[youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2Dmb0EAFBis”]<\/p>\n
In weeks reading from Parshiot Tazria and Metzora<\/em><\/span> (Vayikra \/ Leviticus<\/em> 12:1-15:33<\/span>), there are a number of instructions on the ritual service related to woman giving birth and what they are to do following having a baby.\u00a0 For a baby boy, she will be unclean for seven days (12:1-2<\/span><\/em>) and on the eighth day the child is to be circumcised (12:4<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Following this, the woman is to remain thirty days without being intimate with her husband and she is considered unclean, not allowed to touch any consecrated thing.\u00a0 Giving birth to a baby girl, the time doubles, two weeks and two months.\u00a0 Having completed the time period, the woman is to bring a young lamb as an Olah Korban (whole burnt offering) and a dove as a Khatat Korban (sin offering).\u00a0 A poor person may bring two turtle doves or two pigeons for a sin offering (12:5-8<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n The Torah portion continues to describe the disease of Tzaraat (Leprosy).\u00a0 Studying the Scriptures this week, there is an interesting comparison that may be made regarding tzaraat.<\/p>\n \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d5\u05d9\u05e7\u05e8\u05d0 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d9\u05d1<\/strong> Vayikra \/ Leviticus 13:1-3<\/span><\/em><\/strong> In Vayikra \/ Leviticus 13<\/span><\/em>, the opening verses begin with the Lord God telling Moshe how to instruct Aaron regarding tzaraat.\u00a0 The MT describes the problem in this way:<\/p>\n \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9-\u05e1\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d1\u05b7\u05d4\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05d3 \u05de\u05b4\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:<\/p>\n 13:2 \u2018When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or a scab or a bright spot, and it becomes an infection of leprosy on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In Vayikra \/ Leviticus 13:2<\/span><\/em>, reader would see the words \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 \u201cin the skin of his body,\u201d<\/span><\/em> whereas, a listener might hear the words \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 meaning \u201cin the light of his body.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The way these two Hebrew words which sound the same but having two different meanings causes us to see the sin of tzaraat in a very different way.\u00a0 If the Apostle John would have been teaching in the Synagogue, and said in 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 1:7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>, would the listeners have been reminded of Parshiot Tazria and Metzora and this play on the words with the description of Tzaraat?\u00a0 Note the parallels here to Parashat Tazria, a person who has tzaraat would not have fellowship with God and the people because he was put out of the community due to his skin disease.\u00a0 Note that fellowship with the Lord is connected to the Temple service and God\u2019s people (community).\u00a0 Would a working knowledge of the rabbinic understanding on tzaraat have played a significant part in Paul\u2019s letter to the Ephesians regarding one being formerly darkness (living in the flesh<\/span><\/em>, or \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 in the skin of his body<\/span><\/em>) verses now being in the light (\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5), as a result of being in the Messiah, and hiding God\u2019s word in one\u2019s heart, one is completely transformed from the inside out, shining forth God\u2019s love and righteousness by the way he serves the Lord and others.\u00a0 Could this have been what John was trying to say regarding walking in darkness as opposed to walking in the light, in God\u2019s truth?\u00a0 Could this have been what the Apostle Paul was thinking when he wrote to the Ephesians in Ephesians 5:8<\/span><\/em>?<\/p>\n Ephesians 5:8<\/span><\/em><\/strong> 8 \u1f26\u03c4\u03b5 \u03b3\u1f71\u03c1 \u03c0\u03bf\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c3\u03ba\u1f79\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u03bd\u1fe6\u03bd \u03b4\u1f72 \u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u1ff3: \u1f61\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f73\u03ba\u03bd\u03b1 \u03c6\u03c9\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03c0\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03c0\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I have heard it said by some Christians, that God\u2019s righteousness just emanates from the children of God.\u00a0 The idea is that somehow everyone will see the righteousness of Christ in our lives without works.\u00a0 This concept poses a serious problem.\u00a0 The problem with this interpretation of God\u2019s righteousness emanating from us may be illustrated in the following scenario.\u00a0 Suppose there are two men, one who is a believer in Yeshua, and the other who is an Atheist.\u00a0 Both men are dressed alike, standing side by side, there are no revealing markings on their bodies, both men remain silent and expressionless.\u00a0 By simply observing what they look like from the outside without observing their deeds, it would be impossible to know which one has faith in God.\u00a0 God\u2019s righteousness does not \u201cemanate\u201d<\/span><\/em> in the sense that one just needs to sit back and do nothing.\u00a0 The righteousness of God, the light of His truth, is coupled to the way that we walk (1 John 1:7<\/span><\/em>), a life that is actively serving God in righteous deeds especially for the one who believes in Yeshua the Messiah.\u00a0 God\u2019s righteousness is seen in the one who lives by His commandments, and this is what both Yeshua and the Apostles taught. Now based upon this play on the words in the commands on tzaraat, where the reader would see the words \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 \u201cin the skin of his body,\u201d<\/span><\/em> and the listener would hear the words \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 \u201cin the light of his body,\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 the rabbis interpret the disease of tzaraat coming as a result of personal sin.\u00a0 Taking these things into consideration, all of these things paint for us a very important picture.\u00a0 The healing of tzaraat was known as something only God could do, the Lord forgives, heals, and cleanses the person stricken with tzaraat.<\/p>\n In Tehillim \/ Psalms 51<\/span><\/em>, David is applying the concept of cleansing to the internal cleansing from sin in the phrase \u05ea\u05bc\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05d8\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d6\u05d5\u05b9\u05d1 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05d8\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05e8 \u201cmy sins in hyssop and I will be clean.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The way this Psalm is worded, he is definitely thinking of Parashat Tazria.\u00a0 In Tehillim \/ Psalms 51<\/span><\/em>, David uses different words to describe the different aspects of sin in his life.\u00a0 He is asking the Lord to cleans him both inwardly and outwardly.\u00a0 David desires not only that his sins be forgiven him but that his heart would be made pure in Tehillim \/ Psalms 51:12-13<\/span><\/em>, \u05d9\u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d8\u05b8\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0-\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b1\u05dc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b8\u05db\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d7\u05b7\u05d3\u05bc\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e7\u05b4\u05e8\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9: \u05d9\u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b7\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05dc\u05b4\u05d9\u05db\u05b5\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05de\u05b4\u05dc\u05bc\u05b0\u05e4\u05b8\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7 \u05e7\u05b8\u05d3\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05da\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc-\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e7\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7 \u05de\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b6\u05e0\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9: \u201cCreate in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.\u00a0 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.\u201d (NASB)<\/span><\/em> (English bible 51:10-11<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 David asks the Lord to create (\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0) in him a \u201clev tahor\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05dc\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d8\u05b8\u05d4\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8), \u201ca ritually clean\/pure heart,\u201d<\/span><\/em> and to restore to him the joy of God\u2019s salvation and to sustain a willing spirit within (\u05d4\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e9\u05b9\u05d5\u05b9\u05df \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e2\u05b6\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b0\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05b5\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9).\u00a0 David says literally, \u201creturn to me\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d4\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9), this word shows us his repentant attitude, the turning from sin, and returning to the Way of the Lord.\u00a0 The way David is repenting and asking for forgiveness, all of these requests suggest that the Lord is the one who is doing these things on David\u2019s behalf, even helping him to have a sustained spirit within (\u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc\u05d7\u05b7 \u05e0\u05b0\u05d3\u05b4\u05d9\u05d1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e1\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05db\u05b5\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9), to \u201cuphold\u201d<\/span><\/em> his spirit within which may indicate the Lord\u2019s role in keeping David\u2019s spirit willing to be obedient and not sin.\u00a0 This should be our prayer today that the Lord would help us to live obedient lives.<\/p>\n The Septuagint translation of Tehillim \/ Psalms 51<\/span><\/em> says the following:<\/p>\n Septuagint<\/strong><\/p>\n Psalmoi \/ Psalms 51<\/span><\/em><\/strong> The rabbis translate David\u2019s words into Greek to say that he is requesting the Lord to establish him with God\u2019s directing Spirit.\u00a0 What we are being shown here is how the Lord is involved in the cleansing, guiding, sustaining, and saving process.\u00a0 In addition to this, in the ritual of the sprinkling of the waters of purification we find a direct connection to the cleansing of the leper according to Vayikra \/ Leviticus 14<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 The act of Yeshua in healing the lepers in Matthew 8:2-3, Mark 1:40-42, and Luke 17:11-19<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 In Luke 17:11-19<\/span><\/em>, coupled with the text that we are looking at on the transformation of the body shining forth the light (truth) of God, the rabbinic understanding on sin and tzaraat, and Yeshua\u2019s instruction to go and show yourself to the priests, reveals to us that there was forgiveness, healing, and transformation that took place in the lives of these lepers.\u00a0 The Lord God has done something great here now let\u2019s try to figure out what happened with an investigation. (Note we are not told this happened in the NT.)\u00a0 In addition, when the lepers left Yeshua, as they walked to show themselves to the priests, they were healed.\u00a0 They repented, walked in a different way, obeyed Yeshua, all of these things are consistent with the way in which we should live our lives, as John said in 1 John 1, we are to walk in the truth and light of God and His word.\u00a0 Luke 17<\/span><\/em> translates literally to say, \u201cContinuing on the journey, to show themselves to a Cohen (\u1f31\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd) it came into existence (\u1f10\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf) their cleansing.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u03a0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u1f73\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u1f10\u03c0\u03b9\u03b4\u03b5\u1f77\u03be\u03b1\u03c4\u03b5 \u1f11\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f31\u03b5\u03c1\u03b5\u1fe6\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd. \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03b3\u1f73\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1ff7 \u1f51\u03c0\u1f71\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1f7a\u03c2 \u1f10\u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u1f77\u03c3\u03b8\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd.)\u00a0 The Greek stem \u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u1f77\u03b6\u03c9 (katharizo) for the word \u1f10\u03ba\u03b1\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u1f77\u03c3\u03b8\u03b7\u03c3\u03b1\u03bd (ekatharisthesan) is a verb meaning \u201cto make clean, cleanse, to cleanse a leper by curing, to free from defilement of sin and from faults, to purify from wickedness, to free from the guilt of sin, to consecrate or pronounce clean in a Levitical sense.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 As these 10 Lepers acted upon their faith, the Lord God healed them of their disease of tzaraat.\u00a0 Based upon the text it appears the men (i) believed Yeshua was able to heal them and (ii) they needed to act upon their faith even though the tzaraat remained in their bodies physically.<\/em>\u00a0 The work of believing and then physically doing what the Lord instructs us to do are connected.\u00a0 In other words, we are shown how important it is to step out in faith, first trusting in the Lord, and then ordering our steps based upon the faith that we have.\u00a0 By performing the act of going to the Cohen to show their bodies they were healed.\u00a0 Did their healing come by their own hands or by their works, or by the power of God?\u00a0 They walked by faith to show their bodies to the priests and offer the sacrifices required according to the Torah command.\u00a0 By their faith they glorified the name of the Lord and were obedient to His word and God healed them.\u00a0 Studying the Apostolic Writings, note that healing was always done to glorify the Lord God Almighty.<\/p>\n In addition, the idea of our words bringing our body under guilt (Lashon Hara) is drawn out from the story of Miriam and Moshe.\u00a0 Remember Yeshua\u2019s words in Matthew 12:36<\/span><\/em> when he said that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of in the day of the Lord.\u00a0 This is very similar to what is written in the Mishnah Pirkei Avot 3:1<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n Mishnah Pirkei Avot 3:1<\/span><\/em><\/strong> When Yeshua says we will give an account for every idle word \u201cWill believers, also have to give an account for every word they have said?\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 If we consider the comparison of tzaraat to sin, have you thought about the future moment when you will stand before your High Priest (Yeshua) for inspection?\u00a0 This should cause us to carefully consider our lives and our walk before the Lord?\u00a0 Based upon the Scriptures, everyone will give an account for the words they have said, and the life they have lived.<\/p>\n In the midrash on the Psalms, the rabbis interpret slander (Lashon Hara) as a parallel to Leprosy.\u00a0 From a Torah perspective, the one who is a leper is to be brought to the priest for inspection, and similarly, the one who slanders is also to be brought to the priest for inspection (note the child who slanders his mom and dad, or one being brought before the judge in the Torah).\u00a0 For the one who is a leper, if the priest finds the person to be with leprosy, he is put out of the city.\u00a0 Similarly, for the slanderer upon inspected if he is found to be a slanderer, he is put out of the city.\u00a0 Does this sound a lot like what we read in the book of Revelation, which says, 22:15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying. (NASB) and 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (NIV)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Note the people who love and practice lying are the one\u2019s who practice falsehood, they are the slanderers.\u00a0 This appears to follow very closely to the person who pretends to take a vow, or pretends to give charity, or to be learned or wise.\u00a0 The one who pretends is one who practices falsehood.\u00a0 The man who lives his life as a slanderer, he will be brought to our high priest Yeshua, and if found guilty, will be cast outside to be numbered with sorcerers, idolaters, immoral and murderers.\u00a0 Should this not make us take a couple steps back and examine our lives?\u00a0 When you stand before the Lord, will he say depart from me you \u201cworker of lawlessness?\u201d<\/p>\n In the Aramaic Targum on Tehillim \/ Psalms 51<\/span><\/em>, the rabbis have David asking the Lord to return His Torah to him for the purpose of exulting in His redemption and that the spirit of prophecy would sustain him.\u00a0 The idea behind this request is by being taught the way of God a sinner will be converted. (\u05d8\u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b2\u05dc\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d4 \u05e4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e2\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d3\u05bc\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d7\u05b7\u05d8\u05bc\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05b6\u05d9\u05da\u05b8 \u05d9\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc: 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. NASB<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 Note that conversion is the English rendition of the word \u201cYashuvu\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d9\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05d5\u05bc) meaning to return to the Lord.\u00a0 This is David\u2019s way of saying one returns to God\u2019s His ways, to the ways of the Torah, which are rooted in love, grace, mercy, justice, and righteousness that we have towards one another.\u00a0 David is speaking of ordering one\u2019s life according to the Torah.\u00a0 Have you ever ordered your life according to the Torah?\u00a0 Do you have a standard for living before God?\u00a0 David asks the Lord to open his lips so that he can declare his praises (51:15<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 This is important because it illustrates that the Lord is involved in placing in our hearts a reason to praise His name.\u00a0 The Aramaic Targum has David asking the Lord to open his lips with the Torah so that His mouth can give Him praise.\u00a0 The reason being, contained within the Torah is the expectation of what the Lord is going to do in our lives because of what He has done in the past.\u00a0 This means that Scripture gives us reason to believe and reason to praise God\u2019s name even before He has done anything on our behalf.<\/p>\n In the case of tzaraat, and the Torah portion for this week, our Drash on these Scriptures direct us to presuppose that in the synagogue service, the reader would see the words \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 \u201cin the skin of his body,\u201d<\/span><\/em> whereas, a listener might hear the words \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05d0\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5 meaning \u201cin the light of his body\u201d<\/span><\/em> coupled with the rabbinic illustrations and comparisons between light and darkness, truth and lies, righteousness and unrighteousness, etc.\u00a0 These two Hebrew words which sound the same but have different meanings cause us to consider our lives and the words of the Apostolic Writings in a way that it is only when we sincerely return to the Lord and act upon our faith that the Lord will work in our lives to take care of impurity, uncleanness, and sin.\u00a0 According to the Torah, only the Cohen could diagnose tzaraat.\u00a0 The reason being, tzaraat was both a physical and a spiritual malady that requires spiritual discernment to both diagnose and treat.\u00a0 When someone was found to have tzaraat, they were forced to leave society and undergo a period of mourning and Teshuvah (repentance).\u00a0 Before the leper is reintegrated into the community of believers, he must undergo inspection.\u00a0 Today, do we live our lives with the idea that in Christ we will not be inspected?\u00a0 How much responsibility do we have on our part to strive for righteousness, to walk in God\u2019s ways, and to seek the Lord for help with everything?\u00a0 How much of an impact will this have on the day we stand before the Lord for inspection? (Matthew 7<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 What I am proposing is that our attitude is as important an aspect of our salvation as is our faith in Yeshua because both are intimately connected.\u00a0 We are to live by our faith.\u00a0 Granted, we all make mistakes, we all fail, and we all sin.\u00a0 But the general attitude today is that one does not need to be grieved over one\u2019s sins because we have Yeshua.\u00a0 The point is, though we sin, we are striving to turn from our sins, and to walk in the light as John wrote in 1 John 1<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 I believe these things need to be discussed and talked about.\u00a0 When it comes to discipleship, we should discuss with one another our issues and difficulties, what works, what doesn\u2019t work, how do you turn from sin in your life and be successful at it?\u00a0 Without the Lord, it is impossible, but even with the Lord, a life of righteousness is difficult.\u00a0 It is also a joy to walk in His ways and to abide in the Messiah Yeshua by faith in the One who sent Him!\u00a0 Praise the Lord! BTT_Parashat Tazria-Metzora-2015<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2Dmb0EAFBis”] In weeks reading from Parshiot Tazria and Metzora (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 12:1-15:33), there are a number of instructions on the ritual service related to woman giving birth and what they are to do following having a baby.\u00a0 For a baby boy, she will be unclean for seven days (12:1-2) and on the eighth […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4567","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\/4567","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=4567"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4567\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4567"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4567"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4567"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n\u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b7\u05d9\u05b0\u05d3\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b5\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05b9\u05d5\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05de\u05b9\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05dc\u05b5\u05d0\u05de\u05b9\u05e8: \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d3\u05b8\u05dd \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9-\u05d9\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9-\u05e1\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05ea \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d1\u05b7\u05d4\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b8\u05d9\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b8\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d7\u05b7\u05d3 \u05de\u05b4\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd: \u05d2\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8-\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05b5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e4\u05b7\u05da\u05b0 | \u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05df \u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05e2\u05b8\u05de\u05b9\u05e7 \u05de\u05b5\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05e0\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b7\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d8\u05b4\u05de\u05bc\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9: \u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d4\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b4\u05d5\u05d0 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e9\u05b8\u05b9\u05e8\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e2\u05b8\u05de\u05b9\u05e7 \u05d0\u05b5\u05d9\u05df-\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05d4\u05b8 \u05de\u05b4\u05df-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e2\u05b8\u05e8\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e4\u05b7\u05da\u05b0 \u05dc\u05b8\u05d1\u05b8\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b4\u05e1\u05b0\u05d2\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05e0\u05bc\u05b6\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea \u05d9\u05b8\u05de\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd:<\/p>\n
\n 13:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 13:2 \u2018When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling or a scab or a bright spot, and it becomes an infection of leprosy on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests. 13:3 \u2018The priest shall look at the mark on the skin of the body, and if the hair in the infection has turned white and the infection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is an infection of leprosy; when the priest has looked at him, he shall pronounce him unclean. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\n 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n
\nIn the Torah portion, the Lord continues saying clothing is also capable of contracting Tzaraat (13:47<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The linen garment is to be quarantined for seven days and reexamined.\u00a0 If the garment is found to contain Tzaraat it is to be burned with fire (13:51-52<\/span><\/em>), totally destroyed.\u00a0 When the Cohen looks and the Tzaraat in the garment and it has not spread, the garment is washed and if the spot remains, the garment is to be declared unclean and it is to be burned with fire (13:55<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 If the mark is faded after washing, the mark is to be torn out of the garment, washed a second time, and inspected to be certain the Tzaraat has not reappeared in the garment (13:56-59<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 A similar inspection takes place for mold in a home.\u00a0 Mold is also considered tzaraat.\u00a0 A diseased house goes through the inspection, quarantining, and re-inspection phases, and if the mold is a spreading mold, the entire section of wall or house is torn down and the stones cast outside of the community.\u00a0 If tzaraat is to be compared to sin, then sin must be removed from our lives, just as John said, 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n\n
\n 51:7 Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be purified: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. 51:8 Thou shalt cause me to hear gladness and joy: the afflicted bones shall rejoice. 51:9 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit in my inward parts. 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and remove not thy holy Spirit from me. 51:12 Restore to me the joy of thy salvation: establish me with thy directing Spirit<\/span>. (LXX)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n Akavia ben Mahalalel said: Keep in mind three things, And you will not come into the hands of sin: Know: From where you came, And to where you are going, And before Whom you will have to give an account and a reckoning. From where did you come? From a putrid drop. And to where are you going? To a place of dust, worms, and maggots. And before Whom will you have to give an account and a reckoning? Before the King of kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He.<\/span> <\/em>(\u05e2\u05e7\u05d1\u05d9\u05d0 \u05d1\u05df \u05de\u05d4\u05dc\u05dc\u05d0\u05dc \u05d0\u05d5\u05de\u05e8, \u05d4\u05e1\u05ea\u05db\u05dc \u05d1\u05e9\u05dc\u05e9\u05d4 \u05d3\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9\u05dd \u05d5\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d1\u05d0 \u05dc\u05d9\u05d3\u05d9 \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d4. \u05d3\u05e2 \u05de\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05d0\u05ea, \u05d5\u05dc\u05d0\u05df \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05dc\u05da, \u05d5\u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05d9 \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e2\u05ea\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05ea\u05df \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05d7\u05e9\u05d1\u05d5\u05df. \u05de\u05d0\u05d9\u05df \u05d1\u05d0\u05ea, \u05de\u05d8\u05e4\u05d4 \u05e1\u05e8\u05d5\u05d7\u05d4, \u05d5\u05dc\u05d0\u05df \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05d4\u05d5\u05dc\u05da, \u05dc\u05de\u05e7\u05d5\u05dd \u05e2\u05e4\u05e8 \u05e8\u05de\u05d4 \u05d5\u05ea\u05d5\u05dc\u05e2\u05d4. \u05d5\u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05d9 \u05d0\u05ea\u05d4 \u05e2\u05ea\u05d9\u05d3 \u05dc\u05ea\u05df \u05d3\u05d9\u05df \u05d5\u05d7\u05e9\u05d1\u05d5\u05df, \u05dc\u05e4\u05e0\u05d9 \u05de\u05dc\u05da \u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d9 \u05d4\u05de\u05dc\u05db\u05d9\u05dd \u05d4\u05e7\u05d3\u05d5\u05e9 \u05d1\u05e8\u05d5\u05da \u05d4\u05d5\u05d0.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n