Shemittah and Jubilee-Shadows of the Rest, Redemption and Freedom We Have in Messiah

by | May 25, 2019 | Blog, Podcasts

The Shemittah and Jubilee--Foreshadows of the Rest, Freedom and Redemption We Have in Messiah

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

 

Are the Shemitah and Jubilee Commands Still in Effect?

The Shemitah and Jubilee regulations contained in this week’s Torah Portion embody the principle elements of rest, freedom and redemption. These three principle elements are intricately linked to the mission of our Master Y’shua Messiah.

Although we were commanded in Father’s Torah to observe Shemitah (ie., the Sabbatical Year) and Jubilee (Year of Release and Freedom), these two calendar events are Torah instructions that do not directly apply to us who are living outside the Land of Israel (Lev. 25:2). The commands related to the Shemitah and Jubilee were only applicable to the Hebrews residing in the Land of Israel.

Teachers and Preachers Capitalizing on the Shemitah and Jubilee

Johnathan Cahn-Messianic Jewish Rabbi

Johnathan Cahn and others were instrumental in introducing Shemitah to mainstream Christianity and Hebrew Roots communities.

Certain self-proclaimed Hebrew Roots and Messianic teachers and preachers have, over the last several years, successfully made “a dollar and a cent” peddling their books and DVD’s on this subject. These preachers and teachers turned successful authors and religious celebrities have hijacked Torah. They have, in effect, repackaged and snazzy’d up the instructions on Shemitah and Jubilee to appeal to a primarily traditional Christian audience. Their erroneous contentions are that the western world is subject to the judgments inherent in not keeping Shemitah and Jubilee. [I would recommend in addition to this discussion on Shemitah, my previous post entitled, “Feast Pilgrimages to Israel–Messianic Lessons Learned From Shemitah.”]

Members Misapplying the Instructions on the Shemitah and Jubilee

Other members of our Faith Community have misapplied the regulations tied to Shemitah and Jubilee to their personal vocations and businesses. The members who have misrepresented and misapplied Shemitah and Jubilee have generally been Hebrew Roots and Messianic congregation and fellowship leaders. They teach false doctrine surrounding Shemitah and Jubilee that prompt their members to give resources and moneys to their organizations.

The Dates for Shemitah and Jubilee Have Been Lost

The exact date when the last Shemitah and Jubilee occurred in Israel has been long lost and forgotten.

However, the Rabbis did take it upon themselves to establish the first Shemitah in the modern State of Israel in 1951-52. The last rabbinic-directed Shemitah on record was 2014-15. Consequently, many farmers in the land of Israel observe the Shemitah, although the commandments surrounding Shemitah and Jubilee are not universally accepted by the Jews of the modern state of Israel.

So What Should We Make of the Shemitah and Jubilee as Torah Observant Disciples of Messiah?

Now, none of what of this is to say that Shemitah and Jubilee hold no significance to the Yeshua-focused Torah Observant disciple of Messiah today. There is indeed tremendous spiritual and prophetic symbolism embodied in both calendar events that we must be aware of.

There are key principle elements of Shemitah and Jubilee that are intricately linked to our identity and redemptive status in Y’shua Messiah.

The elements of Shemitah and Jubilee I’m referencing are (1) rest, (2) redemption, and (3) freedom.

I believe the reason we have so many physically and spiritually oppressed people in our Faith Community today is because they have not truly embraced their royal and priestly identities nor have they recognized their redemptive status in Messiah. These do not walk in the power and might of the Creator’s precious Holy Spirit. Thus, they’re chronically ill; have never-ending financial problems; undergo continuous turmoil in their lives; are miserable individuals; and I could go on forever.

The Sh’mittah/Shemitah/Sabbatical Year—Allowing the Land to Rest

Our Torah Portion for this week is contained in Leviticus 25:1-26:2 with its Haftarah reading in Jeremiah 32:6-27 .

The reading begins with Father commanding us to give the land a “Shabbat Rest” every 7th year. During that year, there was to be no planting/sowing of crops and no pruning of fruit trees and grape vines. Whatever the land produced on its own during this Sabbath Rest period would be our food.

This year is also referred to as “The Sabbath” (or Sabbatical) Year. It has become more popularly referred to as the Shemitah or Shemitah Year.

Shemittah offered us the opportunity to exercise our faith for that year. If we were faithful in keeping the Sabbatical Year regulation, Father promised an abundant harvest that would cover us from the 6th year’s harvest (ie., the very last possible planting season before Shemittah began) and last us up the time that the 8th year’s harvest came in (25:20-22). This was not only faith in action, but also Father’s miraculous provision manifested.

Jubilee (Yovel) Freedom

The Year of Jubilee was a year of redemption. Slaves released and returned to their land. It was a year of property reverting back to their original owner. All symbolic of the work of our Master Y’shua Messiah.

The next calendar event referenced in this Torah Reading is Jubilee (aka Yovel/Yobel).

YHVH commanded us to keep Jubilee every 50th-year. It was to begin in year 49 on Yom Kippur (ie., the Day of Atonement). On that day, we were commanded to blow shofars the entire day.

Father described the time as a year of freedom (aka, liberty). In the Jubilee, all land property must revert back to its original owner. Beyond land property, slaves and servants were to be released or freed from their servitude and obligation. Any outstanding debts were to be eliminated and treated as having been paid in full by the creditor.

Keeping the provisions and regulations of Shemittah and Jubilee guaranteed our security and wellbeing in the land. Father promised that our harvests would be bountiful and our safety in the land would be guaranteed (25:18,19).

Right of Redemption

No land property would be sold to another on a permanent basis. There would always be included in the sale a “right of redemption” clause.

Now, this is a principle that puts the whole issue of land ownership into proper perspective for us. A fundamental law of property ownership is that no human ever truly owns land. All the land belongs to YHVH (25:23,24).

We read of this principle throughout Scripture:

Psalm 24:1—The earth is YHVH’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (cf. 1 Cor. 10:26-28; KJV).

The “Right of Redemption” provided for that at anytime after someone sells their property to a buyer, they or their next-of-kin could redeem the sold property at an amortized price (25:25-28). Otherwise, the property automatically reverted back to the original owner in the Jubilee Year without cost to the owner.

Themes—Shadow Pictures—Prophesies Embedded in Shemitah and Jubilee

As I previously mentioned, there are three fundamental themes or shadow pictures embodied in these two calendar events:

  • Rest—specifically tied to the Sabbatical Year or the Shemittah. We will see how this theme is manifested in the renewed covenant throughout Y’shua Messiah.
  • Redemption—specifically tied to the Jubilee Year. We will see how this theme is indicative of who we are and who we belong to as disciples of Y’shua Messiah under the auspices of the renewed covenant.
  • Freedom/Liberty/Release—specifically tied to the Jubilee Year. We will see how these themes are manifested in the life we enjoy as disciples of Y’shua Messiah and as children of YHVH our Elohim.

 The Shemitah, Jubilee and the Nazareth Incident

Many Messianic Jewish congregations throughout the world incorporate into their Torah—Haftarah readings on Shabbat, related readings from the New Testament (aka, the Brit H’dashah). For this week’s Torah Reading, Luke’s account of the events surrounding Y’shua reading from Isaiah 61 in a Nazareth synagogue seems most fitting for our discussion.

As the story goes, it was Master’s practice during His earthly ministry to attend synagogue service every Shabbat. Thus, it was at the very start of His ministry that he attended a synagogue service in his hometown of Nazareth on one particular weekly Sabbath day.

Luke records that Master was invited to read the Haftarah Reading for that particular Sabbath. The passage for that Sabbath happened to be out of Yeshayahu (specifically Isaiah 61:1,2a). What Y’shua read was as follows:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (ESV).

Can you see the Shemitah and Jubilee themes and shadows contained in Y’shua’s declaration that He is the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, 2: rest; release; liberty; the acceptable year of YHVH?

Rest

The first Shemitah principle is “rest.”

Master taught us the following:

Come to me all who labor are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls (Mat. 11:28,29; ESV).

When we were truly obedient to Father’s Torah, we prospered and existed in restful security in the Land He promised us and our forefathers. Of Father’s instructions, the Prophet Jeremiah wrote:

Thus saith YHVH, stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, we will not walk therein (Jer. 6:16; KJV).

So it is: when we give ourselves over to the teachings of our Master and follow Father’s Torah the way Master taught and modeled, we prosper and flourish. In that prospering and flourishing, we find rest. For we no longer are jostled about by the rigors of this uncertain life.

Freedom

The next principle that is beautifully illustrated in the Jubilee is that of “freedom” (aka referred to as liberty in most English translations of the New Testament).

Among a number of things, freedom in Messiah means freedom from the restraints and miseries of our earthly frailties to be manifested in the glorious condition of our future life:

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits with anticipation for God’s sons to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to futility (frustration)—not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of corruption into the glorious freedom of God’s children” (Rom. 8:18-21; CSB).

There is a freedom that naturally comes to those who become disciples of Y’shua Messiah. Paul wrote to the Assembly of Messianic believers:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17; ESV).

We have liberty from the yoke of the ceremonial law and the servitude of corruption. We have direct access to YHVH 24/7 and we no longer require a human mediator.

We have freedom of speech through the agency of prayer/petitions/worship that are put forth to our Heavenly Father in spirit and in truth. Our hearts and the Holy Spirit direct our walk in Messiah, just as the Creator always intended us to live.

The “Spirit-empowered” message brought to the world by Messiah brought about a true nation of Israelites who would be freed from the entanglements of this world and the bonds of hasatan.

Freedom From The Evils of this World

For us today, this is the “Spirit-empowered” message we must grab hold to and walk in it. We have been freed from the evils of this world and we have the power to do great things in Messiah if we just take that step of Faith and live in that freedom.

Unfortunately, too many of us are reluctant to embrace the freedom and rest that comes with being a true disciple of Y’shua Messiah. We’re too busy getting into other things that we’re not supposed to be getting into. 

Freedom From Religion

Master’s “Spirit-empowered” message brought with it freedom from the enslavement of religion. Paul touched upon this when he addressed the problems that were being caused by Judaizers in the Galatian Assembly:

Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in, who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery (Gal. 2:4; ESV). 

 

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:15,16; KJV; cf. Gal. 4:6).

Religion, secularism, and sin are all forms of bondage which Master came to deliver us from. We have received liberty—freedom and rest from these life influences.

Before coming to true Faith, when we were in the world or in religion, the things of this world, our flesh and religion served as our fathers—and by default our captors.

We’ve been freed from all that because we’ve been redeemed and adopted as children of the Most High God. Thus we can honestly refer to YHVH as Father. This is reality that we must fully understand and walk in if we are to live victorious lives as Torah observant disciples of Y’shua Messiah. 

When speaking to some of the religious leaders who believed in Him, Y’shua taught:

“If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. Then some of the Prushim retored, ‘We are Avraham’s seed! We were never in bondage to any man, so how can you say, ‘You shall be set free?’’ Y’shua answered them, ‘Truth, I say to you, whoever willfully commits sin is the slave of sin. The servant does not abide in the house forever, but the Son abides forever. Therefore, if the Son sets you free from sin, you shall indeed be free to abide in the house” (John 8:31-36; Rood’s Chronology).

Freedom From Sin

In being freed from the bondage of sin, it becomes our responsibility to not sin. For once we willingly submit ourselves to the tug and pull of sin, we become slaves to sin. Y’shua’s work has alerted us to this danger and has provided us the wherewithal to resist and overcome our sinful nature. It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that works within us to help us overcome our sinful nature. In living a life absent of sin, we abide with the Father in wonderful harmony; freedom; and rest.

Paul wrote to the Messianic Assembly of Believers in Galatia:

Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery (Ga. 5:1; CSB).

Redemption 

And the last shadow element of Jubilee to discuss is redemption.

On the subject of redemption Paul wrote to Titus:

That He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people (Tit. 2:14; KJV).

We’ve been bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23). In so being purchased by YHVH—effectively being redeemed from hasatan who is the god of this earth through Y’shua’s sacrifice—we are obligated to walk in the ways of our redeemer.

Again, Paul wrote on redemption in the following two letters:

In whom (speaking of Y’shua Messiah) we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:14; KJV).

 

 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Gal. 4:5; KJV). 

Take-aways and Call-to-Action:

1. Our focus must be Torah-living that is based in Spirit and in Truth.

2. As Yeshua-focused Torah-keepers, our focus should not be rote, mechanical obedience to man-made traditions that some claim are based on Torah. This does not mean we abandon the fundamentals of Torah. Torah serves as our baseline for living in accordance to the way Father would have us live as His beloved children. It is Father’s house-rules for acceptable Godly living.

3. We must walk in the freedom and redemption that Y’shua’s ministry and sacrifice purchased for us.

4. As Yeshua-focused Torah-keepers, we find rest and peace in Father’s and Master’s teachings. We don’t worry or fret about the things going on around us in this crazy world of ours. We live as people of Faith and trust Father to provide and guide and deliver us from problems when necessary. Just as was portrayed in our letting the land rest every 7th year, Father provided, prospered and protected us in the land.

5. Embrace the reality and walk in the rest, redemption and freedom that comes with being a disciple of Messiah.  We are a royal kingdom of priests and children of the Most High God (ie., Elohim).

Until next time, may you, your families and fellowships be most blessed, fellow saints of the Most High. Shalom. Take care.

 

 

 

 

 

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10-Things You Must Do To Improve Your Understanding of the Bible

by | May 18, 2019 | Blog, Podcasts

10-Things You Must Do to Improve Your Understanding of the Bible

by Rod Thomas | The Messianic Torah Observer

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter” (Pro. 25:2; KJV).

How’s your Bible Study life going these days? Good? Could be better? Bad? Non-existent?

Well, in today’s installment of the Messianic Torah Observer, I’m going to give you 10-things you can do (beginning today) that I guarantee will dramatically improve your understanding of the Bible; the things of YHVH and of His Torah; the teachings of Y’shua our Messiah; and even Paul’s writings and teachings. 

1. Read, read and read some more

There’s no way around it: we have to actually read our bibles in order for us to understand the things of YHVH our God (Elohim). And we must read our bibles on a frequent basis.

Bible Read Me

Abba communicates with us primarily through His Word. When we don’t properly read and study the Bible, we miss that which Father has to tell us.

The other thing is we desire to be well versed in the Word, we must at times be willing to read beyond the pages of our bibles. What I mean by “read beyond the pages of our bibles is that we must get in the habit of reading extra-biblical books and publications. I recommend reading (biblical) scholarly works in particular.

Additionally, do not settle for just one bible teacher. Most bible teachers tend to limit their focus and understanding of the bible to just one or two main topic areas. Those who tie themselves to just one teacher run the risk of becoming myopic in their biblical understanding and perspectives.

Lastly, invest in your education. Identify those extra-biblical books that will help you in your studies and when you can afford it, buy it. Do not fear the author(s) denomination per se. If you are grounded in the essentials of the Faith you should be capable of separating the meat from the bones (ie., truth from error).

[I invite you to read or listen to my post entitled “Understanding the Bible Part-2-Why Believers Should Read Their Bibles” for a more in-depth examination on the importance of bible study.]

2. Contextually learn your way around the Bible

If possible, read the entire book that contains your target passage or verse. (A passage generally consists of two or more verses.)

Context is one of the most important elements to sound bible study. In fact, context is vital to any true understanding of Paul’s writings and teachings.

When we attempt to circumvent context in our studies, we run the risk of misinterpreting and misunderstanding our focus texts.

3. Consult multiple English translations

There are many options available to you as it relates to having access to multiple English bible translations. Some are free of charge online resources such as BibleHub. Others are paid resources that contain multiple English translations such as Logos Bible Study Software and WordSearch Bible Software.

I would recommend, however, using a sound English Bible translation as your main reference bible such as the ESV, CSB, NASB or the NET. I personally favor the ESV.

4. Have Access to Multiple Extra-Biblical Resources

Resources such as Hebrew and Greek lexicons, bible dictionaries, geographical references, online biblical resource sites and a general internet search engine can be vital to your understanding of Scripture.

We must never overlook the fact that the bible is a book containing ancient texts, written over roughly a 2-millennia period, covering some 3,500-years of Hebrew history. Given the antiquated nature of the bible, many of the ancient Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic words used by the authors of the original writings are extremely difficult to translate into modern English.

For instance: most of us living in 21st-century western society are ignorant of the geography of the Middle East and Palestine. So many of the places the authors recorded in their writings will be foreign to us. Additionally, many of the customs, cultures and practices of the ancient peoples of Palestine would be foreign to us as well. Thus, the aforementioned resources serve to inform us of the ancient people, their practices, culture, society, etc. that would not otherwise be revealed in the bible.

5. Time

It is a widely held understanding in our western society that the most precious commodity any of us possess today is time. Unfortunately for many of us, time is so precious that any time we would conceivably have for study of Yah’s Word is reduced or eliminated by the cares of life.

When asked by His disciples to explain to them the meaning of the Parable of the Sower (ref. Luk. 8:4-8) that described how some seed–seed illustrative of God’s Word–fell upon thorny soil.  Y’shua explained seed falling on thorny soil as would-be believers who fail to receive or implement Truth in their lives because they are hampered by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life (Luk. 8:14).

Our eternal security—our relationship with the Most High—the health of our relationships with others—our service to the Kingdom of YHVH are detailed in the pages of the Bible. We have little hope of ever realizing our true destiny as Children of YHVH unless we get our noses into our Bibles on a frequent basis. Sadly, finding the time to do so for many of us is not an easy thing to do.

Nevertheless, finding the time to do so is something we must work out.

I vividly recall having to find time to study the Word when I was working. Well, determined to fit study into my busy schedule, I started getting up earlier than I was normally used to. I was successful in getting my studies in. And I was tremendously blessed by that effort.

At the very least, I would devote most of my Sabbath to the study of Yah’s Word.

Seek Father for ways to carve out time to meet with Him in prayer and study of His Word.

6. Much prayer and fasting

Prayer and fasting are vital elements of our Faith walk. When we deny ourselves sustenance (ie., food) in exchange for seeking Yah’s Face in fervent and meaningful prayer, by default we focus our entire attention on Father. In focusing our attention onto Father, He is then able, through His Holy Spirit, to teach us and reveal things about Himself and His Word that you would not otherwise receive going through a normal day (reference: Psm. 35:13; Dan. 9:3; Mat. 17:21; Mar. 9:29; 1 Cor. 7:5).

7. Immersive meditation

Biblical meditation, as it relates to the Torah Observant Believer in Y’shua Messiah, is a “pondering for a proper answer (Prov. 15:28); talking about wise things or Yah’s righteousness (Psm. 37:30; 35:28; 71:24).

It is upon Abba’s Word that we are to ponder “day and night” (Jos. 1:8; Psm. 1:2).

Biblical meditation may involve indiscernible mutterings (often described as whispering) and musings on our part throughout the day as it relates to Yah’s Word. The writer of Psalms 63:6 and 77:12 wrote about meditation/pondering upon YHVH and His works.

8. Discuss-Accountability Partner

Each of us needs someone who is really grounded in the Faith we can trust to discuss the things of the Faith with. I call such people “accountability partners.”

When we are without an accountability partner and we are walking out this Faith alone, open ourselves to negative doctrinal influences. A good accountability partner helps keep us centered on the fundamental elements of the Faith and helps us resist falling for false teachings and doctrines.

9. Get Rid of the Old Garbage

In order to be good students of the bible, each of us must be willing to dispel old and even present religious, cultural and experiential mindsets and understandings about biblical concepts we may have brought over with us from our past lives. We must be willing and unafraid to question all that we’ve ever believed or even currently believe that is not supported by Scripture.

Of those Ephesian women who were delving into false teachings (which Paul described as myths and fables), Paul commented that they were “always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7; ESV). What Paul was getting at in this verse was that there were individuals in the Ephesian Assembly of Messianic Believers who were constantly latching on to the latest and greatest false teachings. These women (and we’ll talk more in-depth about this in part-10 of our Paul and Hebrew Roots series) refused to give themselves over to sound teaching of Torah and the Gospel. These grabbed just enough truth to get themselves into spiritual trouble while they held on to their old ways. In so doing, they attached the little new truth they acquired in the assemblies to their original religious beliefs and practices. In so doing, they created myths and fables, and a false understanding of the True Faith.

This remains a real danger even today when we fail to give ourselves over to sound teaching of the Word.

[For a more in-depth discussion on the importance of getting rid of the old way of thinking and following sound, biblically sound doctrine, I invite you to read or listen to my post entitle “Endure Sound Doctrine I will Not.”]

10. Share

We are called by our Master to share that which we learn with others. (This is apart from discussing it with your accountability partner(s)).

Accumulating head knowledge related to the things of our Faith without sharing it with others is, quite frankly, deplorable and in some cases even sinful.

It was during Master’s first “Sermon on the Mount” that He declared to the attendees (and by default to us living today):

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall the earth be salted? The salt is then good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Rood, Mat. 5:13-16).

Call to Action

Unlike a dear Brother in our Faith who I totally admire and respect is famous for telling his listeners to “go home and read your bibles,” I say go home and be one with your Bible. Allow your Bible to become real to you. Allow YHVH to reveal Himself to you through the pages of His eternal Word. When we do this, we allow the Word to take us to the greatest heights and deepest depths than ever before.

Until next time, may you, your families and fellowships be blessed in Y’shua Messiah. Take care. Shalom.

 

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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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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

 

 

Because you are Obedient Part 3–Forgetting Yehovah

by | Mar 18, 2015 |

Picking up in Chapter 8, verse 11, we find that we are commanded not to forget Yehovah our Elohim.  The passage reads:  11"Beware lest you aforget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;...

Because you are Obedient to Torah Part 2

by | Mar 17, 2015 |

Picking up from the previous section of Deuteronomy 7:12-8:10: 7:12--there is a 3-part requirement related to Torah observance: (1) listen (i.e., to shama or to hear); (2) keep (i.e., to watch and preserve); and (3) obey (i.e., to do them). What we have here is a...

Because you are Obedient to Torah-Part 1

by | Mar 16, 2015 |

Because you are Obedient to Torah (Part 1) Greetings Saints, My Daily Torah studies took me to D'varim 7 (Deut 7). Beginning at verse 12, we find Moshe speaking to the nation of Israel from a reassuring perspective. He'd already established the need for them to keep...

Standing Up To The Christian Bullies Part 1

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by | Mar 6, 2015 |

Happy Purim! Well, here we are in the Month of March which translates to the 12th Biblical Month or the Month of Adar as recorded on the Rood “Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar.” At the time of this post it will be the beginning of...

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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. 

Because you are Obedient Part 3–Forgetting Yehovah

by | Mar 18, 2015 |

Picking up in Chapter 8, verse 11, we find that we are commanded not to forget Yehovah our Elohim.  The passage reads:  11"Beware lest you aforget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today;...

Because you are Obedient to Torah Part 2

by | Mar 17, 2015 |

Picking up from the previous section of Deuteronomy 7:12-8:10: 7:12--there is a 3-part requirement related to Torah observance: (1) listen (i.e., to shama or to hear); (2) keep (i.e., to watch and preserve); and (3) obey (i.e., to do them). What we have here is a...

Because you are Obedient to Torah-Part 1

by | Mar 16, 2015 |

Because you are Obedient to Torah (Part 1) Greetings Saints, My Daily Torah studies took me to D'varim 7 (Deut 7). Beginning at verse 12, we find Moshe speaking to the nation of Israel from a reassuring perspective. He'd already established the need for them to keep...

Standing Up To The Christian Bullies Part 1

by | Mar 9, 2015 |

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Two of Purim’s Greatest Secrets

by | Mar 6, 2015 |

Happy Purim! Well, here we are in the Month of March which translates to the 12th Biblical Month or the Month of Adar as recorded on the Rood “Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar.” At the time of this post it will be the beginning of...

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by | Feb 25, 2015 |

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