Being Holy in the Midst of an Evil and Adulterous Generation

by | May 11, 2019 | Blog, Podcasts

Being Holy in the Midst of an Evil and Adulterous Generation

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

 

Being Holy in the Midst of an Evil and Adulterous Generation

Kodoshim (Holy People)

I came up with today’s teaching from this week’s Torah Portion/Reading which is entitled Kodoshim (Holy People). It is found in Leviticus 19:1-20:27. It is a delineation of behaviors that YHVH gave to us for purposes of setting us apart as a people from the other nations of the region. YHVH was calling us to be a holy people.

Calling Evil Good and Good Evil

As I was reading and meditating on this Torah Portion, I was reminded of the horrific times we are currently living in this country of ours (ie., the United States). I believe you would agree with me that we are living in “perilous times” as Paul described to Timothy (2 Tim. 3:1).

For us, this is a time when our nation’s leaders and the citizens of our country now call that which is evil good and that which is good evil. They seek to change darkness into light and light into darkness. These go even farther, seeking to change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter (Isa. 5:20).

Being Held Accountable

And the irony in all this is that most of the people in our western society know better (i.e., they know the difference between good and evil). For we have touted ourselves over the years as a “God-fearing” and a “Judaeo-Christian” nation. In so classifying ourselves as such, it has been become somewhat interwoven into the moral fabric of our nation the clear understanding of the difference between that which is good and that which is evil. The ironic tragedy in this is that we as a nation, in knowing better but failing to do better, will be held accountable for our sinful, rebellious lifestyles that oppose YHVH’s Torah.

The Concept of Being and Living Holy as Defined in Torah

This week’s Torah Reading, Kodoshim—Holy People—outlined for us behavior that Father deemed as abhorrent and unacceptable to Him. As well as He outlined righteous behavior that would distinguish us from the other nations of the world.

Throughout the two chapters of this reading, Father over and over inserted His demand that we “be holy as He, our Elohim, is holy” (Lev. 19:2; etc.).

Holy as a term and concept simply means “to be set apart.” 

The list of prohibitions and sanctioned-prescribed behavior is significant. Father does not expend any extra writing space in delivering his prescribed ordinances and commandments for holy living.

A Comprehensive List of Holiness Principles

Many have complained that the Old Testament was too difficult to understand. These complain that there are too many genealogies, or that the prescribed worship ceremonies are too complicated to understand.

However, in this portion, Father’s instructions regarding that which was acceptable versus what was not acceptable behavior was precise and succinct. He was quite clear in revealing to us the behaviors that were acceptable and the behaviors that were not.

So let’s take a look at a few of these prohibitions and sanctioned behaviors.

  • We are to revere our parents. Anyone who is found who mistreats (ie., curses) his or her parents are guilty of a capital crime (19:2; 20:9).
  • Keep YHVH’s Sabbaths (19:3).
  • To abstain from idols of any kind (19:4; cf. 1 Joh.5:21; 1 Cor.10:14).
  • Leave produce from our harvests for the poor and foreigner to glean (19:9,10; cf. Rut.2:2,3,15,16).
  • To not steal, defraud or lie to our neighbor (19:11,12; cf. Eph.4:25; Col.3:9).
  • We are not to oppress or rob our neighbor through shenanigans related to paying what is rightly owed him or her (19:13; cf. Jam.5:4; Mat.20:8; 1Cor.6:8; 1The.4:6).
  • Never spread slander about others amongst the community (19:15).
  • Do not stand idly by and fail to help save our neighbor’s life (19:16).
  • Do not bear any hatred of a neighbor in your heart, but honestly confront the neighbor to settle the issue (19:17; cf. Mat.18:15; 1Joh.2:9,11; 3:15).
  • We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves (19:18; cf. Jam.2:8; Gal.5:14; Mat.12:31; 5:43; 22:39).
  • Do not commit sexual sin, even with one’s slave (19:22).
  • We are prohibited from consuming blood, practicing divination or fortune telling. Consequently we are prohibited from altering our appearance (specifically our hair and beards) as the heathen do for some of their death rituals. Nor are we to cut ourselves or have tattoos applied to our bodies (19:26-28).
  • We are to keep YHVH’s feasts and revere His sanctuary (19:30; cf. Mat.21:13).
  • There is a strict prohibition against the worship of Molekh, especially the heinous practice of child sacrifice to this god. Nothing short of capital punishment is warranted for this sin. And any who would turn a blind eye to those who oppose this prohibition and or follow after or support such worship practices were to be killed (20:1-5). (Horrendous parallels to today’s practice of aborting unborn babies in western society.)
  • YHVH promised that He would set Himself against any who would turn to mediums and sorcerers. These along with mediums and sorcerers are to be put to death (20:6,7).
  • Adultery is a capital crime requiring the death of both parties (20:10-12; Joh. 7:53-8:12).
  • YHVH views homosexuality as an abomination that is punishable by death (20:13).
  • Incest is prohibited. The offenders are to be cut off from the public body (20:17).

We Are to be Different Than the Rest

These prohibited behaviors, and so many others from this Torah Portion, were actually being practiced by the nations dwelling in the land of Canaan.

The horrifically sinful practices of these people nauseated Father to the point that He instructed us not to follow their example. These people were ultimately wiped out from the Land.

In Leviticus 20:23,  Father is recorded as commanding us:

“And walk ye not in the customs of the nations which I drive out from before you; for they have done all these things, and I have abhorred (ie., detested) them” (LXX).

Thus it was the sins of the inhabitants of Canaan, in great part, that caused Father to expel them from the Land. And the land would be turned over to Israel as originally promised (Exo. 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3).

Father gave us these holiness instructions so that we may be set apart from all other peoples of the world (20:26). 

Note: I address the concept of holiness in more detail in my post entitled: “Irresistible Holilness–Torah Portion Shim’mini.”

Our Calling to be Holy is a Manifestation of YHVH’s Grace

In His love for us, Father selected us from all the people nations of the world. His love for us was of such a degree that He instructed us to be holy as He is holy.

On this issue, the Apostle Peter wrote:

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:14-16; ESV).

Torah is Done Away With

Yet today, Christian pastors and preacher (and dare I say some Hebrew Roots teachers) are teaching the false doctrine that Torah has been done away with. Or that Torah is only for the Jews.

Such doctrine is of course a lie from the pit of hell. Even secular, non-Hebrew Rooters, anti-Torah advocates, fundamental/charismatic/traditional Christians inherently recognize that it is wrong to lie, kill, steal, commit adultery, condone and or practice homosexuality, have and or support the practice of abortions, etc. Yet there is a movement afoot in many segments of our society—be they secular or religious—that is promoting rebellion against the God that gave us the Bible as His instruction manual for proper, Godly living.

The Land Will Vomit Us Out

Father warned us:

“And keep ye all my ordinances and my judgments; and ye shall do them and the land shall not be aggrieved with you, into which I bring you to dwell upon it” (Lev. 20:22; LXX).

The ESV is a bit more graphic:

“You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out” (ESV).

It is clear that Israel violated YHVH’s Torah over and over throughout her history. And it is no secret that she was vomited out of the Land on at least three-occasions, just as the previous occupants were.

Today’s Application of Leviticus 20:22

Now, many will reject that any of this applies to the citizens of the U.S. and that this only applied to Israel. Well, I used to think that way. But lately, given all the terrible things we are witnessing in our government and in our society today, I have a sinking suspicion that at some point, our nation is going to have to “pay the piper.”

In other words, we as a so-called “Judaeo-Christian” nation that knows right from wrong, are going to have to answer for our rebellion against God and His Torah. As well as we will have to answer for this nation’s unrepentant sins. It’s not a question of if, but of when.

Indeed, unless we as a nation humble ourselves , pray, and seek the face of our heavenly Father, and turn from our wicked ways, we may face the same punishment that Israel faced at least three-times in her history.

We Must Stand For Holiness

YHVH has given us in this Torah Reading–these holiness instructions– so that we may be set-apart from all other peoples of the world (20:26).

So with all the sinful rebellion we currently see going on around us, I believe we have a few responsibilities set before us:

1. We must live holy and righteous lives.

Father has graciously given us His Torah that instructs us in righteous, holy living. Failure to live holy lives may result in our being rejected by our Master when He comes to judge the world.

Did not Master warn us of the following:

“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended and the floods came, and winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Mat. 7:22-27; KJV).

Have we not, for instance, witnessed of late those who profess to be true, dyed-in-the-wool believers in Jesus Christ (ie., Christians and such), doing God’s work, but are admitted homosexuals or even adulterers?

We currently have a former mayor of an Iowa town-a presidential candidate-who professes to be a practicing Christian. This individual also proudly professes to be a gay-man married to another gay-man. He had the nerve recently to criticize and condemn any self-professing Christian who would reject his sinful lifestyle.

The message that is being spread by this individual throughout the whole of this nation is one of rebellion. His message encourages the rejection of the Truth of the Bible, to be replaced by a false-biblical truth made up to justify one’s sinful lifestyle.

He is spreading the lie that the Bible does not speak out against homosexuality. Others like him are spreading a twisted Truth that God and Jesus loves everyone, regardless who and what you are.

It is, of course, a horrendous twisting of Scripture for purposes of justifying their rebellious, sinful lifestyle. And sadly, untold numbers of foolish citizens are buying into this satanically founded twisting of Biblical Truth. As we saw earlier, homosexuality IS seen by Father as an abomination, punishable by death. Case closed. No if and’s or buts.

And then we have, of late, the abortionists who have sought to turn the entire nation, including Christians, to their side. These have been putting forth a message that it’s better for the unborn, aborted child that they not be subject to whatever terrible life they may have to endure in their unfortunate future. And of course, the other popular stance perpetrated by the abortionists is that a woman must have full control over what happens to her body and that the unborn are NOT people. 

The prohibition against Molech worship is manifested today in our nation through the abortion of unborn babies.

And let us not fool ourselves: abortions are nothing short than Molekh worship. Recall that one aspect of Molekh worship was the sacrificing of babies to this pagan god. Is it not, then, possible that hasatan has simply altered the practice of sacrificing children outside the womb to a fallen angel who calls himself Molekh, to today sacrificing children inside the womb to that same fallen angel who calls himself Molekh? I truly believe this to be the case.

 

 

 

Yet preachers, ministers, and pastors throughout western society remain silent on both these issues. Everyone of them seems afraid to speak out against either of these issues. And as watchmen, is it not their job to speak out against such abominations—at least teach their congregants and assembly members that these behaviors are abhorrent to God? 

 

Indeed, many will argue that none of what I’m saying matters to believers in Jesus Christ. Some of these will contend that there is only one commandment given to us by Jesus Christ that we are to follow: we love one another.

 

Yet these same individuals fail to take into account that Master when asked by a Torah scholar which of the commandments was the greatest of all, responded with:

 

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…and that the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. And that on these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets” (Mat. 22:38-40; ESV).

 

So regardless how these false believers in Messiah choose to twist the Scriptures to justify their sinful, rebellious lives, in the end, it is the keepers of Torah—the commandments of our Father and of our Master, who also possess the testimony of Messiah, that separates and calls out from all the so-called self-professing Christians, who the true children of the Most High are. These will be the very ones that will receive eternal life and reign with our Messiah forever and ever (Rev 6:9; 12:17).

 

Friends, let me be clear on this. Contrary to conventional wisdom, holiness is not a simple thing to achieve. It’s downright hard at times. Some in our Faith Community actually believe all it takes to be holy is blind obedience to the set of principles, ordinances and commandments found in Torah. These could not be further from the Truth.

 

Holiness is a lifestyle and a mindset. It is a heart-centered love for the Creator and for one’s fellow-man. Holiness is looking at the example that was set before us by our master Y’shua Messiah and following it. And it should be no shocker that following Master’s example is no “walk in the park.” That old, carnal nature has a disappointingly bad habit of showing up and getting in the way of our walk from time to time. However, if we are true disciple of Y’shua Messiah, we have been given a helper in the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that helps us readily walk circumspectly before YHVH our Elohim, not as fools, but as wise; and to walk in the ways of YHVH as His holy people (Eph. 5:15; Deu. 28:9: KJV).

 

We don’t keep Torah to be saved for Torah cannot save us. We keep Torah (ie., those instructions that still apply and the spirit of those Torah commandments that no longer apply) because we have elected, as children of the Most High Elohim, to please our heavenly Father. We choose to keep Torah because our Master Yeshua Messiah kept Torah and He admonished us to imitate Him and do the works that He did. Master taught:

 

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do…” (Joh. 14:12; KJV).

 

2. We must warn this nation that her rebellion and sin will ultimately result in her devastation, unless she turns real soon from her rebellious ways and turns to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

 

Now, this is a tough one for me. For there are some, primarily in the charismatic, fundamental side of Christianity, that believe we as disciples of Jesus Christ must through a public display of protest, stand against the rebellion we are now seeing take place in this nation. Some of these individuals propose doing extreme things like standing outside abortion clinics and creating a scene during those clinic’s hours of operations, with the express intent of dissuading any woman who would seek an abortion to turn away and not abort her child. These same groups believe disciples of Jesus Christ should confront gay and lesbians wherever they may be (eg., their rallies and other events) and cause a disturbance to disrupt their various activities.

 

I personally am not convinced this is what Master would have us do.

 

The other side of this equation involves those believers who choose instead to oppose the rebellion and sin via tweets and facebook posts; and other online mediums in order to express their outrage over these individual’s activities and lifestyles.

 

Others, of course, choose to do nothing at all. These simply stay cloistered away in their own little groups, churches, fellowships, congregations, or even in their own homes, and act as though nothing is going on around them. These tend to be focused solely on their relationship with the Almighty and are not concerned about anyone outside their little Faith Communities.

 

The Great Commission

 

For me, being fully cognizant of all that is going on around us these days, I am primarily (maybe exclusively) concerned with doing that which our Master instructed us to do as His disciples:

 

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mar. 16:15; ESV).

“Go. Teach all nations to carry out all the things that I have commanded you” (Mat. 28:19,20; Rood’s Chronology).

 

And as much as I get really worked up at times when I see and hear of the rebellious and sinful things going on in our society these day, I have to force myself to come back to center and do that which our Master commanded us to do. For I do not see anywhere in Scripture where Master instructed us to stand out in front of abortion clinics and yell and scream at those women who come to those facilities seeking abortions. Nor do I see anywhere in Scripture where Master instructed us to confront gays and lesbians and all the others at their various activities about their lifestyles. I do not see anywhere in Scripture where we are to be political activists and publicly stand in opposition against one political party or another, or even vice-versa.

 

Paul counseled Timothy:

 

“No soldier on duty gets involved with civilian affairs, since he has to please his commanding officer” (2 Tim. 2:4; CJB).

 

Now, I’m not opposed to those who believe they’ve been called to be social and political activists and decry the present day woes of our society. If these truly believe they’ve been called to do such things, well I believe that’s between them and Master.

 

A Unique Calling—A Great Burden

 

However, as far as I’m concerned, I believe we have been called to be a holy people and to do that which our Master Y’shua Messiah commanded us to do.

 

I fear that when we exchange the basics of our call as disciples of Messiah with that of being social and political activists, we run the risk of sullying our holy reputation and fail at being good witnesses for Messiah.

 

A great burden has been placed upon us and we cannot fail in fulfilling the tenets of that call. We must walk out our Faith in fear and trembling (Phi. 2:12) and we must live holy and righteous lives. In addition, we must do some form of evangelism. This is the heart of our calling as disciples of Messiah—that being to make for Master disciples—and teach them all that He has taught us.

 

What’s a Disciple to Do? Call to Action

 

The world around us is going to do what it’s going to do. However, I believe that we must set our sights on being a Holy People unto our Father. Now, none of this which I am saying is to allow for sinners—those who willfully violate any of the ordinances outlined in this week’s Torah Portion—to take up residence in our homes and fellowships. We as a holy people cannot have fellowship with the rebellious violators of Torah. For Paul wrote to the Corinthian and Ephesian Assembly of Messianic disciples:

 

“Do not yoke yourselves together in a team with unbelievers. For how can righteousness and lawlessness be partners? What fellowship does light have with darkness…Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:11; KJV).

 

Otherwise, whatever role the Holy Spirit has placed you in the Body to perform, do it with all your heart and strength. If you have been placed in the Body in a teaching role, it is incumbent upon you to teach that which our Master taught us as well as teach those who are unfamiliar with the commandments of YHVH, YHVH’s Torah.

 

Paul instructed his young apprentice at the time, the evangelist Timothy:

 

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time is coming when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:1-4; KJV). [If you are so led and wish to hear more on members of the Body not enduring sound doctrine, I invite you to read/listen to my post entitled: “Endure Sound Doctrine I Will Not.”]

 

If we have been placed into a leadership position over an assembly or fellowship, for instance, we must safeguard against violations of these holiness commands taking hold within our groups. This was in great part what the evangelist Timothy had to contend with when he was placed over the Ephesian Assemblies as an overseer by Paul. Many members of the assemblies in Ephesus had departed from the true Faith and had given themselves over to false teachings—what Paul referred to as “fables and myths” (1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4). This in great part was Timothy’s charge/assignment:

 

“To stay on in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith” (1 Tim. 1:2-4; CSB).

 

And lastly, if we have any voice within or without the Faith Community—such as a blog, podcast, social media presence, etc.—we must warn the people of the world of the consequences of their rebellion and sin and invite them to repent, seek YHVH’s forgiveness, be baptized and become a true disciple of Y’shua Messiah. This is NOT political or social activism I’m talking about. It’s pure and simple evangelism as the Spirit of YHVH directs.

 

So I encourage you today to stay the course, keep the Faith, and let us through our righteous, holy living, glorify our Father which is in heaven.

 

Shalom and Blessings to you, your family and your fellowships.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread Replay

by | Apr 18, 2019 | Podcasts

Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread Replay

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

In light of this weekend’s Passover observance, to be followed by the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread, I was led to re-post the teaching I did on this subject last years. 

Passover and Unleavened Bread 2019

For those of us who keep the observational calendar (ie., the Month of the Aviv begins with the sighting of the renewed moon and the barley harvest declared to be in a state of aviv), Passover (ie., Pesach) this year will begin at sundown S-turday, Ap-il 20, 2019. For those of us who keep the Jewish calculated calendar, Passover begins this evening at sundown, F-iday, Ap-il 18, 2019. 

The very next day, at sundown on S-nday, Ap-il 21st (observational) or Fr-day, Ap-il 19th (Jewish), begins the 7-day Feasts of Unleavened Bread. 

Now I cover all of the pertinent information you need to know in order to keep the spirit of Passover and Unleavened Bread in this podcast replay post. 

Three Things to Keep in Mind When Keeping Passover

In response to some recent inquiries I’ve received regarding the keeping of Passover by Yeshua-focused Torah-keeping disciples, here are three things to keep in mind:

1. We cannot keep Passover as outlined in Exodus 12, Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16.

Let us keep in mind that the very first Passover we kept while preparing to leave Egyptian captivity was a one time procedure. If you recall the story, Moses instructed the Hebrews to slaughter an unblemished, male yearling lamb and smear its blood on the doorposts of our homes. This of course was done as a sign to the “death angel” to “pass over” our homes as it went throughout the land to kill the firstborn of those households that were not covered by the blood of the lamb.

After that, we no longer smeared the blood of lambs on the doorposts of our homes. However, we symbolically re-enacted that fateful night in Egypt by consuming our meal in haste, clothed as if to depart our homes quickly and the meal consisting of lamb and bitter herbs and unleavened bread. 

However, because of our Master Yahoshua’s sacrifice and the passing away of the temple in Jerusalem, our attention is turned to Him on Passover. Now, our Jewish cousins keep somewhat of a twisted version of Torah’s instructed Passover, which they’ve named as Passover Seder. We should NOT participate in any such observance or tradition. In fact, our Master Yahoshua instructed us to honor Him and His sacrifice on the night before Passover. This is famously referred to as the “Lord’s Supper.”

Of this observance Paul wrote:

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. (1Co 11:26 KJV)

2. Yeshua did not have the Passover meal nor a Passover Seder with His disciples the night He was betrayed. 

Contrary to most teachings, if you really read with understanding the Gospel account of the Master’s Supper, and you gain a full understanding of the timing of events surrounding His crucifixion on Passover Day, it becomes very obvious that Master did NOT have a Passover meal or a Seder with His disciples. 

Master, our Passover, was crucified on Passover Day and His body was placed in the borrowed tomb just prior to the start of the Passover Meal and prior to the start of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 

Oh by the way, the Passover Seder is actually a man made tradition that lacks in so many ways to the actual instructions Father passed down to us regarding the keeping of the day. 

3. Thus, our focus for Passover MUST be Yeshua Messiah. 

Yahoshua our Messiah is our Passover. He is, according to the famous utterance rendered by John the Immerser:

“Behold the “Lamb of God,” which takes away the sins of the world” (Joh. 1:29, 36).

So then, how do we keep Passover? 

Well, there are several ways in which we can keep the spirit of Passover. The first being, to observe the Master’s Supper. The second is to have a meal with family and like-minded friends consisting of some of the elements of the original Passover meal. I would also encourage the washing of one another’s feet. In fact, Master instituted for the Body of Messiah the consuming of the bread and wine in remembrance of His sacrifice, as well as the washing of one another’s feet. 

Of the washing of one another’s feet, Master stated:

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
(Joh 13:12-17 KJV)

I could go on and on as it relates to how we keep the spirit of this solemn Feast, but suffice, if you will, to enjoy a replay of my post on this awesome time of Father’s Biblical Calendar Year.

Chag Pesach Semeach.

 

 

 

Keeping God’s (Yehovah’s) Feasts

by | Apr 16, 2019 | Blog, Podcasts

Keeping God’s (Yehovah’s) Feasts

Keeping God's (Yehovah's) Feasts

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

  

 The Feasts of Yehovah Defined

I suggests that there are three (3) basic legs to a Yeshua-focused (ie., Yeshua-centric) lifestyle:

  1. Keeping the Weekly Sabbaths;
  2. Eating clean meats and foods; and
  3. Keeping the Feasts of YHVH (Leviticus 23).

These Feasts are to be proclaimed as “holy convocations”–sacred; holy assemblies (LXX) unto YHVH. (The Hebrew for convocations is “miqra”). They are designated times of YHVH for us to meet with Him. These festivals are considered by YHVH to be solemn festivals (NJB) to be kept by Yah’s people, in addition to the whole of Father’s Torah (ie., those instructions of Torah that can still be kept: the spirit of Torah specifically).

These Feasts belong to the Creator. They are NOT the Feasts of the Jews as so often referred to. Furthermore, they are rehearsals that remind us of Abba’s “Plan of Salvation/Redemption” as embodied in the Spring Feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits Offering and Shavuot (ie., Pentecost); and of the soon-to-come “Kingdom of YHVH.”

Why Should the Feasts Matter to us Today?

Torah required that these Feasts be kept by us throughout all our generations, regardless where we lived in the world.

Those who keep Abba’s Torah, which contain the instructions for keeping the Feasts, are viewed by Father as special: saints to be exact:

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of Yah and have the testimony of Yahoshua Messiah” (Rev. 12:17; KJV, adjusted).

 

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of Yah and their faith in Yahoshua” (Rev. 14:12; ESV adjusted).

 

Yeshua and His anointed and appointed apostles kept the Feasts.

Regarding the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for instance, Paul wrote to the Messianic Assembly of Believers in Corinth:

“Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Cor. 5:8; ESV).

 

Paul seemed to structure his missionary journeys around the Feasts of Yah:

“For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in ASia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost” (Act. 20:16; ESV).

The entirety of Y’shua’s earthly ministry was structured exclusively around the Feasts. Master’s sacrifice was embodied in the Spring Feasts in particular.

The Feasts of YHVH offer us shadows of good things to come:

“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near” (Heb. 10:1; ESV).

 

When Are these Feasts?

The question of when these Feasts occur is one of identifying and understanding Father’s reckoning of time. Father’s reckoning of time is completely different than our present day, Gregorian-based calendrical-system. The Feasts are based upon the Spring and Fall harvests in the Land of Israel. The dates that these Festivals occur is delineated in Torah (specifically Leviticus 23) and occur specifically on specific dates of the Creator’s Calendar.

Father declared that the lights in the firmament of heaven were meant to separate the day from the night; and to serve as signs and for seasons and for days and for years” (Gen. 1:14; QBE). Seasons in the Hebrew text is “moed,” meaning appointed place and or time of a meeting. In this particular case, the Feasts of YHVH are considered “moedim:” set apart days of Father’s calendar year.

These Feasts are to be proclaimed at the time appointed for them by Father (Lev. 23:4).

The 8-Mandated Feasts of YHVH (Lev. 23; Deu. 16)

Passover

Passover occurs on the 14th-day of the 1st-month (Month of Aviv; aka Nisan); specifically at twilight (ie., between the two evenings) (Lev. 23:5). It is often referred to as Pesach. The first mention of Passover is found in Exodus 12 when the Hebrews were instructed to smear on the doorposts of their homes, the blood of an unblemished, yearling male lamb. When the death angel went through the land of Egypt at the last plague, it passed over the Hebrew homes where the blood of the lamb had been applied.

Our Master was actually crucified on Passover day. He is our Passover (1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19) who takes away the sins of the world (Joh. 1:29, 36).

It should be noted that Passover day is not considered a holy convocation day.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

The Feast of Unleavened Bread is often referred to as the Feast or Festival of Matzah as well as simply, Passover.

It is a 7-day, pilgrimage feast, the first and last day of which are holy convocations where no servile work may be done. The first day occurs on the 15th-day of the first month (ie., Aviv or Nisan).

For 7-days we are commanded to eat matzah (ie., unleavened bread) (Lev. 23:6).

Each day during this 7-day feast the priest would offer burnt offerings.

This feast symbolizes the aspect of the Plan of Salvation in which sin is eliminated from our lives.

Day of First Fruits Offering

This single day observance is not considered by YHVH necessarily as a sacred, holy convocational day. However, it is held on the day after the single weekly Sabbath that falls during the Feast of Unleavened week (Lev. 23:11).

On this day, the Hebrews would bring a sheaf of barley to the priests at the Tent of Meeting/Sanctuary/Temple to be waved before and accepted by YHVH: and acknowledgement of the bountiful harvests they received and to offer thanskgiving to Yah.

In addition, the priests offered an unblemished, yearling male lamb, a grain-offering and a drink-offering unto YHVH (Lev. 23:13; cf. Exo. 29:40).

It should be noted that the harvested barley could not be eaten by the nation until the presentation of the First Fruits offering was made (Lev. 23:14).

The very next day, we begin a count of 7-full weeks (ie., 50-days) that leads up to the Feast known as Shavuot or Pentecost. This 50-day counting period is famously referred to as the “counting of the omer,” which by the way is not a biblical concept. But it remains a tradition none the same.

This day symbolized those of us who are the first of the harvest to receive Father’s gift of eternal life and to become Father’s elect. Some contend that this was manifested in Yahoshua’s resurrection and the resurrection of those saints who had died prior to Master’s crucifixion, but who were raised to life when Yeshua arose from His grave.

Feast of Weeks

 The Feast of Weeks is also known as Shavuot, but more famously, Pentecost. Interestingly, it is also known as First Fruits (different of course from the Day of First Fruits Offering that took place 50-days prior.

Like it’s granddaddy, Pentecost is a pilgrimage feast (Deu. 16:16). 

We are commanded to declare the day as holy and to proclaim a holy convocation. On the day, no servile (ie., no occupational) work can be done. Furthermore, it is to be a perpetual law to be observed, regardless where we may reside upon the earth.

Originally, the Hebrew brought unto the priests two (2)-loaves of leavened wheat bread to represent the first fruits of their harvest. Those loaves would be waved by the priests before YHVH (Lev. 23:17).

These loaves of wheat, leavened bread would be offered alongside animal burnt, grain and drink offerings, in addition to sin and communion or peace offerings unto YHVH (Lev. 23:18,19). These offerings would too would be waved unto YHVH by the priests (Lev. 23:20).

This feast foreshadowed the giving of the holy Spirit to those who the Father has chosen. And we saw this famously manifested through the story of the Pentecost disciples who were filled with the Holy Spirit on the Temple Mount just 50-days after the resurrection of our Master. Those disciples spoke in tongues before the attending international Jewish multitude, prompting what has famously been called the birth of the Church. 

Traditionally, Pentecost is believed to be the day that Father gave Torah to the Hebrew while they were gathered at the base of Mount Sinai.

Feast of Trumpets

 Also known as Yom Teruah or the Day of the Blowing of Shofars/Trumpets, this feast takes place on the first-day of the 7th-biblical month (aka Tishri) according to Leviticus 23:24. 

This feast is also to be a solemn day of rest that is proclaimed with the blast of trumpets. We are commanded by YHVH to convene a holy convocation whereby no servile work can be done (cf. Num. 10:10). 

Back in the day, a burnt offering was made by the priests (Lev. 23:25).

This day foreshadowed the birth of our Master Y’shua Messiah, as well as it foreshadows the future gathering of the saints on the sea of fire and glass just before the start of the Great Tribulation and the subsequent establishing of our Master’s millennial kingdom here on earth.

Day of Atonement

 The Day of Atonement, considered the most solemn and holy day of YHVH’s biblical calendar year, is known most prominently as Yom Kippur. 

It takes place on the 10th-day of the 7th-biblical month (aka Tishri).

Yom Kippur is to be proclaimed as a holy convocation where we “afflict or deny our souls.” To afflict or deny one’s soul” is generally accepted in Hebrew Roots and Jewish circles to mean we experience a full fast for that 24-hour period of the feast day. The day is also know as an expiation day NJB as recorded in Lev. 23:27). 

Back in the day the priests, as with the other holy days, presented unto YHVH an expiation sacrifice and burnt offering (Lev. 23:27).

It is a day where absolutely NO work of any kind can be performed (Lev. 23:28). Since there’s no consuming of food on the day, there is no need even to clean up or prepare meals. It is truly a complete day of rest unto YHVH. 

Most importantly, the day symbolized a day for the making of atonement for the nation before YHVH. 

This feast is a perpetual statute to be observed and kept in all our dwellings (Lev. 23:31).

Yom Kippur is described by Father as a Sabbath of solemn rest whereby we afflict ourselves for an entire 24-hour period (Lev. 23:32). 

The Day of Atonement foreshadows the Great Tribulation that will be poured out upon the earth and its inhabitants by a just and righteous God. As well as it foreshadows the day in which hasatan (ie., Lucifer) will be locked away and tossed into the Great Abyss/Bottomless Pit for 1,000-years (Rev. 20). 

Feast of Tabernacles

The last feast of the fall season, this feast occurs on the 15th-day of the 7th-biblical month (aka Tishri), and is a 7-day feast (Lev. 23:34). 

This feast is often referred to as the Festival or Feast of Booths, the Feast of Ingathering, and Sukkot. 

It too is a pilgrimage feast.

The first day of Sukkot is a holy day whereby we proclaim a convocation. No servile work can be done on the day (Lev. 23:35). 

Back in the day, the priests offered burnt offerings unto YHVH for the entire 7-days (Lev. 23: 36).

What sets this feast apart from the others is that this festival was more of a celebration than anything else. We find in Leviticus 23:40 where YHVH commanded us to rejoice before Him at the place He so designated the feast to occur. 

The other interesting aspect of this feast is that we were commanded to dwell in booths (ie., temporary abodes; makeshift dwellings) for the 7-day celebration period (Lev. 23:42). Some folks make sukkahs (temporary dwelling structures) on their properties, while others choose to convocate with other like-minded disciples at campsites and convention centers around the world for the 7-day celebration. 

Sukkot foreshadows the soon coming millennial reign of our Master Yeshua Messiah here on earth, to be headquartered in Jerusalem. 

Shemini (Atzeret)

This final feast, which is typically attached onto the 7-day long Feast of Tabernacles,  is better known as The Last Great Day. 

It of course takes place on the 8th-day of the Feast of Tabernacles and is also considered a holy day whereby we proclaim and convene a holy convocation (Lev. 23:36; cf. Num. 29:35). No servile work can be done on the day. 

Back in the day, burnt, grain and drink offerings were presented unto YHVH by the priests on this day (Num. 29:36). 

This end to the sacred calendar year’s feast cycle foreshadows the New Heaven and new Earth that will appear at the end of the millennial reign of Messiah (Rev. 21). 

Clarion Call to Action

1. Let us learn about the Feast. Study and understand what and when these special, set apart and sacred days are all about and when they occur. 

2. Let us plan ahead of time to keep the feasts. 

3. Let us keep the feast with passion, love, hope, faith, praise, worship and grace. 

Faithfully,

Rod

 

 

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M’tzora-Person Afflicted With Leprosy-Torah Portion 28-Commentary

by | Apr 12, 2019 | Blog

M’tzora-Person Afflicted With Leprosy-Torah Portion 28-Commentary

Parashah 28-M’tzoro–Person Afflicted With Tzara’at Continuation

This week’s Torah Portion/Reading entitled “M’tzoro,” or a “Person Afflicted with Tzara’at (Leprosy)” is somewhat of a continuation of last week’s reading (ie., Tazaria) that dealt with the diagnosis and consequences of leprosy.

In Tazaria, I discussed how leprosy (a severe skin infection) was to be diagnosed and dealt with by the Levitical Priests. I then highlighted the spiritual “shadow picture” that is germane to the disease and its handling. That spiritual shadow picture is embodied in “sin.” As in leprosy, sin separates the infected individual from YHVH (ie., Yehovah/Yahuah/Yahweh/God) as well as from the uninfected nation.

Leprosy and the Cleansing Process

This week’s reading (Leviticus 14:1-15:33) picks up where last week’s post left off. This reading dealt with the purification process that Abba put in place for when a once leprosy-infected individual is deemed clean by the Levitical Priests. 

Interestingly, once a Levitical Priest cleared a formerly infected member of the nation of leprosy (remember that Biblical leprosy embodied a number of infectious skin diseases), they were permitted back into the community. However, that member still had to be purified before they would be permitted back into fellowship with YHVH. That is, the member could not worship at the Sanctuary/Tent of Meeting/Temple until they completed a purification process. 

The Purification/Cleansing Process in a Nutshell

The purification process is found in Leviticus 14. 

Without going into the specifics of the passage, in a nutshell, the member after being declared clean by a Levitical Priest was subjected to a ritual whereby the blood of a clean bird is sprinkled upon them; he or she bathes and shaves off all their hair; he/she sits outside their home for a week; and then offers a sin and burnt offering upon the altar. 

Interesting Aspects of the Cleansing Process

There are so many amazing elements to the post-leprosy cleansing process that I could spend this entire post enumerating and expounding upon them. And then, I still would not do the subject its due justice.

Suffice for me to elaborate here on just a few of those elements that I found interesting.

1. The Levitical Priest who clears the once infected member would conduct a cleansing ritual outside the camp before the member would be permitted back into the community proper. In that process, the priest would acquire two-clean birds, cedar-wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop leaves. One of the two-birds would be slaughtered with living (ie., running) water. The blood of the slaughtered bird would be caught in a clay pot. The attending priest would then take the living clean-bird, along with the hyssop leaves, cedar-wood and scarlet yarn; dip them all together into the clay-pot containing the slaughtered clean-bird’s blood, and sprinkle that blood upon the member. At the conclusion of this process, the living bird is released freely into the wild (vss. 2-7). 

The release of the live bird has amazing similarities to the goat that is released into the wild by a “strong man” during the “Azazel” ritual practiced on the “Day of Atonement” or Yom Kippur. The Azazel-goat (aka “scapegoat”) symbolizes hasatan who is vanquished into the abyss for a period of time, having the guilt of the nation placed squarely upon it (Leviticus 16). Similarly, the living bird that is released into the wild symbolically carries with it the uncleanness of the once defiled member.

2. The member must shave all the hair from their body. Then the member cleanses his/her body and clothes in water (vs. 8). 

These acts are conducted outside the camp/community. At the conclusion of these rituals, the member is welcomed back into the community.

3. There were a couple other small things the member had to do as part of their cleansing over a week’s time frame (vs. 9). Ultimately, however, the member is required to present sin and burnt offerings to YHVH. (For a detailed explanation of the sin/guilt and burnt offerings, see my earlier Torah Portion/Reading Commentary on this topic.)

Atonement and Fellowship

The sacrifices and offerings presented by the member and mediated by a Levitical Priest to YHVH at the conclusion of the cleansing process served several purposes. But for me, the two most critical purposes were: (1) atonement for sin; and (2) the re-establishing of fellowship between YHVH and the member (vss. 10-32). 

Now, this whole purification process–the sprinkling of blood upon the member by the priest, the shaving of the hair from the member’s body, the washing of the member and his/her clothes in water beforehand; and then the presentation of sacrifices and burnt-offerings, in total, are illustrative of the process of being cleansed and forgiven of our sins as Yeshua-centric Torah observant believers in Messiah. 

Unrequited Sin

As I mentioned in my three-previous Torah Portion/Reading Commentary posts, holiness and spiritual purity is essential to the overall health of every disciple’s relationship with YHVH. And one of the biggest impediments to our maintaining spiritual purity (ie., holiness; righteousness) and a substantive relationship with YHVH is unrequited sin.

Keeping Fellowship With Father

Back in the day when Torah was being written and practically walked out by our forefathers, ritual-purity was an absolute requirement for not only maintaining ongoing  fellowship with YHVH through Temple/Sanctuary/Tent of Meeting worship, but also for maintaining fellowship within the community of Israel. 

Apart from the many natural occurrences of day-to-day life that caused our forefathers to fall into a state of ritual-impurity, unaddressed sin in the lives of the members also set the members of the community into a state of ritual impurity. 

Ritual Purity a Requirement

Ritual impurity–be it in the form of an infectious skin disease or in the form of unaddressed sin–separated the member from YHVH (ie., through the member being denied worship at the Sanctuary)  and in many cases, separated him/her from living in the community. 

With the passing away of the Temple/Sanctuary/Tent of Meeting, and the advent of the atoning sacrifice and the assumption of the Melchezekian Priesthood by our Master Y’shua Messiah, we no longer are held to the specific ritual-purity laws of Torah. However, the spirit of those ritual-purity laws remain ever so in effect for us today.

Leprosy and Sin and Spiritual Defilement and Impurity

As I mentioned in my previous Torah Portion Commentary piece, leprosy is allegorical and can be viewed as illustrative of sin. We know that unaddressed sin in a child of God’s life results in that believer being in what I call a state of spiritual impurity or spiritual defilement. That spiritual impurity or defilement has the effect of: (1) hindering or damaging our relationship and fellowship with YHVH; and (2) separating us from our brothers and sisters in Messiah. Furthermore, unaddressed sin places us at risk of experiencing the curses of Deuteronomy 28. (Unaddressed sin is certainly a viable “cause and effect” to our prayers going unanswered; the many unrelenting challenges and difficulties–personal and financial–some of us face each day; chronic, debilitating and potentially fatal diseases and illnesses some of us are enduring; etc.)

Yeshua Our Mediator

While we live in these bodies here in this dispensation, we are in perpetual need for a priest to act as our mediator to YHVH. That High Priest, of course, is none other than Y’shua Messiah. He alone is our intermediary to YHVH; our healer; our atonement; our role model; our peace; our Truth and our hope.

If we desire to remain in a perpetual state of spiritual cleanliness and purity, we must follow the directions and intervention of our High Priest, Y’shua Messiah. And in the inevitable chance that we fall into spiritual defilement and impurity because of sin, we must act swiftly to ensure that we return to the state of spiritual cleanliness and purity that Father demands of his children in order to maintain a true and substantive relationship with Him. 

It is the blood of Y’shua that cleanses us from all unrighteousness (Mat. 6:12; Joh. 5:14; 8:11; Rom. 8:3;  2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Joh. 1:7, 29; 2:1; 3:5 1 Pet. 1:19). 

Call to Action

 In the spirit of this Torah Reading, let us strive to be in a perpetual state of spiritual cleanliness and purity.  Let us seek forgiveness of sins through a continuous searching and assessment of our thoughts and actions. Approach Father’s throne boldly and call out to Father for His forgiveness.

And upon being forgiven for those sins once they’ve been identified and brought before Father for forgiveness, let us “stop sinning.” 

And let us not forget: as Father forgives us, we too must forgive others. Failure to forgive others may result in our sins not being forgiven (Joh. 5:14). For true forgiveness comes when we forgive others  (Mat. 6:12-15; 9:6; Mar. 2:10, 25, 26). 

Shabbat Shalom. 

Until next time. 

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Tazria (She Conceives)-Leprosy, A Shadow of Sin and the Healing Work of Messiah–Parashah-27

by | Apr 6, 2019 | Blog

Tazria (She Conceives)-Leprosy, A Shadow of Sin and the Healing Work of Messiah–Parashah-27

Parashah 27-Tazria Overview

Torah Portions

Torah Portions is simply a system by which the entire Torah is read annually.

This week’s Torah Portion (Reading) is entitled Tazria—”She Conceives.” It is found Leviticus 12:1-13:59, with the Haftarah Reading found in 2 Kings 4:42-5:19.

This Torah Reading is part of an overall set of instructions on the issue of purity and impurity. Last week’s reading dealt with holiness and sanctification. We can see clearly delineated with these readings from Leviticus instructions that when followed, prepared us for worship.

There are two specific purity issues addressed in this week’s reading: (1) purification after childbirth; and (2) the law of leprosy.

Levitical Versus Hygienic

Being ritually pure and clean was required for worship at the sanctuary. This week’s reading spoke to two conditions that when manifested, precluded the affected person from worship: women having just given birth and the scourge of leprosy. Jewish scholars refer to this form of instruction as “levitical.” In simple terms, levitical means religious instruction.

Although the focus of this week’s reading provided another aspect of living a ritually clean life before YHVH, the instructions given to us by Father regarding postpartum conditions and skin diseases had direct hygienic application for the entire community as well. Containing the spread of infection was vital to ensure the overall wellbeing of the community. Thus Father’s grace and love for the nation is brilliantly displayed His giving of these instructions.

Neither the hygienic or the levitical perspective of these instructions is mutually exclusive of the other. That is, the levitical does not exclude the hygienic and vice versa. For it is only commonsense that Father’s demand that His people be in a state of ritual purity at any given time also ensures proper hygiene is maintained within the community.

What is that old adage? Cleanliness is next to Godliness? No truer words can be spoken.

Leprosy Focus

I’ve elected to focus on chapter-13 of Leviticus in this week’s portion which deals with leprosy.

Leviticus 13 deals exclusively with the scourge of leprosy. Verses 9-17 relate to the diagnosing of the disease.

What is Leprosy?

Today, leprosy is known as Hansen’s Disease (HD). It is described ass an infection that is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Leprae or Myobacterium Lepromatosis. (Wikipedia)

According to the CDC, the disease can affect a person’s eyes, nerves, skin and the lining of the nose. Today the disease is curable.

Symptoms include:

  • Growths on the skin;
  • Thick, stiff or dry skin;
  • Ulcers on the soles of the affected person’s feet;
  • Swelling or lumps on the face;
  • Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes;
  • Numbness of the affected areas of skin;

Muscle weakness or paralysis of the hands and feet;

  • Eye problems leading to blindness; nose bleeds;
  • And blindness.

The disease is spread by airborne droplets (CDC).

According to Leprosy Mission, there are more than 200,000 new cases of Hansen’s Disease reported each year worldwide, with some 3-million people living with the irreversible disabilities the disease causes when left untreated.

What we know today as leprosy is not exactly what the Bible reports as leprosy. Our present day form of leprosy, aka Hansen’s Disease, can be said to be inclusive of the Biblical form of the disease. For biblical leprosy probably encompassed a panoply of infectious skin diseases.

Pertinent Verses of the Reading

Lev. 13:10—”And the priest shall look, and, behold if there be a white rising in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh in the rising…” (JPS).

According to J. H. Hertz (Torah and Haftorah), “in the disease of elephantiasis one of the early manifestations is the growth of vesicles of a glistening white hue, which burst and discharge a whitish fluid.”

Lev. 13:11—”…it is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; he shall not shut him up; for he is unclean” (JPS).

This verse describes the confirmation of leprosy whereby a Levitical Priest would confirm that the disease “is definitely established as rooted in the system by the presence of quick raw flesh and white hair. No preliminary isolation is necessary; it is a clear case of uncleanness” (Hertz).

Verses 12-17 of the 13th chapter of Leviticus “refer to common white leprosy. It is less serious than elephantiasis or leprosy proper. The health of the person remains normal during the time the malady persists, and it generally passes off after a while. There is only discoloration of the skin in this milder form of infection” (Hertz).

So it seems that the “leprosy” that this Torah Portion is addressing (as mentioned above) covers a panoply of infectious skin conditions; not confined to Hansen’s Disease form of skin ailment that exists today.

Lev. 13:45—”And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and shall cry: ‘Unclean, unclean’” (JPS).

According to Hertz, the term leper “is in the masculine; the female sufferer also left the camp and lived apart, but was not required to tear her garments and uncover her head. The customs of the leper are those of a mourner. He was to regard himself as one upon whom death had laid its hand. He was a living death, not only in the physical sense, as suffering from a loathsome and lingering disease; but also in the spiritual sense, as cut off from the life of the Community of Israel.” The cry “unclean—unclean” was to “warn people from touching them. In later times, lepers wore a bell for the same purpose.”

Lev. 13:46—”All the days wherein the plague is in him he shall be unclean; he is unclean; he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his dwelling be” (JPS). The term “alone” as used in this verse is better expressed as “apart.” 

 

Lev. 13:52—”And he shall burn the garment, or the warp, or the woof, whether it be of wool or of linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is; for it is a malignant leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire” (JPS).

The Haftarah Thazria as found in 2 Kings 4:42-5:19 documents two-stories involving the Prophet Elisha: (1) “during the great famine, the scanty bread of a poor man’s offering is multiplied so that Elisha is enabled to feed a hundred of the ‘sons of the prophets;’” and (2) the curing from leprosy of the captain of Syria’s host by the Prophet Elisha.

If we look at leprosy from a spiritual cause and effect standpoint, it ultimately came about because of sin. In fact, leprosy was viewed as a curse of God.

Leprosy is mentioned some 68-times in the AV (some 55-times in the Old and 13-times in the New). 

Leprosy from a Spiritual Standpoint

Many bible scholars contend that leprosy in general was not a fatal disease in the days of the bible. However, I would side with J. H. Hertz on the fatal nature of the disease in both the times of the New and Old Testaments. I submit that the mandated social ostracizing that the disease engendered caused many of those affected to perish. It stands to reason that the affected’s care generally had to come from the unaffected (ie., family members and friends had to provide food and other life-provisions to the affected given the affected member’s persona non grata status in the community).

And we must not overlook the psychological harm that would naturally come from being ostracized from society because of the hygienic and levitical restrictions incumbent upon affected persons. The infected would naturally feel abandoned and useless at some point, which would lead most down the path of neglecting their own care.

Leprosy and Sin

For Yeshua-centric Torah observers such as ourselves, leprosy is analogous to sin. Like leprosy, which begins small and in some cases even innocuously, sin has the great potential of ultimately spreading and growing out of control in a believer’s life causing him/her to become unclean before YHVH. Paul wrote:

“Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6;ESV; cf. Gal. 5:9).

Thus, non addressed sin ostracizes the offender from YHVH. As a result, the offender’s prayers and worship may not be accepted nor heard by Father. If the offender’s sin is known to others in the Faith Community, they may be asked to leave community. And until the offender repents and turns from their wicked ways, he/she is essentially unclean and ostracized from both the community and YHVH.

Paul wrote:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Gal. 6:7,8; ESV).

We know from Deuteronomy 28:15-68 that sin and failure to obey YHVH’s commands can result in a whole host of curses and general problems that spiritually echo the scourge of leprosy.

So in the case of physical leprosy, the priest examines and makes a determination as to the affected being clean or unclean. Cleansing is required at the terminus of the assessment. Being deemed clean by the priest brings the once affected back into a right-standing with society and YHVH and he/she is permitted to resume worship and is welcomed back into the community.

Analogously speaking, when the least spot of sin appears in our life, we must turn to our priest—Y’shua Messiah–for his/her assessment and determination. He, through the working of the Holy Spirit, will determine what happens to us and the course of action we must take in order to be restored to a right-relationship with YHVH and our Faith Community.

Matthew 8:1-4 documents the story of Y’shua healing a leper which is analogous to His undeniable role in our being ruled as clean before a holy and righteous God.

What I find most interesting about the story of the cleansing of the leper by Yahoshua is the instruction that Master gave the healed man:

“See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (KJV).

Even as the walking, talking Torah, our Master in no way violates Torah, but instructs the healed man to keep every aspect of Torah related to his condition.

Healing Through Yahoshua our Messiah

Thus, Yeshua can heal the sin-sick soul and thus we become clean and can remain in right-standing before a holy God. Back in the day, leprosy could only be healed through divine intervention. Carry this same thinking on over to sin. Yeshua is the only means by which we may be healed from the existential ravages of sin. He is the only sanctioned means of clearing us and deeming us clean before our Heavenly Father.

Let us come to Him and have our situation assessed. Then let us take immediate and purposed actioned to addressed the problem.

The difference to be had here, of course, is that our High Priest (contrary to the Levitical Priest of our forefathers) cannot only deliver us from physical disease, but He can also deliver us from the ravages of sin.

Shabbat Shalom Dear Saint.

Until next week.

 

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