[youtube url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ap2m2IfDOhA&feature=youtu.be”]<\/p>\n
The opening verses in this week\u2019s Torah portion, Parashat Mishpatim, begin with regulations on slavery.\u00a0 The Torah considers slavery something significant enough to talk about.\u00a0 How might these verses relate to us today?\u00a0 Remember in Parashat Bo, the Lord God of Israel told Moshe that He \u05d4\u05b4\u05db\u05b0\u05d1\u05bc\u05b7\u05d3\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05dc\u05b4\u05d1\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u201cglorified (hardened) Pharaoh\u2019s heart,\u201d<\/span><\/em> suggesting that the Lord God Almighty helped to facilitate the strengthening of pride in Pharaoh\u2019s life.\u00a0 The hardening in part was to show forth the power of God where hardening is the neglect (absence) of a repentant heart and is connected to the self glorification of our own hearts.\u00a0 When we consider the way in which the Lord led the people out of Egypt, where Egypt is a type of physical and spiritual bondage, everyone today is a slave to something.\u00a0 We are either slaves to sin (to unrighteousness), or slaves to the Lord God in heaven (to righteousness).\u00a0 Remember, being a slave to sin has both physical and spiritual aspects.\u00a0 The same goes for one who is a slave to the Lord God in heaven.\u00a0 For example, the writers of the Apostolic Writings willingly declared their status as slaves to the Lord.\u00a0 Paul opens his letter to the Romans by referring to himself as a \u201cslave of Yeshua the Messiah\u201d<\/span><\/em> (Romans 1:1<\/span><\/em>, \u03a0\u03b1\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f38\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6, \u03ba\u03bb\u03b7\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f79\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2, \u1f00\u03c6\u03c9\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03b5\u1f50\u03b1\u03b3\u03b3\u1f73\u03bb\u03b9\u03bf\u03bd \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6) and his letter to Titus by calling himself a \u201cslave of God\u201d<\/span> <\/em>(Titus 1:1<\/span><\/em>, \u03a0\u03b1\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6, \u1f00\u03c0\u1f79\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f38\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u1f70 \u03c0\u1f77\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd \u1f10\u03ba\u03bb\u03b5\u03ba\u03c4\u1ff6\u03bd \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u1f10\u03c0\u1f77\u03b3\u03bd\u03c9\u03c3\u03b9\u03bd \u1f00\u03bb\u03b7\u03b8\u03b5\u1f77\u03b1\u03c2 \u03c4\u1fc6\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03c4\u2019 \u03b5\u1f50\u03c3\u1f73\u03b2\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd). James opens his epistle the same way saying, \u201cJames, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ\u201d<\/span> <\/em>(James 1:1<\/span><\/em>, \u1f38\u1f71\u03ba\u03c9\u03b2\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03ba\u03c5\u03c1\u1f77\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f38\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03a7\u03c1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f7d\u03b4\u03b5\u03ba\u03b1 \u03c6\u03c5\u03bb\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b1\u1fd6\u03c2 \u1f10\u03bd \u03c4\u1fc7 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03c0\u03bf\u03c1\u1fb7 \u03c7\u03b1\u1f77\u03c1\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd). Most translations write \u201cservant\u201d or \u201cbond-servant\u201d<\/span><\/em> in these passages, however the Greek word doulos (\u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2) is translated, literally as \u201cslave.\u201d\u00a0 The buying and selling into slavery is as real today in both the physical and the spiritual sense, as it was back in the day the Lord delivered His people from Mitzrayim (Egypt).\u00a0 In John 8:34 Yeshua tells the Pharisees, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave (\u03b4\u03bf\u1fe6\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2) of sin.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/em> When we think of the analogy of a slave and his master, the point is that a slave obeys his master because he \u201cbelongs\u201d to him.\u00a0 A slave has no will of his own.\u00a0 A slave is in bondage to his master.\u00a0 This is a significant point because when sin is our master, we are unable to resist it.\u00a0 The Scriptures in the Torah portion state, \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b6\u05d1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05e2\u05b4\u05ea \u05d9\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd: 21:2 \u2018If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Moshe makes the point that the Lord does not want us to be in slavery all of our lives.\u00a0 One of the fundamental teachings about the Messiah, is in the Lord equipping us to overcome the power of sin.\u00a0 Do you have this power in your life today?\u00a0 This is why Paul wrote what he did in Romans 6:18<\/span><\/em> saying, \u201cYou have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.\u201d<\/span> <\/em>(\u03b5\u03bb\u03b5\u03c5\u03b8\u03b5\u03c1\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd\u03c4\u03b5\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b5 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03b1\u03bc\u03b1\u03c1\u03c4\u03b9\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03c9\u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5 \u03c4\u03b7 \u03b4\u03b9\u03ba\u03b1\u03b9\u03bf\u03c3\u03c5\u03bd\u03b7) This is the purpose of the Torah as it is related to Teshuvah (Repentance) to turn from sin, to overcome sin, to walk in righteousness, holiness, justice, and truth, and to seek the Messiah.\u00a0 As we are enabled to live for the Lord in the Messiah, the Spirit of God dwells in our midst, and it is by the power of God that we are able to resist sinning and thus \u201cbeing made slaves\u201d<\/span> (\u03b5\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03c9\u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5) to righteousness.\u00a0 This means the children of God obey Him and live in freedom from habitual sin.\u00a0 We can do this because Yeshua has set us free from the slavery of sin (John 8:36) paying the redemption price.\u00a0 This is how these things found in the Torah portion (slavery) are related to us today.\u00a0 The question is \u201chave you sold yourself to sin?\u201d<\/span><\/em> or \u201chave you sold yourself to righteousness?\u201d\u00a0 When we commit ourselves as followers of the Messiah we are committing ourselves to growing and maturing in our faith by reading, studying, and putting into practice God\u2019s Word each day.\u00a0 We are also committing ourselves to spending time in prayer with Him and to serving Him by serving others.\u00a0 When we do these things, we will find ourselves more and more able to stand against and resist sin in our lives.\u00a0 Let\u2019s discuss this further in this week\u2019s Torah portion.<\/p>\n This week we are looking at Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-6.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Shemot \/ Exodus 21:1-6<\/span><\/em><\/strong> \u05d0\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b5\u05dc\u05bc\u05b6\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05e4\u05bc\u05b8\u05d8\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05c1\u05b6\u05e8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05b4\u05b9\u05d9\u05dd \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05d4\u05b6\u05dd: \u05d1\u00a0\u00a0 \u05db\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05ea\u05b4\u05e7\u05b0\u05e0\u05b6\u05d4 \u05e2\u05b6\u05d1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b4\u05d1\u05b0\u05e8\u05b4\u05d9 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b5\u05e9\u05c1 \u05e9\u05c1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d9\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05d1\u05b9\u05d3 \u05d5\u05bc\u05d1\u05b7\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b0\u05d1\u05b4\u05e2\u05b4\u05ea \u05d9\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d7\u05b4\u05e0\u05bc\u05b8\u05dd: \u05d2\u00a0\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: \u05d3\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9\u05d5 \u05d9\u05b4\u05ea\u05bc\u05b6\u05df-\u05dc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d9\u05b8\u05dc\u05b0\u05d3\u05b8\u05d4-\u05dc\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d1\u05b8\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9\u05dd \u05d0\u05d5\u05b9 \u05d1\u05b8\u05e0\u05d5\u05b9\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05bc\u05c1\u05b8\u05d4 \u05d5\u05b4\u05d9\u05dc\u05b8\u05d3\u05b6\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d4\u05b0\u05d9\u05b6\u05d4 \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05d3\u05b9\u05e0\u05b6\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05bc\u05d0 \u05d9\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d1\u05b0\u05d2\u05b7\u05e4\u05bc\u05d5\u05b9: \u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b6\u05d1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9: \u05d5\u00a0\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:<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The Torah portion speaks of the Hebrew slave and a limitation being placed upon a slaves debt of servitude.\u00a0 Moshe also speaks of the man coming and going with or without a wife.\u00a0 The master who gives his slave a wife, may be paralleled to the one who receives a believing wife from the Lord.\u00a0 Based upon the context in the Torah, the text suggests to leave the master is to leave the faith.\u00a0 This seems to be the context based upon Shemot \/ Exodus 21:5-6<\/span><\/em>. One does not take a believing wife and cause her to become unbelieving.\u00a0 From this context, the unfaithful servant leaves but his wife remains faithful.\u00a0 A faithful servant however may choose to remain with his master as the Scripture states, \u05d4\u00a0\u00a0 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b4\u05dd-\u05d0\u05b8\u05de\u05b9\u05e8 \u05d9\u05b9\u05d0\u05de\u05b7\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b8\u05e2\u05b6\u05d1\u05b6\u05d3 \u05d0\u05b8\u05d4\u05b7\u05d1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b2\u05d3\u05b9\u05e0\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d0\u05b4\u05e9\u05c1\u05b0\u05ea\u05bc\u05b4\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea-\u05d1\u05bc\u05b8\u05e0\u05b8\u05d9 \u05dc\u05b9\u05d0 \u05d0\u05b5\u05e6\u05b5\u05d0 \u05d7\u05b8\u05e4\u05b0\u05e9\u05c1\u05b4\u05d9: \u05d5\u00a0\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: 21:5 \u2018But if the slave plainly says, \u2018I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,\u2019 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 The concept here is the man who chooses to remain faithful goes to the Mezuzah (\u05d4\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b0\u05d6\u05d5\u05bc\u05d6\u05b8\u05d4) and blood is shed on the Mezuzah (the door post) which contains within it a portion of the Torah Scroll indicating a covenant agreement being made between the servant, the master, and the Lord God of Israel.\u00a0 Notice how the door post (mezuzah) and the Torah scroll, suggests this house is founded upon God\u2019s Word!\u00a0 How deep is that when we consider the Scriptures from a Torah context?<\/p>\n The rabbis comment upon this week\u2019s Torah portion in the following way.<\/p>\n Rashi on Shemot \/ Exodus 21:3 Part 2<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Rashi speaks of slavery being imposed upon a person due to their sin of stealing.\u00a0 The consequence of sin results in the forcing of one into servitude to pay the debt.\u00a0 A person may be put into bondage in order to pay back what they have stolen.\u00a0 Note how sin has the capacity to force one into slavery against his will.\u00a0 Such a person does not necessarily go free after the six years in this form of slavery.\u00a0 The Scriptures also speaks of one selling himself due to his destitution.\u00a0 The idea is that for the one who sells himself into slavery due to being poor, he will go free after six years.\u00a0 The one who is sold due to sin (stealing) he will not go free until he has paid all that he owes.\u00a0 These Scriptures speak to us in the sense of both physical and spiritual bondage.\u00a0 One may be caught in habitual sin and then may labor all his or her life and not find freedom without the help of the Lord.\u00a0 Notice how studying the Rabbis tends to bring these points out in the Torah text.<\/p>\n Daat Zkenim 21:2 on Shemot \/ Exodus 21:2 part 1<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Daat Zkenim undertakes the discussion on the meaning of the verse from the Torah portion on whether this is in reference to a person who is being sold into slavery by the state due to his sins (stealing) or whether this is due to one taking it upon himself to become a slave in order to pay back his debts.\u00a0 It is interesting to understand these contrasting aspects in the commentary, the one who is sold due to sin and the other due to his being poor.\u00a0 The one who is sold due to sin is at the mercy of his master on the extent of his debt being paid.\u00a0 When one sins, one is at the mercy of his master where sin has no mercy but always requires more and more from its slave.\u00a0 On the other hand, the one who willingly becomes a slave in order to pay back his debt due to being poor, the commentary states, \u201cHe is to be released at the end of that period, and his master is to provide him with a minimal stake to enable him to establish himself economically from that point.\u201d\u00a0 This is a very important conclusion, as we who serve the greatest Master of all, our Creator and Yeshua the Messiah, how much more will He deliver us, set us free, and provide us with a minimum stake to enable us to establish ourselves in faith and to overcome sin!<\/p>\n The purpose of the Torah is to give God\u2019s people direction in righteousness, holiness, justice, and truth.\u00a0 When we fall short in living up to the mitzvot (commands), the descriptions of the tabernacle and the sacrifice leads us to seeking the Lord God in heaven, to repentance, to turn from our sins, and to seek the Messiah, the One whom the Lord brought to deliver, provide atonement, and pay the redeemer\u2019s price on our behalf.\u00a0 All of these things are deeply rooted within the context of a Torah centric life.\u00a0 The Torah was given so God\u2019s people would bear witness to the testimonies of God.\u00a0 The process of bearing witness was not intended to lead to the death of the witness, although it is known from ancient writers (e.g. Josephus) and from the Apostolic Writings that witnesses often died when bearing the testimony of God.\u00a0 We are commanded by God to not let sin reign in our bodies, obeying its lusts, but instead we are to present ourselves to Him as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:12-14, 12:1-3<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 This is why the Torah was given in order to understand what it means to be an instrument of righteousness.\u00a0 In Romans 6:16-18 we are told that we are slaves to the one we obey, either in obedience to sin or in obedience to righteousness. We are to be enslaved to God from whom we not only receive the gift of sanctification and eternal life, but also the empowering of our lives to overcome sin for the specific purpose of the separation and sanctification of our lives in a practical way for the glory of God.\u00a0 We do this because the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Yeshua the Messiah our Lord (Romans 6:23<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n These concepts may be illustrated from Midrash on Tehillim 111, Part 1 which states, Then They that love Him (God) will be as the sun when he goes forth in his might.\u00a0 This very significant in relation to Yeshua\u2019s words in the parable of the sower.<\/p>\n Matthew 13:37-43<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Note how the enemy sows wicked men in the midst of God\u2019s people.\u00a0 These wicked men hinder the righteousness of God\u2019s people.\u00a0 Once the unrighteous have been identified, Yeshua speaks of a time when the Lord will send His angels forth to gather out all of the unrighteous men and cast them into the fire which he calls a \u201cplace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Then God\u2019s people, the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.\u00a0 He concludes with \u201cHe who has ears, let him hear\u201d speaking of those who have understanding.\u00a0 To have understanding requires effort to study God\u2019s word and to put God\u2019s word into practice.\u00a0 If we are not putting God\u2019s word into practice, we have no understanding (see Mishley \/ Proverbs 6:32<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 The issue of believing a theology as opposed to believing in God\u2019s Word is related to putting into practice what God wants for our lives.\u00a0 The Theology would say \u201cjust believe and that is all you got to do…,\u201d<\/span><\/em> Spiritualizing what God wants for us.\u00a0 This parable speaks of realizing the methods of the enemy and the importance of being good seed, growing in the kingdom of God, seeking His face, and continually looking to serve the Lord and to draw near to Him.\u00a0 This presupposes the hearts desire to turn from sin (Teshuvah) and to seek for the Lord to help with doing so.\u00a0 Being His people, we are told the following in the midrash:<\/p>\n Then also, the Holy One blessed be He, will heal the breach of His people, as is said In that day the Lord binds up the breach of His people.\u00a0 How will He heal?\u00a0 By casting down the wicked on the day of great slaughter.\u00a0 How many of them will there be? Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (Joel 4:14<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 What is meant by decisions?\u00a0 It means that whoever is then cast down, his doom is decided.\u00a0 Scripture says also, And the slain of the Lord will be at that day for one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth (Jeremiah 25:33<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Yet we did not realize how many of them would be until David came and said, He that is enrobed with the names of the martyred dead will spread doom among the nations (Tehillim \/ Psalms 110:6<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 Streams will flow from the blood of the wicked, and birds will come to drink out of each brook of blood, for it is said, He will drink of the brook in the way.<\/p>\n The Lord healing the breach of His people is said to be by the casting down of the wicked.\u00a0 Healing comes by the removal of wickedness from the midst of God\u2019s people.\u00a0 How is this considered healing?\u00a0 This is related to healing not only the wickedness that may be within, but also may be a comment related to whom we keep as friends, or what we take into our bodies through our eyes and our ears?\u00a0 Consider what Yeshua said in Matthew 6:19-24<\/span><\/em>.<\/p>\n Matthew 6:19-24<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Yeshua says that the eye is the lamp of the body and the objective is to keep the eye full of light (righteousness) as opposed to darkness (unrighteousness).\u00a0 The point is if we are looking towards sin, our bodies will be filled with it, and we know that sin functions as a merciless master over the person who is involved in it.\u00a0 Yeshua says that such a person will be governed by two masters, and such a person will love the one and despise the other using the example of God and money.\u00a0 The midrash relates the healing of the people to the casting down of the wicked and then asking the question, \u201cHow many of them will there be? Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (Joel 4:14).\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The rabbis then ask \u201cWhat is meant by decisions?\u201d<\/span><\/em> and respond saying \u201cIt means that whoever is then cast down, his doom is decided.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This is a very important comment.\u00a0 The reason being is found in the context of what Yeshua wrote in Matthew 7.<\/p>\n Matthew 7:18-23<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Yeshua said 7:21 \u2018Not everyone who says to Me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Taking this into consideration of what the rabbis say in the midrash, how \u201cwhoever is then cast down, his doom is decided.\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 What may be suggested here is the one who has an eye (body) filled with sin, he does not know that he is on the path of unrighteousness (note Mishley \/ Proverbs 6:32<\/span><\/em>).\u00a0 These people claim to have cast out demons and performed many miracles in the name of the Lord.\u00a0 The response however is \u2018I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.\u2019\u00a0 Those who do not study and put into practice the ways of God are the one\u2019s he is speaking of.\u00a0 Why do you think there is so little involvement in churches today?\u00a0 This is because most people simply believe a theology (just believe in Jesus) as opposed to believing what the Word of God teaches.\u00a0 When we do not listen and obey, both the land and our lives will become a desert waste.\u00a0 The Lord\u2019s hand is required for sustaining life and this is the significance of walking in God\u2019s ways, because if we are not doing so He will not know whom it is He is walking beside.<\/p>\n The midrash states that the Lord reveals his counsel to His servants.\u00a0 The apostle Paul wrote that he knows how difficult it can be to not live in sin because he struggled with sin even after he became a follower of the Messiah.\u00a0 This is important for all of us to know.\u00a0 In the Messiah we are set free from the penalty of sin, however we still live in the presence of sin while we are alive on this earth.\u00a0 For this we give thanks just as the midrash is stating, \u201cI will give thanks unto the Lord with my whole heart, with my whole heart, and not with a divided heart.\u201d\u00a0 By drawing our lives to be in line with His word, we will not have a divided heart, but a unified heart with the truth of God\u2019s Word, just as Paul wrote in Romans 7<\/span><\/em>,<\/p>\n Romans 7:14-25<\/span><\/em><\/strong> Notice how Paul says that he was sold into bondage to sin.\u00a0 He was sold, this is different than what we read in Parashat Mishpatim where one would sell himself due to his destitution and the need to help pay his financial debts.\u00a0 Paul writes that he agrees with the Law (7:16) because he does the things he does not want to do, meaning that he sins.\u00a0 He reiterates this saying, 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (NASB)<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 Paul writes of the Torah being substantiated by the spirit, in his heart his desire is to live an obedient life, and in the body, there is a different law that desires sin.\u00a0 The midrash states that \u201cFor I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, I will pour My spirit upon your seed, and My blessing upon your offspring; and they will spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses (Isaiah 44:2-4).\u00a0 And they will require no one to teach them.\u00a0 For One will say, I am the Lord\u2019s; and another will call himself by the name of Jacob (Isaiah 44:5).\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 The Lord has this plan to send His Spirit to His people.\u00a0 The way we can be free from the power of sin is by the power of God\u2019s Spirit which is given to His people who live for him by faith in the Messiah (see Ephesians 1:13-14<\/span><\/em>).<\/p>\n When the God of Israel gave Moshe the pattern of the Tabernacle with all its furnishings on the mountain of Sinai, He was very detailed and precise in the manner in which it was to be constructed.\u00a0 On the one hand, when we read Shemot \/ Exodus 25<\/span><\/em> we see a picture of the ark of the testimony and its precise construction, realizing that the specific details were related to the spiritual life of His people.\u00a0 The deeper meaning is in the application of the Torah in the sense of repentance, turning from the ways of sin to the way of the Lord, and bearing His testimonies.\u00a0 The Lord provided us a way to repent and turn, and in doing so, the Lord leads us daily in our lives.\u00a0 The Lord wants to reach all men through His people as His testimony, where the linking factor for the Jew and Gentile is the Messiah Yeshua.\u00a0 It is in the power of God\u2019s Holy Spirit that enables us and strengthens us to bear God\u2019s testimonies.\u00a0 We do not bear God\u2019s testimony merely by speaking the word of God but by our whole being, all of who we are!\u00a0 We are to live out His testimonies, and this is the meaning of\u00a0 \u201cHe who does the Lord\u2019s work will be clothed in glory and majesty, as is said, His work is glory and majesty (Tehillim \/ Psalms 111:3).\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u00a0 This is what it means to\u00a0 live for the Lord in the Messiah, the Spirit of God dwells in our midst, and it is by the power of God that we are able to resist sinning and thus \u201cbeing made slaves\u201d<\/span><\/em> (\u03b5\u03b4\u03bf\u03c5\u03bb\u03c9\u03b8\u03b7\u03c4\u03b5) to righteousness.\u00a0 The children of God obey Him and live in freedom from habitual sin.\u00a0 We can do this because Yeshua has set us free from the slavery of sin (John 8:36) paying the redemption price.\u00a0 When we commit ourselves as followers of the Messiah we are committing ourselves to growing and maturing in our faith by reading, studying, and putting into practice God\u2019s Word each day.\u00a0 We also committing ourselves to spending time in prayer with Him and to serving Him by the way we serve others.\u00a0 When we do these things, we will find ourselves more and more able to stand against and resist sin in our lives.\u00a0 Those who are destined for the Olam Haba (world to come) are not those who simply give lip service to the name of Jesus.\u00a0 Those who are destined for the world to come are those who put into practice their faith.\u00a0 When we say we have something in our hearts, it will invariably come out in the way that we live our lives.\u00a0 This is most significantly demonstrated in the way that we treat our spouses (husband and wife interactions).\u00a0 If one says he or she has love for his spouse, but treats the spouse with hatred, that thing that is claimed to be in the heart (love) is a lie.\u00a0 Our relationship with our spouses has a direct correlation to our relationship with the Lord God our Father in heaven and Yeshua His Messiah.\u00a0 It does not matter how much one does or is involved in the church, if one does not treat his or her spouse with respect and love, they are as Paul wrote, a sounding gong (1 Corinthians 13:1<\/span><\/em>) where all that one does is worthless.\u00a0 The reason being, it is easy to put on a show in public, it is difficult to show real unconditional love in private and with the ones who are most close to us (family).\u00a0 This is what it means to\u00a0 live for the Lord in the Messiah, the Spirit of God dwells in our midst, and the power of God in our lives.\u00a0 Do you have the power of God moving in your life as we read according to the Scriptures?<\/p>\n
\n 21:1 \u2018Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them: 21:2 \u2018If you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve for six years; but on the seventh he shall go out as a free man without payment. 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. 21:4 \u2018If his master gives him a wife, and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall belong to her master, and he shall go out alone. 21:5 \u2018But if the slave plainly says, \u2018I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,\u2019 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><\/p>\n
\n \u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05e7\u05e0\u05d4\u00a0 IF THOU BUYEST [AN HEBREW SERVANT] \u2014 This means an Hebrew servant whom thou hast bought from the hand of the court which sold him for a theft which he had committed, as it is said, (Exodus 22:2) \u201cif he (the thief) have nothing, then shall he be sold for his theft\u201d. Or perhaps this is not so, but Scripture is referring to the case of one who sells himself as a servant on account of his destitution, whilst he who has been sold by the court for his theft shall not go free at the end of six years! This assumption is erroneous, for when Scripture states, (Leviticus 25:39:40) \u201cand if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and he sells himself unto thee \u2026 [he shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee]\u201d, it is plain that in this passage there is mentioned the case of one who sells himself on account of his destitution. How then must I explain \u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05e7\u05e0\u05d4 in this verse? Obviously as referring to him who was sold by the court (Mekhilta d\u2019Rabbi Yishmael 21:2:1).<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n \u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05e7\u05e0\u05d4 \u05e2\u05d1\u05d3 \u05e2\u05d1\u05e8\u05d9, \u201cif you acquire a Hebrew servant;\u201d according to Rashi, the scenario described here is that a thief who did not have the means to compensate his victim for what he had stolen, has been \u201csold\u201d (i.e. the value of his labour for six years) by the court which had convicted him. [A Jew\u2019s body cannot be sold by any court. Ed.] The procedure has been described in Exodus 22:2 Alternately, the person described in the Torah here has fallen on hard times and has sold his labor for six years to a \u201cmaster\u201d in order to pay off his creditors. If he had been \u201csold\u201d by the court he does not automatically leave his master\u2019s employment at the conclusion of six years service. Thus far Rashi on above verse. The problem is what prompted Rashi to write that someone sold by the court does not automatically conclude his service at the end of six years? We have a verse in Deuteronomy 15:12 according to which if someone who is a Jew or Jewess, has been \u201csold\u201d to you, his contract is valid for six years be he a male or a female. He is to be released at the end of that period, and his master is to provide him with a minimal stake to enable him to establish himself economically from that point. (verses 13-14 there) Clearly, that verse and its provisions do not apply to someone who had \u201csold\u201d himself but had been \u201csold\u201d by the court. Rashi there also comments that the person in question had been sold by someone other than himself. We must assume therefore that Rashi was explaining the commentary of the Mechilta, according to which the words: \u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05e7\u05e0\u05d4 apply to the son or daughter of the original master, who had died during these years. The question is whether the contract can be inherited by the master\u2019s children, or in the event that the master did not leave behind any children, whether whosoever inherits the master\u2019s estate this includes the unexpired period of such a servant\u2019s contract. In the event that such a servant had been \u201csold\u201d by the court would the contract expire automatically with the death of the original purchaser? The wording in Deuteronomy, \u05db\u05d9 \u05d9\u05de\u05db\u05e8 \u05dc\u05da, \u201cif he has been sold to you,\u201d as is distinct from the wording in our verse where the master is described as actively acquiring the servant, i.e. \u05db\u05d9 \u05ea\u05e7\u05e0\u05d4, suggest that the two situations described are not identical. In Deuteronomy the period of service is spelled out as being six years, adding that in the seventh year such a servant has to be released unconditionally, whereas in Exodus, in our verse the Torah adds the same clause. In Deuteronomy the word (unnecessary) \u05d5\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05da, \u201che shall serve you\u201d is added. This reference to \u201cyou\u201d is absent in our verse here. In Leviticus 25:39 where the subject of an impoverished Israelite selling himself is first raised, the Torah does not speak of a term of 6 years but a period concluding with the Jubilee year, a year when all such forced sales of land or labor are automatically reversed. If such servants are not released until the Jubilee year, it stands to reason that they continue serving the son or daughter of their master if he passed away before the onset of the Jubilee year (once in 50 years). This means that the verse we are dealing with, commencing with the words: \u201cwhen you acquire, etc.,\u201d must apply to someone who had been sold by the court. If the Torah, in dealing with the acquisition of a Jewish servant, had only written the one verse on the subject in our portion, I might have thought that such a \u201cservant\u201d would have to continue serving upon the death of his master either his son or even his brother. To prevent us from misunderstanding this, the Torah had to write when speaking of a servant who had been sold by the court: \u05db\u05d9 \u05d9\u05de\u05db\u05e8 \u05dc\u05da \u05d0\u05d7\u05d9\u05da, \u201cwhen your brother has been sold to you,\u201d and it had to add: \u05d5\u05e2\u05d1\u05d3\u05da \u05e9\u05e9 \u05e9\u05e0\u05d9\u05dd, \u201cand he has to serve you, (the purchaser) for six years.\u201d This excludes any service to an heir of the purchaser. We therefore find that on the one hand the text implies something additional, and on the other hand it implies something less. The Rabbis therefore interpreted the addition as being the heir if he is a son or a daughter, but excluding the brother in the event the master did not leave behind a son or daughter in the event that the servant had been sold by the court. We find in the Talmud, tractate Kiddushin, folio 17 that the Talmud asks what forces us to include as heir the son, while at the same time excluding the heir when he is a brother, i.e. not a direct descendant. The answer given is that a son takes the place of his father when it comes to inheriting landed property or a maidservant whom the father may assign to his son to inherit as maidservant, (wife) when of age. (Compare Leviticus 27:20 and Talmud tractate Erchin folio 25.)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 13:37 And He said, \u2018The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 13:38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 13:40 \u2018So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 13:41 \u2018The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 13:42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 \u2018Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 6:19 \u2018Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 6:20 \u2018But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 6:21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 6:22 \u2018The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 6:23 \u2018But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 6:24 \u2018No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 7:18 \u2018A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 7:19 \u2018Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 \u2018So then, you will know them by their fruits. 7:21 \u2018Not everyone who says to Me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter 7:22 \u2018Many will say to Me on that day, \u2018Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?\u2019 7:23 \u2018And then I will declare to them, \u2018I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.\u2019 (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\n 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 7:15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 7:16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do\u00a0 I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 7:17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 7:19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 7:20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 7:21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 7:22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 7:23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (NASB)<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n