[youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KozQKZSmu1g&feature=youtu.be”]<\/p>\n
This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayikra (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 1:1-5:26<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 This is the first portion in the book of Leviticus (Vayikra<\/span><\/em>, \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0) whose name is derived from the first word in this book meaning \u201cAnd He called.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 In addition, the English name Leviticus is from the Latin Leviticus, which is a transliteration from the Septuagint (Greek) as a reference to the Levites, the tribe of Aaron, from whom the priests descended.\u00a0 This week we learn about the Whole Burnt Offering (Olah Korban, 1:1-17<\/span><\/em>), the Grain Offering (Minchat Korban, 2:1-14<\/span><\/em>), the Peace Offering (Shelamim Korban, 3:1-17<\/span><\/em>), the Sin Offering (Khatat Korban, 4:1-35<\/span><\/em>), and the Guilt Offering (Asham Korban, 5:1-26<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The opening verses however are addressed all the people of Israel (1:2<\/span><\/em>, \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d3\u05bc\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05dc\u05b5\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b7\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1 \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b6\u05dd \u05e7\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05df \u05dc\u05b7\u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d4\u05b5\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e6\u05bc\u05b9\u05d0\u05df \u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e7\u05b8\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05dd:) even though some passages address the priests specifically (6:8<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Most of Leviticus (chapters 1\u20137, 11\u201327<\/span><\/em>) consist of the Lord speaking to Moshe who is then commanded to repeat to Israel.\u00a0 The book of Shemot \/ Exodus narrates how Moshe led the Israelites in building the Tabernacle (Shemot \/ Exodus 35\u201340<\/span><\/em>) based on the Lord\u2019s instructions (Shemot \/ Exodus 25\u201331<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Here in Vayikra \/ Leviticus, the Lord instructs Israel and the priesthood on how to make offerings in the Tabernacle and how to conduct themselves while encamped around the Tabernacle.<\/p>\n The first question that comes to mind regarding the Simchat Torah Series is what is joyful about all of these Sacrifices?\u00a0 In the book of Leviticus, as mentioned above, we find that God\u2019s instructions deal with the ritual service of the priesthood, the moral, and the legal rulings that are required of the Lord\u2019s people.\u00a0 The major point that comes out of the Leviticus is the idea that the Lord desires to dwell among His people (see Parashat Bechukotai<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Vayikra \/ Leviticus details the importance of sin and impurity if one desires to go up to the Tabernacle to worship the Lord.\u00a0 The real question though is, \u201cwhat is it the Lord wants us to understand regarding the Sacrifices (Korbanot)?\u201d<\/span><\/em> Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:11-18<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:18<\/span><\/em> translates literally to say, \u201cYou remember the covenant of the Lord Your God, He is giving you the ability\/power to make wealth, for the purpose of rising up His covenant which he swore to your fathers, this day.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Lord God preserves us by giving us the power to live and to earn a living.\u00a0 Is this not one of the greatest messages in the Scriptures that should encourage us to live in a worthy manner that brings glory to His name?\u00a0 This message goes even deeper while studying the book of Revelation which says, 12:11 says \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f76 \u1f10\u03bd\u1f77\u03ba\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78 \u03b1\u1f37\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f00\u03c1\u03bd\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd, \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bf\u1f50\u03ba \u1f20\u03b3\u1f71\u03c0\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03c8\u03c5\u03c7\u1f74\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u1f04\u03c7\u03c1\u03b9 \u03b8\u03b1\u03bd\u1f71\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5. (\u05d5\u05d4\u05dd \u05e0\u05e6\u05d7\u05d4\u05d5 \u05dc\u05de\u05e2\u05df \u05d3\u05dd \u05d4\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d5\u05dc\u05de\u05e2\u05df \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea\u05dd \u05d5\u05dc\u05d0 \u05d0\u05d4\u05d1\u05d5 \u05d0\u05ea \u05e0\u05e4\u05e9\u05dd \u05e2\u05d3 \u05dc\u05de\u05d5\u05ea\u05c3)\u00a0 12:11 And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 John says that they, the people of God, overcame the deceiver (the dragon, HaSatan) by the \u201cblood of the lamb\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u03b1\u1f37\u03bc\u03b1 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f00\u03c1\u03bd\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5, \u05dc\u05de\u05e2\u05df \u05d3\u05dd \u05d4\u05e9\u05d4) by the way of the covenant that God has made.\u00a0 In addition to this, they also overcome by the \u201cword of their testimony\u201d (\u03b4\u03b9\u1f70 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03bb\u1f79\u03b3\u03bf\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2, \u05d5\u05dc\u05de\u05e2\u05df \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e2\u05d3\u05d5\u05ea\u05dd).\u00a0 The phrase \u201cWord of their Testimony,\u201d<\/span><\/em> is filled with rabbinic and Torah based principles.\u00a0 When we give our testimony before men, we speak of how God has worked in our lives, He has changed and transformed our hearts, the way we think, what we do, and how we interact with others.\u00a0 We speak of how the Lord has helped us to walk in righteousness, holiness, truth, and justice.\u00a0 The Lord God Almighty is working in our lives!\u00a0 The \u201cWord of their Testimony\u201d<\/span><\/em> reveals the power of God that gives each of us the ability to live for Him.\u00a0 He gives us the ability to work for the very purpose of \u201cEstablishing His covenant\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05dc\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d4\u05b8\u05e7\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9).\u00a0 So when the Scriptures say \u201cthey overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony,\u201d<\/span><\/em> based upon the Torah text from Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:18<\/span><\/em>, we literally overcome with God\u2019s help.<\/p>\n In Parashat Vayikra, we learn about the Whole Burnt Offering (Olah Korban, 1:1-17<\/span><\/em>), the Grain Offering (Minchat Korban, 2:1-14<\/span><\/em>), the Peace Offering (Shelamim Korban, 3:1-17<\/span><\/em>), the Sin Offering (Khatat Korban, 4:1-35<\/span><\/em>), and the Guilt Offering (Asham Korban, 5:1-26<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 According to the Apostolic Writings, Yeshua encouraged the Torah observance of bringing a sacrifice before the Lord according to the command of God.\u00a0 We find examples of this in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.<\/p>\n Matthew 8:2-4<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Mark 1:40-44<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Luke 5:12-14<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Yeshua healed the leper and told the man to go and show himself to the priests and offer the prescribed sacrifices.\u00a0 Note that the command to obey God\u2019s word was for the purpose of being a Testimony to the priests.\u00a0 This is a very important concept because in our own lives, we also are to obey God\u2019s word as a testimony to others, especially to the unsaved world.<\/p>\n In previous Torah studies (See from Bits of Torah Truths, Parshiot Nitzavim and Vayelech<\/span><\/em> – 2014 and Parashat Vayera<\/span><\/em> – 2014 at www.matsati.com<\/span>) we discuss the idea that our lives consist of both physical and spiritual counterparts.\u00a0 The Torah and all of Scripture, teaches us about the physical and spiritual aspects of our lives.\u00a0 The example taken from Parashat Vayikra, we read \u05d0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05bc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8: \u05d1\u00a0 \u05d3\u05bc\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05e0\u05b6\u05e4\u05b6\u05e9\u05c1 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05ea\u05b6\u05d7\u05b1\u05d8\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d1\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05d2\u05b8\u05d2\u05b8\u05d4 \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05dc \u05de\u05b4\u05e6\u05b0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b5\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b6\u05b9\u05d9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05d4 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05de\u05b5\u05d4\u05b5\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4: 4:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 4:2 \u2018Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, \u2018If a person sins unintentionally in any of the things which the Lord has commanded not to be done, and commits any of them, (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 If one sins, according to the covenant, he is to bring a sacrifice.\u00a0 The efficacy of this action is something that requires both faith and obedience.\u00a0 On a spiritual level, one receives the forgiveness of sins.\u00a0 But it isn\u2019t simply a matter of bringing a sacrifice, one must have a repentant heart, and seek the Lord for the forgiveness of sin.\u00a0 The Torah principle at work here is the manner in which one is seeking the Lord for forgiveness, the sacrifices, and turning from sin (Teshuvah<\/span><\/em>, repentance).\u00a0 These concepts are emphasized in the rabbinic concept put forward in Midrash Tehillim 50, Part 2<\/span><\/em> (\u05de\u05d3\u05e8\u05e9 \u05ea\u05d4\u05dc\u05d9\u05dd \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05e0 \u05e1\u05d9\u05de\u05df \u05d1).\u00a0 Midrash Tehillim 50, Part 2 opens saying, \u201cI do not reprove you for your sacrifices (Tehillim \/ Psalms 50:8<\/span><\/em>).\u201d\u00a0 The homiletic introduction to the Midrash states, \u201cRabbi Nakhman taught in the name of Rabbi Berechiah, If a man intends to do a righteous act, the Holy One blessed be He, writes it down before Him, as if already done, for the verse goes on to say your rising thoughts are continuously before Me.\u201d\u00a0 Rabbi Nakhman says that he learned from Rabbi Berechiah that if a man has the \u201cintention\u201d to perform a righteous act, the Lord writes it down as if he had already performed the act.\u00a0 According to this interpretation, the rabbis suggest that the spiritual supersedes the physical.\u00a0 This sort of interpretation is not restricted to Tehillim \/ Psalms 50<\/span><\/em>, we also know that rabbi Yochanan Ben Zachai, taught the idea that \u201cG\u2019millut KhaSadim\u201d<\/span><\/em> (deeds of loving kindness) may substitute for the blood atonement.\u00a0 The rabbinic teaching is that when one reads the commandments in the Torah regarding atonement, if a man reads with the correct intention, it is as if he has performed them.\u00a0 This interpretation is derived from select verses out of the Tanach such as the following:<\/p>\n Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.(KJV)\u00a0<\/span><\/em> \u05d5\u00a0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b6\u05e1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b7\u05e6\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05d0\u05be\u05d6\u05b8\u05d1\u05b7\u05d7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05b9\u05dc\u05b9\u05bd\u05d5\u05ea\u05c3<\/p>\n Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. (KJV)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 \u05d2\u00a0 \u05e7\u05b0\u05d7\u05d5\u05bc \u05e2\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05dd \u05d3\u05bc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b4\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c2\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0 \u05e2\u05b8\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05e7\u05b7\u05d7\u05be\u05d8\u05b9\u05d5\u05d1 \u05d5\u05bc\u05bd\u05e0\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e4\u05b8\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05e9\u05c2\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05ea\u05b5\u05bd\u05d9\u05e0\u05d5\u05bc\u05c3<\/p><\/blockquote>\n These interpretations most likely were the result of the destruction of the second Temple coming out of The Council of Jamnia, which was held in Yavneh and the restructuring of Judaism into today\u2019s form of Rabbinical Judaism. [youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KozQKZSmu1g&feature=youtu.be”] This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayikra (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 1:1-5:26).\u00a0 This is the first portion in the book of Leviticus (Vayikra, \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0) whose name is derived from the first word in this book meaning \u201cAnd He called.\u201d\u00a0 In addition, the English name Leviticus is from the Latin Leviticus, which is a transliteration […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4038,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4035","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\/4035","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=4035"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4035\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4035"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4035"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4035"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe rabbis help us to understand the importance and significance of the sacrifices according to Midrash Rabbah Shemot, Parashat 51, Part 4<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 In the Midrash, the rabbis discuss the meaning of \u201cthe Tabernacle of the Testimony.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 They say the Tabernacle of the Testimony is a reference that the Torah is the testimony of God to all the world.\u00a0 The testimony of God reveals to us that there is salvation in Israel.\u00a0\u00a0 The Lord\u2019s response to the question on the meaning of the Testimony is, \u201cAs you live, I will cause My Shechinah to dwell in their midst, for it says, And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them (Shemot \/ Exodus 25:8).\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The \u201cTabernacle of the Testimony\u201d<\/span><\/em> describes the \u201cdwelling place of the Testimony of God.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 If we consider these words for a moment, from the perspective of the Apostolic Writings (NT), keeping His word hidden in our hearts, abiding in the Word and in Yeshua the Messiah, we have a Torah based understanding that the Lord, His glory, will dwell in our midst, just like what we find occurring in the book of Leviticus.\u00a0 This is a very biblical, Torah based, and rabbinic concept described in the Apostolic Writings.\u00a0 The Testimony of the Tabernacle, according to the rabbis in Midrash Rabbah, is paralleled to all the world (all of creation) knowing of the forgiveness that God has given to Israel.\u00a0 The idea of forgiveness and salvation being found in Israel is a very significant concept.\u00a0 This is the heart of Simchat Torah<\/span><\/em>, the joy of the Torah, in Parashat Vayikra<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 The Lord our God loved us so much, that He provided a way for the Salvation of Israel!
\nOne of the ways God reveals His love for us in the Hebrew Scriptures, is how He works in our lives to confirm the covenant (the Salvation) that He has made.\u00a0 In Parashat Ekev, Devarim \/ Deuteronomy 8:18<\/span><\/em> the Scriptures say the Lord enables us to live and work so that He can establish and confirm His covenant in us.<\/p>\n
\n 8:11 \u2018Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; 8:12 otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them,\u00a0 8:13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, 8:14 then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 8:15 \u2018He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. 8:16 \u2018In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. 8:17 \u2018Otherwise, you may say in your heart, \u2018My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.\u2019 8:18 \u2018But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 8:2 And a leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, \u2018Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.\u2019 8:3 Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, \u2018I am willing; be cleansed.\u2019 And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 8:4 And Jesus said to him, \u2018See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n 1:40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, \u2018If You are willing, You can make me clean.\u2019 1:41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, \u2018I am willing; be cleansed.\u2019 1:42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 1:43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 1:44 and He said to him, \u2018See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\n 5:12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, \u2018Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.\u2019 5:13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, \u2018I am willing; be cleansed.\u2019 And immediately the leprosy left him. 5:14 And He ordered him to tell no one, \u2018But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nWe also know these concepts are found in the Apostolic Writings regarding our faith in Yeshua the Messiah, we receive the forgiveness of sins being credited righteous due to the sacrifice of the innocent (the Messiah\u2019s sacrifice<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 In our world, it is generally understood that \u201csacrifice\u201d<\/span><\/em> involves some kind of loss, usually for the sake of a greater good.\u00a0 For example, a person may sacrifice time, pleasure, or happiness.\u00a0 Another example would be the death of a soldier in war which is often referred to as a sacrifice.\u00a0 Sacrifice, therefore involves giving up something.\u00a0 In the case of the ancient Israel, the practice that was referred to as \u201csacrifices,\u201d<\/span><\/em> is better understood as giving over rather than giving up.\u00a0 The English word for \u201csacrifice\u201d<\/span><\/em> comes from the Latin, sacrificare<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cto make sacred,\u201d<\/span><\/em> or to permanently transfer something from the human (common) realm to the divine or supernatural (sacred) realm.\u00a0 This meaning is appropriate for the sacrifices in the Masoretic Text, since they involve the transfer of offerings from the common to the sacred, from human beings to God.\u00a0 In the Hebrew Bible, the primary Hebrew term for a sacrifice is Korban (root word \u201cto draw near\u201d<\/span><\/em>), indicating the basic ancient understanding of this activity.\u00a0 In the Hebrew Bible, the Lord God is the recipient of the legitimate sacrifices.\u00a0 One of the most helpful ways to think about sacrifices is as \u201cgifts\u201d<\/span><\/em> given over to the Lord.\u00a0 We can understand this type of gift-giving by thinking about gift-giving in our own lives, especially that of young children to parents.\u00a0 Parents really don\u2019t need the gifts their children give them and for young enough children, the money used to purchase a gift comes from the parents themselves.\u00a0 This can be directly paralleled to the relationship between Man and God.\u00a0 The gift giving is important, because it expresses a relationship of commitment, care, and love.\u00a0 When they performed sacrifices, ancient Israel gave to God some of what they believed God had given them.\u00a0 This expresses a close relationship with the Lord, and shows the desire of God\u2019s people to draw near and deepen their relationship with Him.\u00a0 In some passages from the Torah, the sacrificial offerings are called \u201cfood\u201d (see, Vayikra \/ Leviticus 3:11, 21:6, and 22:25<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Referring to a sacrificial offering as food makes sense in a culture in which the sharing of meals is an important means and marker of trust, intimacy, and connectedness.\u00a0 Sharing food with God, even though God doesn\u2019t need food, marks and sustains the relationship, which was the whole purpose of the Tabernacle and for the Lord God dwelling amongst His people and the people trusting in Him.\u00a0 In the Hebrew Bible, sacrifice always involves transformation and the most common way to transform something as a \u201csacrifice\u201d is to destroy it.,\u00a0 Destruction removes the animal from the earthly realm into the Spiritual realm, both of which we live in as mentioned earlier, the physical and spiritual counterparts.\u00a0 The Scriptures tell us that what the Lord received from a sacrifice was the smoke of the burning, as a \u201cpleasing aroma\u201d (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 1:13<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 By the smoke of the transformed sacrifice, the Lord God enjoyed a fellowship meal with human beings.
\nSimchat Torah, the Joy of Torah, is found in the knowledge that the Lord God, our Father in heaven, loves us to the extent that He has provided a means for the forgiveness of sins.\u00a0 But not only that, we find within the Sacrificial system an intimacy that surpasses our understanding, His love requires our love and trust in Him, which fosters a deep connectedness that no one had seen before (i.e. the nations).\u00a0 In and through Yeshua the Messiah, we have God Himself dwelling within the Tabernacle of our bodies, the indwelling of God\u2019s Holy Spirit.\u00a0 Halleluia! BTT_Parashat Vayikra-2015<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"