{"id":2762,"date":"2014-01-19T13:12:05","date_gmt":"2014-01-19T13:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=2762"},"modified":"2014-01-19T13:12:05","modified_gmt":"2014-01-19T13:12:05","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-mishpatim-slaves-to-righteousness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-mishpatim-slaves-to-righteousness\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Mishpatim, Slaves to Righteousness"},"content":{"rendered":"

This weeks reading is from Parashat Mishpatim (Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-24:18<\/em>), is titled \u201cMishpatim\u201d<\/em> meaning ordinances (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b8\u05bc\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd<\/span>).\u00a0 The Hebrew text states what one is to do if they have a Hebrew slave (21:2<\/em>), if a man is forced to sell his daughter because of debt, what is he to do (21:7-9<\/em>), if a man has a wife he is not allowed to reduce her food, clothing, or conjugal rights (21:10-11<\/em>).\u00a0 Stipulations on murder are made, whether premeditated or accidental (21:12-16<\/em>).\u00a0 Rulings are made on whether two men are fighting and one is injured, how one\u2019s loss of work is to be compensated.\u00a0 When two men are fighting and strike a woman and she miscarriages, the offending person is to pay compensation for the loss (21:22<\/em>), and any other injury, the ruling is to be fair and described as eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth (21:23-22:2<\/em>).\u00a0 The Scriptures go on to discuss things regarding a man\u2019s property, cattle, and fields (22:3-14<\/em>).\u00a0 Sorcerers and Witches are not permitted to live (22:18<\/em>), bestiality is forbidden (22:19<\/em>), and one is not to sacrifice to any other gods (22:20<\/em>).\u00a0 Be good to the stranger (22:21<\/em>), and do not oppress the widow or orphan (22:24<\/em>).\u00a0 No interest is to be charged on loans made to a brother (22:25<\/em>).\u00a0 The law of the first born is given (22:29-30<\/em>).\u00a0 The seventh year rest for harvesting (23:10-11<\/em>) and the seventh day rest from working (23:12<\/em>).\u00a0 The command to celebrate three yearly festivals is given, (i) the Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:14<\/em>), (ii) the Feast of Harvest of First Fruits (23:16<\/em>), and (iii) the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year (23:16<\/em>).
\nStudying these verses, there appears to be a very significant aspect of these ordinances that apply to our lives today.\u00a0 Can you guess what that is in Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-6<\/em>?<\/p>\n

\n

\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d0<\/span><\/strong>
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Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-6<\/em><\/strong>
\n 21:1 \u2018Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them: 21:2 \u2018If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment.\u00a0 21:3 \u2018If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him.\u00a0 21:4 \u2018If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone.\u00a0 21:5 \u2018But if the slave plainly says, \u2018I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,\u2019 21:6 then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. (NASB)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Studying these verse, God is not establishing, validating, or instituting slavery. These laws that He\u2019s giving are merely regulating the practice, which was already a part of the culture and their world. A person could end up a slave as a result of poverty, debt, or maybe even as a result of a crime.\u00a0 What is interesting though, while studying the Hebrew text, the Scriptures say in Shemot \/ Exodus 21:3<\/em>, \u05d2\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05b8\u05bc\u05c1\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e6\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9:<\/span> 21:3 \u2018If he comes alone, he shall go out alone; if he is the husband of a wife, then his wife shall go out with him. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 The English translation states \u201cif he comes alone\u201d<\/em> using the Hebrew word \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9<\/span>.\u00a0 Generally, the Hebrew word \u05dc\u05d1\u05d3<\/span> meaning \u201calone, by himself, unaccompanied\u201d<\/em> or the word \u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9<\/span> \u201csingle, individual, alone\u201d<\/em> are used to describe one who is alone, however, Moshe writes \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9<\/span> from the root word \u05d2\u05d5\u05e3<\/span> meaning \u201cbody.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 The idea is that the man who becomes a slave, comes with nothing but himself (his body).\u00a0 The Scriptures say that if he has a wife, she will go out with him when he is set free.\u00a0 If he finds a wife in his masters household she is to remain when he goes free. And if the servant decides to dedicate his life to his master, they are to go before God and to the door or door post using an awe to put a ring in his ear to indicate that he has dedicated his life to his master as a \u201cbond-servant\u201d<\/em> for the remainder of his life.\u00a0 Note also how the Hebrew text is written \u05d5\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d2\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d2\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b6\u05bc\u05dc\u05b6\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05bc\u05d6\u05d5\u05bc\u05d6\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05e6\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b8\u05d6\u05b0\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d1\u05b7\u05bc\u05de\u05b7\u05bc\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7 \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd:<\/span> 21:6 then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 Moshe writes saying \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d2\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9<\/span> \u201cand he brought him near\u201d<\/em> unto God, and he brought him near to \u201cthe door\u201d<\/em> (\u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05b6\u05bc\u05dc\u05b6\u05ea<\/span>) or to \u201cthe mezuzah\u201d<\/em> (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05bc\u05d6\u05d5\u05bc\u05d6\u05b8\u05d4<\/span>, door post).\u00a0 This is interesting because of the mezuzah that is hung on the door post also contains a small Torah scroll.\u00a0 The master would force an awe on the servants ear fixing a hole in the ear against the mezuzah, against the Torah, and blood is shed.\u00a0 This typifies making a covenant before God.\u00a0 Can you see the parallels here to Pesach (Passover), the mezuzah (door post), the Torah, drawing near to the Lord, becoming a part of a righteous family and dedicating ones life to the master?\u00a0 What did the Apostles teach regarding these Scriptures from Parashat Mishpatim in the Apostolic Writings?\u00a0 The Apostle Paul wrote the following, Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (NASB)<\/em>\u00a0 Is it surprising that we read many of the authors of the New Testament said something similar?\u00a0 Romans 1:1 \u201cPaul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus…,\u201d Philippians 1:1 \u201cPaul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus…,\u201d Colossians 1:7 \u201c…Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant,\u201d Colossians 4:7 \u201c…Tychicus, {our} beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord,\u201d James 1:1 \u201cJames, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,\u201d 2 Peter 1:1 \u201cSimon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ…,\u201d and Jude 1:1 \u201cJude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ…\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 They all proclaimed themselves to be \u201cbond-servants,\u201d<\/em> willingly committing to serve their Master for life.\u00a0 According to Romans 6:16-18<\/em>, we are always slaves to something, why not be slaves to righteousness and bond-servants of Christ?\u00a0BTT_Parashat Mishpatim-2014<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This weeks reading is from Parashat Mishpatim (Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-24:18), is titled \u201cMishpatim\u201d meaning ordinances (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05b4\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b8\u05bc\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd).\u00a0 The Hebrew text states what one is to do if they have a Hebrew slave (21:2), if a man is forced to sell his daughter because of debt, what is he to do (21:7-9), if a man has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2762","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2762\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}