[youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8UeFWaFolyE&feature=youtu.be”]<\/p>\n
This weeks reading is from Parsahat Bamidbar (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 1:1-4:20<\/span><\/em>). The Torah reading this week tells us the Lord God spoke to Moshe in the Ohel Moed commanding him to number the Children of Israel.\u00a0 The Lord said the Levites were not to be numbered because they are given to the service of the Lord in the Tabernacle (1:47-50<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Levites are instructed to camp around the Tabernacle so the wrath of God will not fall upon the congregation of Israel (1:53<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The Lord tells Moshe that the first born in Israel, from man or beast, are His (3:13<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The reading ends with the mitzvot on what to do when the Tabernacle moves from one place to another and how the Levites are to prepare the Tabernacle for traveling (4:4-20<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n This week we are looking specifically at Bamidbar \/ Numbers 3:5-10<\/span><\/em> with the question, \u201chas the priesthood has changed today?\u201d<\/span> <\/em><\/p>\n \u05e1\u05e4\u05e8 \u05d1\u05de\u05d3\u05d1\u05e8 \u05e4\u05e8\u05e7 \u05d2<\/strong> Bamidbar \/ Numbers 3:5-10<\/span><\/em><\/strong> A major doctrine found both in the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church, based upon the book of Hebrews, states that Yeshua is our High Priest in heaven for the New Covenant.\u00a0 By this reason, it is believed that he (Yeshua) did away with the Levitical priesthood on earth.\u00a0 But is this really true?\u00a0 This leads to the question of what kind of Priesthood Yeshua has taken (described in Hebrews<\/em>) as compared to the priesthood that is spoken of in Bamidbar \/ Numbers 3:5-10<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 In discussions within the church on the levitical priesthood and of the priesthood of Yeshua, we are generally led to Hebrews 7:1-19<\/span><\/em> as a proof text.\u00a0 Let\u2019s read through Hebrews 7:1-19<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n Hebrews 7:1-19<\/span><\/em><\/strong> The author of Hebrews leads with the Torah portion, Parashat Lech Lecha<\/span><\/em>, on Bereshit \/ Genesis 14<\/span><\/em>, Abraham meeting Melchizedek (king of righteousness), king of Salem, priest of the Most High God.\u00a0 The author of Hebrews points out, according to the Torah portion, that the Torah speaks of Melchizedek and does not mention a mother or father, no genealogy, and no beginning of days or end of life.\u00a0 This person (Melchizedek<\/em>) entered into the story line and then was never mentioned again.\u00a0 Based upon a lack of information on Melchizedek, the author in Hebrews is able to midrashically parallel Yeshua to Melchizedek.\u00a0 For example, in typical rabbinic style, the author of Hebrews is giving a midrash on these verses when he says that Levi was in the loins of Abraham when Abraham gave the 10% tithe (Hebrews 7:10<\/span><\/em>), and therefore, the levitical priesthood also paid tithes to Melchizedek.\u00a0 The author of Hebrews use of a short midrash draws everything into the context of Malchizedek (all of Israel in the loins of Abraham, and taking John 8, all believers, \u2018children of Abraham,\u2019 by faith in Yeshua the Messiah as well<\/em><\/span>).\u00a0 Malchizedek has a unique priesthood, being priest of the Most High God, and having no beginning and no end.\u00a0 The book of Hebrews speaks of something changing in the priesthood and the corresponding change in the Torah also.\u00a0 He says that Yeshua descended from Judah, a tribe of whom Moshe did not speak concerning priests.\u00a0 Yeshua was raised after the order of Melchizedek, in the sense that He is officiating something different, something new, and something that has changed from the Torah in the sense that He is not a Levite and is not dealing with earthly rituals in the earthly Temple \/ Tabernacle.\u00a0 Understanding this distinction and what the author is trying to say is very important.\u00a0 Hebrews 7:18-19<\/span><\/em> states, 7:18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The text appears to say that in Yeshua, the former command has been set aside, the mitzvot in the Torah, are set aside because they are weak and useless.\u00a0 Thus we find the Christian interpretation that He has done away with, for the purpose of making way for something better, what the author calls \u201ca better hope through which we draw near to God.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 What exactly is this \u201cbetter hope\u201d through which we are able to draw near to the Lord?\u00a0 What was it about the Torah command that is lacking (weak and useless) and causes the hope of drawing near to the Lord to fall short?\u00a0 These are very important questions and so let\u2019s try to understand these verses by an example taken from Mark chapter 7.<\/p>\n The key to understanding these verses from the book of Hebrews is to understand this idea of a better hope that is brought in the Messiah Yeshua as opposed to the command given in the Torah.\u00a0 This better hope may be illustrated in Mark chapter 7.\u00a0 The Gospel of Mark is a discussion on the washing of hands and food between Yeshua, the disciples, and the Pharisees.<\/p>\n Context of Mark 7<\/strong><\/p>\n Mark 7:1-23<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Reading through Mark chapter 7, we are presented with a number of questions.\u00a0 \u201cWhat exactly did He mean by saying that \u2018there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him?\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/em> (7:18 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03bb\u1f73\u03b3\u03b5\u03b9 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fd6\u03c2, \u039f\u1f55\u03c4\u03c9\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f51\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c3\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b5\u03c4\u03bf\u1f77 \u1f10\u03c3\u03c4\u03b5; \u03bf\u1f50 \u03bd\u03bf\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c4\u03b5 \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u03c0\u1fb6\u03bd \u03c4\u1f78 \u1f14\u03be\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c3\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u03b5\u03c5\u1f79\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd\u03bf\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u1f04\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03bf\u03bd \u03bf\u1f50 \u03b4\u1f7b\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9,<\/span><\/em>)\u00a0 In the Greek manuscript, the word \u201cdefile\u201d<\/span><\/em> is koinowsai (\u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u1ff6\u03c3\u03b1\u03b9), from the stem koinow<\/span> <\/em>(\u03ba\u03bf\u03b9\u03bd\u1f79\u03c9 meaning, 1. to make common\u00a0 1a. to make \u2018Levitically\u2019 unclean, render unhallowed, defile, profane\u00a0 1b. to declare or count unclean<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 This is the verbal base for the noun, koinos, \u201ccommon,\u201d<\/span><\/em> defined as that which was not set apart for ritual purity, or something that is not set apart for the Lord.\u00a0 What Yeshua is saying here is straightforward, food does not make you ritually unclean.\u00a0 The cultural context of Mark 7<\/span><\/em> is that the Jews would be careful to only eat food that was clean, indicated by the ritual of hand washing (netilat yadayim<\/span><\/em>), the discussion is not centered on whether God has done away with the food laws in Parashat Kedoshim<\/span><\/em> (Vayikra \/ Leviticus 19<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The point Yeshua was making is that food coming into their bodies did not defile them to make them ritually unclean.\u00a0 However, in the process of elimination, that which comes out, feces, does convey ritual impurity.\u00a0 Notice how Yeshua is using our physical functions, eating and defecating to teach a spiritual non-physical reality on the source of uncleanness.\u00a0 The concept that is put forward based upon Yeshua\u2019s words, ritually pure foods did not make one unclean when eating, whereas the pharisees taught that if one had unwashed hands, the clean food itself would become unclean and consequentially one would also become unclean.\u00a0 In addition, Yeshua was also saying that eating unclean food did not make one ritually unclean.\u00a0 Literally, nothing that one eats could technically make a person ritually unclean.\u00a0 The Peshat meaning of what Yeshua is saying is that eating \u201ctreif\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u05d8\u05e8\u05f2\u05e3) does not make one ritually unclean.\u00a0 What makes one unclean comes from the heart, and disobedience to the command.\u00a0 It is actually the \u201cact\u201d<\/em><\/span> of eating treif, in willing and blatant disobedience to the command that causes one to sin.\u00a0 Disobedience to the mitzvah (command) is the definition of sin, and there are commands against eating unclean foods.<\/p>\n The point Yeshua is making is that there is a clear difference between ritual impurity and sin.\u00a0 The Pharisees were placing their emphasis upon the ritual purity or impurity as opposed to disobedience to the command and sin.\u00a0 The Pharisees in this instance were neglecting to consider obedience and\/or disobedience to the command, where it is not disobedience (not a sin) to become ritually unclean.\u00a0 Many examples may be given to illustrate this point, a woman does not sin by becoming ritually unclean through her monthly cycle.\u00a0 The only sin that is related to ritual impurity was to enter the court of the Tabernacle or the Temple while knowing that one was ritually unclean. Now the major point here that is related to our understanding the book of Hebrews, is that ritual impurity is related to the body, and when one would go to the Tabernacle, a person could be ritually clean physically, and still have unconfessed sin in their heart.\u00a0 This is why the author of Hebrews speaks of the gifts and sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle or Temple related to \u201cfood and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation,\u201d<\/span><\/em> could not \u201ccleanse the conscience\u201d<\/span><\/em> (Hebrews 9:8-10<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The point that he is making is that ritual purity which was brought by the sacrifice in the Temple was not a means for cleansing the conscience or dealing with sin as he says in Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 (Note the ritual service of the thank offering where both the worshiper and the priest are allowed to eat, or in the Passover lamb, the blood was poured out first, on the door posts (mezuzot) or upon the altar before eating.<\/em>)<\/p>\n The Torah does not give commands or make statements that eating non-kosher food makes one ritually unclean.\u00a0 It is the act of disobedience to the command that causes sin.\u00a0 It is also important to note the biblical definition of kosher foods as opposed to the rabbinic definition of kosher foods, in order to differentiate between the two and to not place our focus upon making something more difficult from something that is very easy.\u00a0 Or as Yeshua said in Mark 7<\/span><\/em>, placing more emphasis upon the external things as opposed to the internal uncleanness due to sin.<\/p>\n Yeshua\u2019s statements in Mark 7<\/span><\/em> was that one\u2019s hands do not make kosher foods non-kosher and do not make one ritually impure.\u00a0 Thus, by eating with unwashed hands, one is not by that reason eating non-kosher foods and thus sinning by violating the Torah commands regarding food.\u00a0 In a similar manner, through the ritually cleaning of one\u2019s hands (netilat yadayim<\/span><\/em>), this does not take care of the impurity in one\u2019s heart.\u00a0 The ritual washing of the hands also does not deal with sin in one\u2019s life.\u00a0 This is the key to understanding what Yeshua has done for us regarding the words of the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 7:1-19<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Confessing one\u2019s sins, seeking God\u2019s forgiveness by faith in the promised Messiah and His Sacrifice for sin is the only way to deal with the internal issue of impurity.\u00a0 Note that there are not commands in the Torah that deal with the internal issue of impurity.\u00a0 Yeshua\u2019s priesthood is different in the sense that He stands in heaven before our Father God, and by his blood, we have atonement, we are able to seek forgiveness, the Lord hears us because our sins are forgiven, and our conscience – our hearts – are cleansed from impurity and sin.\u00a0 This was the point that Yeshua was making in Mark 7, that one can polish the outside of the cup, but still have filth on the inside, 7:21 \u2018For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 7:22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 7:23 \u2018All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 One can polish the outside of the cup but still harbor sin in the heart.\u00a0 In addition, the earthly priests could not judge the heart, they could only enforce the regulations for the body (the external ritual impurities) whereas Yeshua knows the thoughts and intention of the heart (the internal impurities<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Therefore, we have in and through Yeshua what the author Hebrews calls \u201ca better hope through which we draw near to God.\u201d\u00a0 This is how the Torah command is lacking (weak and useless<\/span><\/em>) and causes the hope of drawing near to the Lord to fall short.\u00a0 The author of Hebrews is not saying that the Torah command is done away with, he is actually illustrating\u00a0 and significance of what Yeshua has done for us and the importance of believing upon Him for our salvation.<\/p>\n So the question did Yeshua do away with the priesthood in the Torah? What Yeshua did upon the cross, and by His blood did not do away with the Torah command of the Tabernacle \/ Temple services or the sacrifices.\u00a0 If the Temple was built today, it would be a sin to go up unto the Temple and not follow the command God had given to Moshe at Sinai.\u00a0 In addition, based upon this analysis, the Korbanot (sacrifices) do not replace what Yeshua had done upon the cross.\u00a0 The Korbanot are brought purely by reason of the covenant, the Torah, and obedience to God\u2019s Word.\u00a0 What Yeshua did was something greater, in that as our high priest in heaven, we have a spiritual cleansing, and an internal purification that was not possible through the command.\u00a0 Praise the Lord because most assuredly in Christ the Messiah we have \u201ca better hope through which we draw near to God!\u201d<\/span><\/em> BTT_Parashat Bamidbar-2015<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" [youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8UeFWaFolyE&feature=youtu.be”] This weeks reading is from Parsahat Bamidbar (Bamidbar \/ Numbers 1:1-4:20). The Torah reading this week tells us the Lord God spoke to Moshe in the Ohel Moed commanding him to number the Children of Israel.\u00a0 The Lord said the Levites were not to be numbered because they are given to the service […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-4804","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\/4804","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=4804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.matsati.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
\n\u05d4\u00a0\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: \u05d5\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05b0\u05e8\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05de\u05b7\u05d8\u05bc\u05b5\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b5\u05d5\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05de\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8 \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d4\u05b7\u05db\u05bc\u05b9\u05d4\u05b5\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05d5\u05b9: \u05d6\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dc \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3 \u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05df: \u05d7\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05dc-\u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05dc\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dc \u05de\u05d5\u05b9\u05e2\u05b5\u05d3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05de\u05b6\u05e8\u05b6\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc \u05dc\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3\u05b7\u05ea \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05df: \u05d8\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d4\u05b7\u05dc\u05b0\u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05bc\u05b4\u05dd \u05dc\u05b0\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05bc\u05dc\u05b0\u05d1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b4\u05dd \u05e0\u05b0\u05ea\u05d5\u05bc\u05e0\u05b4\u05dd \u05d4\u05b5\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 \u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05de\u05b5\u05d0\u05b5\u05ea \u05d1\u05bc\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9 \u05d9\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05b9\u05e8\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc: \u05d9\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b7\u05d4\u05b2\u05e8\u05b9\u05df \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05de\u05b0\u05e8\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05db\u05bc\u05b0\u05d4\u05bb\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05ea\u05b8\u05dd \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d6\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05e7\u05bc\u05b8\u05e8\u05b5\u05d1 \u05d9\u05d5\u05bc\u05de\u05b8\u05ea:<\/p>\n
\n 3:5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 3:6 \u2018Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 3:7 \u2018They shall perform the duties for him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle. 3:8 \u2018They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 3:9 \u2018You shall thus give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. 3:10 \u2018So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that they may keep their priesthood, but the layman who comes near shall be put to death.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 7:2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils\u00a0 was first of all, by the translation of his name\u00a0 king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. 7:4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 7:5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest\u2019s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 7:6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7:7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 7:8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 7:9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 7:10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 7:13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 7:16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 7:17 For it is attested of Him\u00a0 \u2018You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.\u2019 7:18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n
\n 7:1 The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 7:2 and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 7:3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 7:4 and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 7:5 The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, \u2018Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?\u2019 7:6 And He said to them, \u2018Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: \u2018This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 7:7 \u2018But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.\u2019 7:8 \u2018Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.\u2019 7:9 He was also saying to them, \u2018You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 7:10 \u2018For Moses said, \u2018Honor your father and your mother\u2019; and, \u2018He who speaks evil of father or mother, is to be put to death\u2019; 7:11 but you say, \u2018If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God ,\u2019 7:12 you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 7:13 thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.\u2019 7:14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, \u2018Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 7:15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 7:16 [\u2018If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.\u2019] 7:17 When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 7:18 And He said to them, \u2018Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 7:19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?\u2019 (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 7:20 And He was saying, \u2018That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 7:21 \u2018For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 7:22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 7:23 \u2018All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nAll of the mitzvot in the Torah that are related to ritual purity, are given to reveal symbolically a very important lesson for us today, that one must have one\u2019s life and heart purified before the Lord God in heaven (before our Father in heaven) if one wants to enjoy His presence. The point Yeshua was making was that the Pharisees were concerned primarily with one\u2019s hands (the physical) which they believed could convey ritual impurity to food that is being eaten, and consequentially would effect one\u2019s relationship with God.\u00a0 Yeshua\u2019s point was that eating kosher food (note the cultural context here), ritual impurity from the hands did not make the food non-kosher.\u00a0 Note also that there are no ritual purity laws, in the Torah, for food.\u00a0 In Parashat Kedoshim<\/span><\/em>, the Torah classifies foods as either \u201cclean\u201d which is something that may be eaten or \u201cunclean\u201d something that may not be eaten.\u00a0 From a Torah context regarding foods, those foods labeled as \u201cclean\u201d<\/span><\/em> the Lord tells us that we are allowed to eat, and those foods labeled as \u201cunclean\u201d<\/span><\/em> is a reference to those foods that are forbidden to be eaten.\u00a0 We are called to set ourselves apart from the world in this manner because God has sanctified and made us holy, therefore, we too are to live sanctified and holy lives and doing so according to the command.<\/p>\n