Torah Portion 25—Give An Order

This weeks Torah Reading (aka Torah Portion) is entitled “Give an Order.” It is contained in Leviticus 6:1(8) through 8:36. There’s a Haftarah Reading as well found in Jeremiah 7:21-8:3; 9:22(23)-23(24).

Initial Thoughts

To be frank, its one of those readings that one would like to quickly get through for a variety of reasons:

—It’s laborious as it instructs on the intricacies of animal sacrifices and the various types of offerings.

—The instructions on the surface have no obvious, direct bearing on us who are under the renewed covenant and under the Melchizedekian Priesthood.

Shadows of Good Things to Come

Despite the laboriousness and lack of obvious direct bearing upon the lives of disciples of Y’shua Messiah today, when one gives themselves over to really studying these instructions, an amazing shadow picture in Y’shua Messiah opens up to them.

The author of the Book of Hebrews wrote:

“For the Torah has in it a shadow of the good things to come, but not the actual manifestation of the originals…” (10:1; CJB).

“But when the Messiah appeared as Cohen Gadol of the good things that are happening already…” (9:11; CJB).

A Necessary Approach

And this is the approach or mindset that I’ve personally adopted in my weekly Torah studies: searching out the shadows of the renewed covenant under the Melchizedekian Priesthood. Otherwise, what I’ve found is that the readings fall short. Without a proper spiritual worldview, we essentially place our attention and dare I say align our obedience with the defunct Levitical Priesthood.

And that’s not a good place to find one’s self in. Oh, one’s heart may be in the right place—that is, desiring to commune with YHVH through the obedient reading of His Torah. However, at the risk of alienating some of you who are fervent Torah fan, reading the weekly Torah Portions just for the sake of reading them—let’s say for “tradition” sake—is spiritually pointless.

Employing the Work of the Holy Spirit in Torah Readings

So I highly encourage all to continue with the weekly Torah Readings, but do not quash the leading of the Holy Spirit in those readings. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide your reading and reveal the eternal Truths contained therein. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job.

Of the work of the Holy Spirit, Master Y’shua taught:

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (Joh. 6:13; ESV).

A Portion About Worship

This week’s reading was really about worship of our great and loving Elohim, YHVH.

Typically, when we think about sacrifices and offerings made on YHVH’s altar, we think about atonement of sins.

But the focus of most of the offerings in this reading, with the exception of the “Sin Offering” (for sins committed in ignorance), were to provide the people opportunities to worship and commune with the Creator of the Universe. And that understanding cannot be understated.

Establishing and Maintaining the Relationship

Communing—establishing and maintaining a substantive and loving relationship–with YHVH is the ultimate goal of every child of YHVH. At least it should be!

And the whole idea behind Abba instituting these sacrifices and offerings was to afford His people the opportunity to commune and love Him freely—on their own accord. But they had to do it on Father’s terms. Thus, the intricacies of these various sacrifices required the attention of both priests and the offerer to follow Father’s established narrow path. For if we are willing to endure the intricacies of Father’s instructions that He had passed down to us for purposes of communing with Him, and our hearts are in the right place, then He will sup with us and do His part to grow the relationship.

So going through these readings and sorting out the various sacrifices and offerings I feel is an uber important part of the Torah Observant Disciple of Y’shua Messiah. And the point is not to just have some head knowledge of our heritage so that we can parrot it out to anyone who may ask us about such things. More so, it’s really about applying the spirit of these forms of worship to our day-to-day walk with Messiah in an effort to grow our relationship with the Almighty.

The Sacrifices of Torah Reading Tzav

The following offerings and sacrifices, along with a brief description were highlighted in this week’s Torah Reading:

Sin Offerings:

Offered:

1. For sins of ignorance
2. At the consecration of priests
3. At the consecration of Levites
4. At the expiration of a Nazarite Vow
5. On the day of atonement

A Most Holy Sacrifice

Consisted of:

1. A young bullock for priests
2. A young bullock or he-goat for the congregation
3. A male kid for a ruler
4. A female kid or female lamb for a private person

The Guilt Offering (aka Trespass Offering):

• Restitution
• Father viewed as especially holy
• Were slaughtered as those animals were for the Burnt Offerings—>their blood was to be splattered against the sides of the altar—>the fat of the animal was to be offered upon the altar. It was prohibited for the priest or the offerer to consume the fat—it belonged exclusively to YHVH.
• The priests were to consume the meat on the Tabernacle grounds, in a state of ritual cleanness, as the meat of the sacrifice was deemed most holy.
• It was like the sin offering in its purpose and execution (vs. 7).
• It is in a sense an atonement sacrifice.
• The hide of this sacrifice becomes the property of the officiating priests (except that of the sin offering which was to be entirely burned outside the camp).
• Grain for the Guilt Offerings belonged to the officiating priests. Provision of the grain offering belonged to all the priests.
• Deemed Most Holy
• To be eaten by the priests
• Offered by idolaters

Peace Offerings

The offerer who partakes and eats of the peace offering was to be in a state of ceremonial purity. Failure to be in a state of ritual purity would cause the offerer to be “cut off from his people or as the LXX states: that soul shall perish from his people.

According to ESV Study Bible, these are subdivided into 3-types according to their associated motivations:

1. Thanksgiving—that which is in response to YHVH’s favor toward the offerer. This is also eaten by the offerer before YHVH and none of it was to be left until morning.

2. A Vow—that which is offered in fulfillment of a vow. This too the offerer was to partake in eating and it could be consumed even through the next day. By the 3rd day, the flesh of the sacrifice was to be consumed with fire.

3. A Freewill—that which there is no specific obligation to make an offering.

Fellowship Sacrifices (7:11; cf. 3:1,3,6,9):

Thanksgiving or “todah” ((vss. 12-15)which was to include a Thanksgiving Sacrifice of Fellowship consisting of (1) unleavened cakes with oil which belonged to the officiating priests; (2) the offerer actually partook in eating the meat, which had to be entirely consumed by the next day, either wise, what remained had to be entirely burned. Thanksgiving offerings were made in response to answered prayer; attested to the goodness of YHVH; allowed the offerer to partake in the celebration whereby family and friends could also partake; was accompanied with a grain offering.

Vow (vss. 16-18): The offerer may consume the meat over the course of 2-days. On the 3rd day the remainder was to be burned. Vow offerings were emblematic of the offerer’s grateful response to the completion of a vow.

Freewill (vss. 16-18): Freewill offerings were emblematic of an expression of joyful thanksgiving—praise offerings (Psm. 54:6; 119:108).

Specific Instructions Given For Offerings and Sacrifices

Meat Sacrifices could not come into contact with any unclean things and the offerer had to be in a state of ritual cleanness.

CSB notes: “The clean must eat only clean meat, or the consequences were severe.”

To be “cut off” meant either the offender is excommunicated from worship (22:3) or premature death through the intervention of YHVH (17:4).

This same principle applies to worship via The Master’s Supper, whereby Paul writes to the Corinthian Assembly:

“Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Master, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Master. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Master’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many slepp. For if we would just ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Master, that we should not be condemned with the world” (1 Cor. 11:27-32; KJV).

Of course the fat belonged to YHVH in all sacrifices. However, “the breast of the animal was to be presented as a presentation offering—ie., a wave offering or a tenuphah offering. Rather than waving the offering, the worshiper presented it as a dedicatory gift to YHVH. Ultimately, the breast was to be given to the priests collectively (symbolizing that the sacrifice had been accepted by YHVH)” (CSB Study Bible Commentary). Also, the officiating priest received the right thigh.

As an aside, the breast and thigh were meaty portions of the sacrificed animal that provided the priests and their families perpetual sustenance. Father made provision in His Torah to take care of His priesthood. We know that the priesthood could not own property or have businesses. Their entire sustenance came from provisions made by YHVH.

Ordination of Aharon and his sons for service in the Levitical Priesthood took place at the Tent of Meeting

It began with the men being washed with water (8:6). The washing with water symbolized sanctification and justification. For water purifies and cleans and makes one acceptable for service. The Ruach HaKodesh also is part of that whole sanctification and justification process:

“…but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of Master Y’shua, and by the Ruach of our Elohim” (1 Cor. 6:11; KJV, adjusted).

Baptism is a symbolic representation of our washing.

Also, the Word of Yah washes, sanctifies and cleanses us:

“That He might sanctify and cleanse it (speaking of the Body of Messiah) with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:26; KJV).

Why? Because when we hear and obey our Master’s teachings, it leads us to live set-apart, holy, sanctified lives in His service.

Moshe then clothed the men with the set-apart garments, made according to the specifications given by YHVH. This is in a wide-sense the believer putting on the Whole Armor of YHVH, whereby Paul instructs us to put on the belt of truth; a breastplate of righteousness; our feet covered by the readiness of the gospel of peace; taking hold a shield of faith; along with the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:14-17).

Aharon was adorned with a beautiful breastpiece that “gave him glory and beauty in the eyes of the congregation” (CSB Study Bible). This of course symbolized his role as a mediator for the nation. Today, being under the Melchizedekian Priesthood (Heb. 4:14; 5:6,10; 6:20) such accessories have passed away; giving way to the perfected state and nature of our Master Y’shua Messiah who reflects and is the very essence of His Father YHVH our Elohim.

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Messiah Y’shua, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time” (1 Tim. 2:5,6; ESV).

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Y’shua, the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession” (Heb. 4:14; ESV).

Then Moshe anointed Aharon, the tabernacle and all the implements with anointing oil. This served to sanctify Aharon and the Tabernacle for service. Given that our bodies are now the tabernacle of the Living YHVH under the renewed covenant and under the Melchizedekian Priesthood, the blood of Y’shua and Father’s Holy Spirit anoints our hearts and minds for service as well as it marks and seals us (2 Cor. 1:21,22; Col. 1:20).

Then Moshe brought forth the sin-offering calf, the head of which Aharon and his sons laid their hands. Moshe followed the provisions for the sin offering on behalf of Aharon and Aharon’s sons. Then a ram was presented as a whole burnt offering according to the provisions of Lev. 1:8. However, some of the ram’s blood was placed upon the tip of Aharon’s right ear, his right thumb, and on the great toe of his right foot. According to CSB, this symbolized “the total cleansing of the priests. The ear indicated hearing the confessions of the people, the hand represented the touching and handling of the offerings and the foot represented the holy courtyard and tent in which they served.”

Then Moshe to an unleavened loaf, one loaf made with oil and one cake from the basket of consecration and placed them with the fat and the right shoulder of the animal sacrifice. These items were waved before YHVH and then burned on the altar. Officiating as priest during this induction, Moshe took the alloted portion of the ram offering, waved them before YHVH.

Then Moshe took anointing oil and the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled Aharon and his sons with them. This was an act symbolizing sanctification or consecration (qaddesh), whereby they were separated exclusively for the service of YHVH.

Remember that all this was being witnessed by the entire nation which served to instill a sense of validation and confidence and acceptance.

Lastly, Aharon and his sons ate the ordination meal at the Tent of Meeting as a sin of their communion with YHVH and that their consecration was accepted by YHVH. Within the Tent of Meeting they ate their consecration meal and were commanded not to leave the Tent of Meeting for 7 as a mandated consecration period.

Haftarah Reading in Jeremiah

Of course, Israel failed to keep YHVH’s commandments regarding sacrifices. Instead, they burned their sons and daughter in the fires of Topheth—Molech—in the Ben-Hinnom Valley. Topheth appears to be another name for Baal (Jer. 32:35).

Yet Jeremiah foretold of a coming time when the sacrifices of the nation’s children would cease in that region and the place become a cemetery of sorts.

Renewed Covenant and Melchizedekian Priesthood Take-Aways

What we see being played out here in this Torah Reading are a great many things. And what we can choose to take away from it is our own business—based upon our own maturity level—our own personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe—our own level of indwelling of the Holy Spirit—our own desire to see beyond the written Word.

But I would suggest that a couple of the many take-aways we have with this Reading is relationship.

Establishing and fostering a relationship with the Almighty is accomplished through a few methods. And I would suggest that this Torah Reading is one of those methods for establishing and fostering a relationship with Father: that being through “worship.”

We find here where Father had already revealed Himself to Moses and the Mixed Multitude that came out of Egypt. Father introduced Himself to the mixed multitude through indescribable and indisputable signs and wonders.

He had already established a relationship with Moses—that relationship being one of the most unique ever to be described in human history—YHVH spoke to Moses as one speaks to his/her friend:

“Thus YHVH used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend…” (Exo. 33:11; ESV).

A personal relationship with the Creator was partly extended to the Levites and the priesthood that would emerge from that tribe.

Then we get to this juncture of history whereby Abba now extends the opportunity for the everyday Israelite to have a personal relationship with YHVH. Essentially, this was an open invitation for the everyday soul to have an opportunity to commune with the Almighty through worship.

As with most things Father instituted by putting forth these instructions, He began this communing with baby steps. And what better way than through freewill offerings, intermediated by a priest.

And throughout the whole of this instruction, never did Father force Himself upon His people. These were freewill forms of worship. And of course, it remains the same today—our worship of YHVH today is entirely freewill based.

Except today, we worship YHVH in Spirit and in Truth. The instructions that make up this week’s Torah Reading were for all intents and purposes training wheels for the people of YHVH. And we are the beneficiaries of our forefathers’ often feeble attempts to commune with the Creator of the Universe. Through their stiff-necked nature and refusal to obey Father’s instructions, we have an opportunity to understand what He likes and dislikes; what He requires of us, not just from our actions, but from the standpoint of our willing hearts.

Today, instead of relying upon specific instructions on how to commune with the Almighty through a human priesthood, we now can go into the deep end of the spiritual poor and commune directly with the Almighty—Face-to-Face as Moses did, because Y’shua carved and open up the pathway for us to do so.

Many in churchianity are taken aback when they come across Torah Observant Disciples of Y’shua, accusing us of keeping the Law in order to purchase our salvation. But we keep Torah in Spirit and in Truth.

• When we worship YHVH, are we spiritually clean?

• Are we in a good place with Abba?
• In our behavior?
• Our thoughts?
• How we treat our bodies?
• Are we holding true to the things we are supposed to do?
• Is our talk holy?
• Is our heart pure and without guile?
• How are our relationship? Holy? Equally yoked?

This is all important stuff to consider when we enter into worship of YHVH. If we are NOT spiritually clean, Abba may NOT accept our service nor our worship.

Our heart influences our thoughts, which influences our actions in many instances. And we these things are inconsistent with the holiness that Abba requires of us, we find ourselves in a state of uncleanness.

What constitutes worship for us in this age of Spirit and Truth worship and under the Renewed Covenant?

1. Fruit of our lips.
2. Giving of financial and other material gifts.
3. Obedience to Yah’s instructions.

The portions of sacrifice rendered unto the priests foreshadowed our present day support of those who labor in the gospel.

May you have a blessed Sabbath and time of communion with the King of Kings and Master of Masters. Shalom!