{"id":2976,"date":"2014-05-04T13:01:49","date_gmt":"2014-05-04T13:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/?p=2976"},"modified":"2014-05-09T13:54:15","modified_gmt":"2014-05-09T13:54:15","slug":"bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-behar-walking-in-the-spirit-and-not-after-the-law-err-the-flesh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/bits-of-torah-truths-parashat-behar-walking-in-the-spirit-and-not-after-the-law-err-the-flesh\/","title":{"rendered":"Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Behar, Walking in the Spirit and not after the Law&#8230; Err&#8230; the Flesh?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rUskk8bi1KE\" width=\"425\" height=\"350\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This weeks reading is from Parsahat Behar (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25:1-26:2<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Hebrew Word <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cBehar\u201d<\/span><\/em> means <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201con the mountain,\u201d<\/span><\/em> it is the fifth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah from the 32nd week of the annual reading of the Torah, and the ninth parashah in the book of <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 In this week\u2019s reading we find the mitzvah (command) when entering the Promised Land to observe the Yovel year (year of Jubilee).\u00a0 The year of Jubilee begins with a joyful shout and with trumpets.\u00a0 During this year, the land was to be fallow, not to be seeded (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">25:1-12<\/span><\/em>), all property was to revert back to its original owner (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">25:13-28<\/span><\/em>), all slaves were to be set free (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">25:39-54<\/span><\/em>), and all debts were to be released.\u00a0 The year of Jubilee is a very important festival and within the command, the Lord says <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>25:14 \u2018If you make a sale, moreover, to your friend or buy from your friend\u2019s hand, you shall not wrong one another. (NASB)<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 Let\u2019s discuss what it means to <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>\u201cwrong\u201d<\/em><\/span> one another according to the Torah.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong>\u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d4<\/strong><br \/>\n\u05d9\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1\u05b5\u05dc \u05d4\u05b4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c2\u05b8\u05d3\u05b6\u05d4 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05db\u05b0\u05dc\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc: \u05d9\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1\u05b5\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05ea \u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05bb\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9: [\u05e9\u05e0\u05d9] \u05d9\u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05d9-\u05ea\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e7\u05b8\u05e0\u05b9\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b7\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b8\u05d7\u05b4\u05d9\u05d5: \u05d8\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05e1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d9\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1\u05b5\u05dc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b4\u05e1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9-\u05ea\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0\u05b9\u05ea \u05d9\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8-\u05dc\u05b8\u05da\u05b0: \u05d8\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b4\u05d9 | \u05e8\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05b9\u05d8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9\u05d8 \u05de\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05e1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05de\u05b9\u05db\u05b5\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b8\u05da\u05b0: \u05d9\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05d0\u05ea\u05b8 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d9\u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d7\u05bb\u05e7\u05bc\u05b9\u05ea\u05b7\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b7\u05d9 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05e2\u05b7\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b6\u05d8\u05b7\u05d7:<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25:12-18<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 25:12 \u2018For it is a jubilee; it shall be holy to you. You shall eat its crops out of the field. 25:13 \u2018On this year of jubilee each of you shall return to his own property. 25:14 \u2018If you make a sale, moreover, to your friend or buy from your friend\u2019s hand, you shall not wrong one another. 25:15 \u2018Corresponding to the number of years after the jubilee, you shall buy from your friend; he is to sell to you according to the number of years of crops. 25:16 \u2018In proportion to the extent of the years you shall increase its price, and in proportion to the fewness of the years you shall diminish its price, for it is a number of crops he is selling to you. 25:17 \u2018So you shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God. 25:18 \u2018You shall thus observe My statutes and keep My judgments, so as to carry them out, that you may live securely on the land.\u00a0 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>We read in <em>Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25: 12<\/em> \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1\u05b5\u05dc \u05d4\u05b4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd meaning <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cthe Yovel (Jubilee), he is to be holy to you.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The idea is that this year is to be Kodesh (\u05e7\u05b9\u05d3\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1) <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cHoly,\u201d<\/span><\/em> which suggests that this is a time of separation, or to be set apart for the Lord.\u00a0 The way this <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cseparation\u201d<\/span><\/em> or <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cset apart\u201d<\/span><\/em> is accomplished is by each person returning to his or her land being made free, the land is to remain fallow (unplowed and unseeded), and everything returns back to its original owner, land, property, and people.\u00a0 In addition to this, <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25:12<\/span><\/em> states that if you make a sale or buy from your friend, here it says in the Hebrew text <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cfrom your people\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05b6\u05da\u05b8) he is to do so according to the number of years of the crop (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">25:15<\/span><\/em>) and the price is to be based upon the number of years (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">25:16<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The idea behind this is not to wrong one another by fixing an unfair price.\u00a0 The interesting point of this command the effect of living securely in the land.\u00a0 Practicing fairness to one another is what it means to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cobserve the statutes\u201d<\/span><\/em> and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201ckeep the judgments\u201d<\/span><\/em> of God.\u00a0 According to Midrash Rabbah Vayikra, Parshah 33, Part 1 (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d2 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d0) the rabbis parallel <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnot doing wrong to one another\u201d<\/span><\/em> to the <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201clife and death that are in the power of the tongue.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Midrash Rabbah Vayikra, Parshah 33 Part 1<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> And the Lord spoke unto Moshe and if you sell aught unto your neighbor you shall not wrong one another (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25:1, 14).\u00a0 This bears on the text, Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Mishley \/ Proverbs 18:21).\u00a0 Aquila interprets it as a spoon-knive, death on one side and life on the other.\u00a0 Ben Sira says, If a man has a glowing coal before him, then if he blows on it he makes it burn up, and if he spits on it he extinguishes it.\u00a0 R. Jannai says, if there was a loaf that was subject to a tithe, then if a man eats it before tithing there is death in the power of the tongue, but if he first tithed it and then ate there is life in the power of the tongue.\u00a0 R. Hiyya b. Abba said, If he had before him a basket of figs, then if he ate of it before tithing there is death in the power of the tongue, but if he first tithed it and then ate there is life in the power of the tongue.\u00a0 R. Simeon b. Gamaliel said to Tabbbai his servant, Go and buy me good food in the market.\u00a0 He went and bought him tongue.\u00a0 He said to him, Go and buy me bad food in the market.\u00a0 He went and bought him a tongue. Said he to him, What is this?\u00a0 When I told you to get good food you bought me a tongue, and when I told you to get bad food you bought me a tongue.\u00a0 He replied, good comes from it and bad comes from it.\u00a0 When the tongue is good there is nothing better, and when it is bad there is nothing worse.\u00a0 Rabbi made a feast for his disciples and placed before them tender tongues and hard tongues.\u00a0 They began selecting the tender ones, leaving the hard ones alone.\u00a0 Said he to them, note what you are doing.\u00a0 As you select the tender and leave the hard, so let your tongues be tender to one another.\u00a0 Accordingly, Moshe admonishes Israel by saying, If you sell aught, you shall not wrong one another.<\/span><\/em> (\u05d0 \u05d5\u05d9\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05d4\u05f3 \u05d0\u05dc \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05de\u05db\u05e8\u05d5 \u05de\u05de\u05db\u05e8 \u05dc\u05e2\u05de\u05d9\u05ea\u05da \u05d4\u05d4\u05f4\u05d3 (\u05de\u05e9\u05dc\u05d9 \u05d9\u05d7) \u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05d5\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05df \u05ea\u05e8\u05d2\u05d5\u05dd \u05e2\u05e7\u05d9\u05dc\u05e1 \u05de\u05d9\u05e6\u05d8\u05e8\u05d0 \u05de\u05d5\u05db\u05d9\u05e8\u05d9\u05df \u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05de\u05db\u05d0\u05df \u05d5\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05db\u05d0\u05df \u05d1\u05e8 \u05e1\u05d9\u05e8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d2\u05d7\u05dc\u05ea \u05d5\u05e0\u05e4\u05d7 \u05d1\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d1\u05d9\u05e2\u05e8\u05d4 \u05e8\u05e7\u05e7 \u05d1\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05d1\u05ea \u05d0\u05f4\u05e8 \u05d9\u05e0\u05d0\u05d9 \u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05db\u05db\u05e8 \u05d8\u05d1\u05d5\u05dc \u05d0\u05db\u05dc\u05d5 \u05e2\u05d3 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d5 \u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05df \u05e2\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d5 \u05d5\u05d0\u05db\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05df, \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05e8\u05f3 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05e8 \u05d0\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05d5 \u05db\u05dc\u05db\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e9\u05dc \u05ea\u05d0\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05db\u05dc\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d3 \u05e9\u05dc\u05d0 \u05e2\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d4 \u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05df \u05e2\u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05d0\u05db\u05dc\u05d4 \u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d1\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05df \u05d0\u05e8\u05e9\u05d1\u05f4\u05d2 \u05dc\u05d8\u05d1\u05d9 \u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e4\u05d5\u05e7 \u05d6\u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d9 \u05e6\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d8\u05d1\u05d0 \u05de\u05df \u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05d0 \u05e0\u05e4\u05e7 \u05d6\u05d1\u05df \u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05df \u05d0\u05f4\u05dc \u05e4\u05d5\u05e7 \u05d6\u05d1\u05d9\u05df \u05dc\u05d9 \u05e6\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d9\u05e9\u05d0 \u05de\u05df \u05e9\u05d5\u05e7\u05d0 \u05e0\u05e4\u05e7 \u05d6\u05d1\u05df \u05dc\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05df \u05d0\u05f4\u05dc \u05de\u05d4\u05d5 \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d3\u05db\u05d3 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05da \u05e6\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d8\u05d1\u05d0 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d6\u05d1\u05df \u05dc\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05df \u05d5\u05db\u05d3 \u05d0\u05e0\u05d0 \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05da \u05e6\u05d3\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d9\u05e9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d6\u05d1\u05df \u05dc\u05d9 \u05dc\u05d9\u05e9\u05df \u05d0\u05f4\u05dc \u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d8\u05d1\u05ea\u05d0 \u05d5\u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d9\u05e9\u05ea\u05d0 \u05db\u05d3 \u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 \u05d8\u05d1 \u05dc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d8\u05d1\u05d4 \u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05db\u05d3 \u05d1\u05d9\u05e9 \u05dc\u05d9\u05ea \u05d1\u05d9\u05e9 \u05de\u05d9\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4 \u05e8\u05d1\u05d9 \u05e2\u05e9\u05d4 \u05e1\u05e2\u05d5\u05d3\u05d4 \u05dc\u05ea\u05dc\u05de\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d4\u05d1\u05d9\u05d0 \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9\u05d4\u05dd \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e8\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05d5\u05ea \u05e7\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05ea\u05d7\u05d9\u05dc\u05d5 \u05d1\u05d5\u05e8\u05e8\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05e8\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05df \u05d4\u05e7\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05de\u05e8 \u05dc\u05d4\u05dd \u05d3\u05e2\u05d5 \u05de\u05d4 \u05d0\u05ea\u05dd \u05e2\u05d5\u05e9\u05d9\u05df \u05db\u05e9\u05dd \u05e9\u05d0\u05ea\u05dd \u05d1\u05d5\u05e8\u05e8\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05e8\u05db\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05de\u05e0\u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05ea \u05d4\u05e7\u05e9\u05d9\u05dd \u05db\u05da \u05d9\u05d4\u05d9\u05d4 \u05dc\u05e9\u05d5\u05e0\u05db\u05dd \u05db\u05da \u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05dc\u05d0\u05dc\u05d5 \u05dc\u05e4\u05d9\u05db\u05da \u05de\u05e9\u05d4 \u05de\u05d6\u05d4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d0\u05ea \u05d9\u05e9\u05e8\u05d0\u05dc \u05d5\u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05de\u05db\u05e8\u05d5 \u05de\u05de\u05db\u05e8.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Based on <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25<\/span><\/em>, the midrash draws a parallel to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnot doing wrong to one another\u201d<\/span><\/em> and <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cdeath and life being in the power of the tongue.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The idea is to be tender to one another in treating each other in righteousness, kindness, and holiness.\u00a0 We learn in the midrash that there is a connection between what we say and what we do.\u00a0 The prophet Isaiah said in <em>Isaiah 3:8<\/em> the people\u2019s speech (Leshonam, \u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05dd) is connected to the way they walked (u\u2019maalleyhem, \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd) suggesting that the way one speaks follows through by the way one walks.\u00a0 Note also the children of Israel had Aaron build them a golden calf (in Parashat Ki Tisa), and the words of their lips indicated their desire and plan to walk in sin before the Lord at the mountain of Sinai in the desert.\u00a0 In addition to this, David says in<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> Tehillim \/ Psalms 39,<\/span><\/em> \u05d1\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d3\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b7\u05d9 \u05de\u05b5\u05d7\u05b2\u05d8\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05b4\u05dc\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b7\u05d7\u05b0\u05e1\u05d5\u05b9\u05dd \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b9\u05d3 \u05e8\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05e2 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d2\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9: <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">39:1 I said, \u2018I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 David says \u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d3\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b7\u05d9 <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>\u201cI said, I will guard\/keep my ways.\u201d<\/em><\/span> He says that he will take heed to his ways so that he does not sin with his tongue.\u00a0 Taking heed of our ways, examining our ways is something every man should do to his actions, conduct, and conversation like David is suggesting in his Psalm.\u00a0 This is what it means to walk in faith, to walk in God\u2019s ways, in His truth and not in error.\u00a0 We are told to walk in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless, this is the path of righteousness and holiness.\u00a0 We are to seek holiness and take heed not to embrace error or immorality.<\/p>\n<p>These last few weeks we have been studying <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus<\/span><\/em> from Parashat Kedoshim (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 19:1-20:27<\/span><\/em>) and Parashat Behar (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25:1-26:2<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 In the rabbinic literature, the evil tongue is described as being the source of all plagues and is worse than shedding blood, sexual immorality, and idolatry (<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Mishnah Arachin 15b, Midrash Rabba Deuteronomy 6:8, Pirkei de Rabbi Eliezer, 53, Bava Batra 164b<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 What we say and how we say has some very significant spiritual consequences.\u00a0 When the Apostle Paul was writing to the non-Jewish believers in Galatia, he wrote on the topic of the tongue and biting and devouring one another in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Galatians 5:13-26<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Galatians 5:13-26<\/span><\/em><\/strong><br \/>\n<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"> 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 5:14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement\u00a0 \u2018You shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u2019 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 5:17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 5:21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>What is interesting about Paul\u2019s words to the Galatians, is that he is speaking on this very same topic of the evil tongue.\u00a0 Most people believe Paul was quoting Yeshua\u2019s words but in fact, both Yeshua and Paul were quoting from Parashat Kedoshim out of the Torah.\u00a0 Paul quotes from <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 19:18<\/span><\/em> in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Galatians 5:14<\/span><\/em> to love your neighbor as yourself.\u00a0 In addition to this, Paul may possibly be basing his exhortation to the Galatians out of Parashat Behar in <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25<\/span><\/em>, similar to Midrash Rabbah in saying to <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cnot do wrong to one another\u201d<\/span><\/em> versus <em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u201cdeath and life being in the power of the tongue.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 In Paul\u2019s discussion on the tongue, the biting and devouring one another he contrasts the walking in the Spirit to walking in the flesh.\u00a0 He lists the attributes of those who walk in the Flesh, and those who walk in the Spirit.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The deeds of the flesh are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>He says those who walk in the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God, and those who walk in the Spirit, against such there is no Law.\u00a0 The most interesting aspect of these Scriptures is with regard to the Torah Portions.\u00a0 Paul speaks of loving our neighbor and doing no wrong to one another and walking in the Spirit.\u00a0 Walking in the Spirit is synonymous to submitting our lives to these commands.\u00a0 Submitting our lives to God\u2019s Torah, we submit to His ways, to peace, to love, to joy, to goodness, to faithfulness, to patience, and to life.\u00a0 This is what it means to walk in the Messiah, in Yeshua, in Christ, and God enables us, and transforms us in His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 In addition to this, to walk after the flesh is to not walk in God\u2019s ways which is synonymous to not submitting our lives to God\u2019s Torah.\u00a0 Have you ever heard that walking after the flesh is following the Law?\u00a0 Can you see this is not really true?\u00a0 That is some serious food for thought! <a href=\"http:\/\/www.matsati.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/BTT_Parashat-Behar-2014.pdf\">BTT_Parashat Behar-2014<\/a>  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This weeks reading is from Parsahat Behar (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 25:1-26:2).\u00a0 The Hebrew Word \u201cBehar\u201d means \u201con the mountain,\u201d it is the fifth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parashah from the 32nd week of the annual reading of the Torah, and the ninth parashah in the book of Vayikra \/ Leviticus.\u00a0 In [&hellip;]<\/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-2976","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\/2976","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=2976"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2976\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2976"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2976"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2976"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}