha ha-satan bil'ad Shamanas, shekhen katav et ה׳; etpalel, ve-oto levado ta'avod
Then Jesus answered him: Go Satan, that is, Satanas, for it is written: I will pray to the Lord and him only you will serve.
About the Red Letter Series
The Red Letter Series: Encountering Words That Changed the World is Keith Johnson's episode-by-episode study of the red letters in the Gospel of Matthew, beginning at Matthew 3:15. Each episode includes an audio option and a downloadable PDF study guide, available to Academy members.
Want to explore more of the Hebrew Gospel of Matthew? See Hebrew Gospel Pearls for further teaching, or browse every episode of the Red Letter Series here.
Ready to go deeper? Become a member of the Academy for full access to the Red Letter Series and BFA's complete library of Hebrew Bible teaching. browse every episode of the Red Letter Series here.
FAQs
The red letters are the words of Yeshua (Jesus) as recorded in the Gospels, most often printed in red text in Bibles that use this convention. The Red Letter Series focuses on the Gospel of Matthew.
Hebrew Matthew manuscripts, researched by scholars including Nehemia Gordon, indicate the Gospel of Matthew was preserved in Hebrew, reflecting the language and idioms Yeshua's first-century Jewish audience would have understood.
The Hebrew Gospel of Matthew refers to Hebrew-language manuscripts of Matthew, such as the Shem-Tob Hebrew Matthew. In 19 places it writes the Name of God in shorthand (ה׳) where the Greek text and English Bibles read "Lord."
The Red Letter Series is a Bible study series by Keith Johnson examining the red letters of Matthew in their original Hebrew language, history, and context, beginning at Matthew 3:15.
The Red Letter Series is available to Academy (Premium) members. Membership gives access to every episode.
