[youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f50lYSU6Kcw&feature=youtu.be”]<\/p>\n
This weeks reading is from Parashat Mishpatim (Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-24:18<\/span><\/em>), is titled \u201cMishpatim\u201d<\/span><\/em> meaning ordinances (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd).\u00a0 The Torah tells us how one is to treat a Hebrew slave (21:2<\/span><\/em>), if a man is forced to sell his daughter because of debt, what is he to do (21:7-9<\/span><\/em>), if a man has a wife he is not allowed to reduce her food, clothing, or conjugal rights (21:10-11<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Stipulations on murder are made, whether premeditated or accidental (21:12-16<\/span><\/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<\/span><\/em>), and any other injury, the ruling is to be fair and described as eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth (21:24<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Scriptures go on to discuss things regarding a man\u2019s property, cattle, and fields (22:3-14<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Sorcerers and Witches are not permitted to live (22:18<\/span><\/em>), bestiality is forbidden (22:19<\/span><\/em>), and one is not to sacrifice to any other gods (22:20<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Be good to the stranger (22:21<\/span><\/em>), and do not oppress the widow or orphan (22:24<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 No interest is to be charged on loans made to a brother (22:25<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The law of the first born is given (22:29-30<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The seventh year rest for harvesting (23:10-11<\/span><\/em>) and the seventh day rest from working (23:12<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The command to celebrate three yearly festivals is given, (i) the Feast of Unleavened Bread (23:14<\/span><\/em>), (ii) the Feast of Harvest of First Fruits (23:16<\/span><\/em>), and (iii) the Feast of In-gathering at the end of the year (23:16<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n This week\u2019s study contain many ordinances and rulings are made to be fair and the most interesting aspect is that in the command of an eye for an eye, that we learn we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.\u00a0 These Scriptures describe not only the justice of God, but also His mercy and instruction for our lives.<\/p>\n \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e9\u05de\u05d5\u05ea \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05db\u05d0<\/strong> Shemot \/ Exodus 21:24-27<\/em><\/span><\/strong> The Golden Rule is believed to originate from a well known verse from the Torah that states \u05d5\u05d0\u05d4\u05d1\u05ea \u05dc\u05e8\u05e2\u05da \u05db\u05de\u05d5\u05da \u201cand love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 19:18<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 This is the earliest known form of the Golden Rule which dates to 1300-1400 BCE.\u00a0 According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, Hillel the Elder (110 BCE \u2013 10 CE<\/em>), (Talmud Bavli Shabbat 15a<\/span><\/em>) used this verse as a basis for his teaching of the Torah.\u00a0 For example, once, he was challenged by a ger toshav who asked to be converted under the condition that the Torah be explained to him while he stood on one foot.\u00a0 Hillel accepted him as a candidate for conversion to Judaism, drawing upon Vayikra \/ Leviticus 19:18<\/span><\/em>, he said \u201cdo unto others as you would have them do unto you\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d5\u05d0\u05d4\u05d1\u05ea \u05dc\u05e8\u05e2\u05da \u05db\u05de\u05d5\u05da).\u00a0 The Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a<\/span><\/em> states specifically, \u201cWhat is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Hillel recognized love as a fundamental underlying principle of biblical ethics.\u00a0 Rabbi Akiba agreed and suggested that the principle of love must have its foundation in Genesis chapter 1, which teaches that all men are the offspring of Adam who was made in the image of God (Midrash Rabbah Bereshit, Parashat 24<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n The rabbis had the following to say about this week\u2019s portion according to Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 30, Parts 6 and 9<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 30, Part 6<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 30, Part 9<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Notice how in Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 30, Part 6<\/span><\/em>, the rabbis say that God gave commandments on every detail and cite the example from Shemot \/ Exodus 21:22<\/span><\/em> on men striving together and hurt a woman with child.\u00a0 An important point to mention here is that according to the Torah, the Scriptures describe the unborn baby as a \u201cchild\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05db\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05e6\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05d2\u05b0\u05e4\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e6\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc \u05d9\u05b0\u05dc\u05b8\u05d3\u05b6\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b8\u05e1\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05e2\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d9\u05b5\u05e2\u05b8\u05e0\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05db\u05bc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05df \u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:).\u00a0 The unborn baby is not a piece of flesh to simply be discarded at an abortion clinic.\u00a0 This life is very precious to the Lord, and Scripture describes the Lord God Himself forming and shaping the baby as he grows in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The rabbis continue and describe the Love of God, and it was by the motivation of love that God gave His Torah to His people.\u00a0 The Torah was not given to the angels, it was given to the children of God.<\/p>\n Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 30, Part 9<\/span><\/em> states that the ways of God differ from the ways of man.\u00a0 The difference is described as \u201cman directs others to do a thing while he does nothing, God only tells Israel to do and observe those things which He himself does.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The idea is that the Lord God in heaven is asking us to do the things that He Himself does.\u00a0 This is the entire concept that is described in the Torah regarding becoming a bond-slave to the Lord, or to Christ according to the Apostolic Writings.\u00a0 In the Hebrew text, the Scriptures say in Shemot \/ Exodus 21:3<\/span><\/em>, \u05d2\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05dc \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05e6\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9: 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)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The English translation states \u201cif he comes alone\u201d<\/span><\/em> using the Hebrew word \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9.\u00a0 Generally, the Hebrew word \u05dc\u05d1\u05d3 meaning \u201calone, by himself, unaccompanied\u201d<\/span><\/em> or the word \u05d9\u05d7\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9 \u201csingle, individual, alone\u201d<\/span><\/em> are used to describe one who is alone, however, Moshe writes \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 from the root word \u05d2\u05d5\u05e3 meaning \u201cbody.\u201d<\/span><\/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 for the remainder of his life.\u00a0 In addition, note how the Hebrew text is written \u05d5\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d2\u05bc\u05b4\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\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\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\u05bc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05e6\u05b5\u05e2\u05b7 \u05d5\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b8\u05d3\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e2\u05b9\u05dc\u05b8\u05dd: 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)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Moshe writes saying \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05d2\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05b9 \u201cand he brought him near\u201d<\/span><\/em> unto God, and he brought him near to \u201cthe door\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b6\u05dc\u05b6\u05ea) or to \u201cthe mezuzah\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05d6\u05d5\u05bc\u05d6\u05b8\u05d4, door post).\u00a0 The important point to take note of is that the mezuzah which is hung on the door post also contains a small Torah scroll.\u00a0 The description here is of the master forcing an awe through the servants ear fixing a hole in the ear against the mezuzah, against the Torah scroll, 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?<\/p>\n The Apostles taught this very thing regarding these Scriptures from Parashat Mishpatim in the Apostolic Writings.\u00a0 The Apostle Paul was teaching Torah when he 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? <\/span>6<\/em>: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)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Being a slave to righteousness means being a slave to the ways of God which are righteousness, truth, justice, and mercy, the very acts of obeying God\u2019s Torah.\u00a0 In addition, we read many of the authors of the New Testament making very similar comments regarding the bond-servant.\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<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 They all proclaimed themselves to be \u201cbond-servants,\u201d willingly committing to serve their Master for life according to His Torah.\u00a0 According to Romans 6:16-18, in this world, we will always be a slave to something, why not be slaves to righteousness and bond-servants of Christ? BTT_Parashat Mishpatim-2015<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f50lYSU6Kcw&feature=youtu.be”] This weeks reading is from Parashat Mishpatim (Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-24:18), is titled \u201cMishpatim\u201d meaning ordinances (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd).\u00a0 The Torah tells us how one is to treat 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 a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3633,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3630","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-bits-of-torah-truth"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3630","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=3630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3633"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n\u05db\u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05e2\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05df \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e2\u05b7\u05d9\u05b4\u05df \u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05df \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05df \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b8\u05d3 \u05e8\u05b6\u05d2\u05b6\u05dc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e8\u05b8\u05d2\u05b6\u05dc: \u05db\u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e4\u05bc\u05b6\u05e6\u05b7\u05e2 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05e6\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d7\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05d7\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05db\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05e2\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9-\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05de\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d7\u05b2\u05ea\u05b8\u05d4\u05bc \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e2\u05b5\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9: \u05db\u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05df \u05e2\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05d3\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9-\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05de\u05b8\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d9\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05dc \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05bc \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9:<\/p>\n
\n 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 21:25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. 21:26 \u2018If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. 21:27 \u2018And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth. (NASB)<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n Observe how much God gave commandments on every detail.\u00a0 It says, And if men strive together, and hurt a woman with child (Shemot \/ Exodus 21:22), then if she dies, You will give life for life (Shemot \/ Exodus 21:23), but if she does not die, there is monetary punishment, though the child had not seen the light, being still in the mother\u2019s womb; but the Torah gives injunctions to Israel on everything.\u00a0 It can be compared to a prince whom his father exhorted to be careful not to stumble over anything and hurt himself because he was as dear to him as the apple of his eye.\u00a0 God, likewise, exhorted Israel concerning the commandments, because they are more beloved to Him than the angels, as it says, You are the children of the Lord your God (Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 14:1) and David also says, O Lord our God, You answered them; You were a forgiving God unto them, though You took vengeance of their misdeeds (Tehillim \/ Psalms 99:8).<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n Another explanation of Now these are the ordinances.\u00a0 It is written, He declares His word unto Jacob (Tehillim \/ Psalms 147:19), these are the Ten Commandments; His statutes and His ordinances unto Israel, these are the ordinances.\u00a0 The ways of God differ from those of man; whereas man directs others to do a thing while he does nothing, God only tells Israel to do and observe those things which He himself does.\u00a0 It is related to Rabban Gamliel, rabbi Joshua, rabbi Eliezer son of Azariah, and rabbi Akiva that they went to Rom and taught there, The ways of God are not as those of man, who makes a decree enjoining others to do a thing while he does nothing; God not being so.\u00a0 There happened to be a sectarian there, who accosted them as they were going out with the taunt, Your words are only falsehood.\u00a0 Did you not say that God says a thing and fulfills it?\u00a0 Then why does He not observe the Shabbat?\u00a0 They replied, Wretch.\u00a0 Is not a man permitted to carry on the Shabbat in his own courtyard?\u00a0 He replied, Yes.\u00a0 Whereupon they said to him, Both the higher and lower regions are the courtyard of God, as it says, The whole earth is full of His glory (Isaiah 6:3), and even if a man carries a distance of his own height, does he transgress?\u00a0 The other agreed.\u00a0 Then they said, it is written, Do not I fill heaven and earth? (Jeremiah 23:24).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n