Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #29 (Acharei Mot) and #30 (K’doshim) Vayikra (Leviticus 16:1-18:30 and 19:1-20:27
Haftarah: Yechezk’el ( Ezekiel) 22:1-16
B’rit Chadashah: Romans 3:19-28
This week’s Torah commentary includes parashah #29 ( Acharei Mot) and #30 (K’doshim) read together in regular years just as we had last week. There is no disparity between them because in order to be a holy people, we must follow G-d’s instructions conveyed to His people, His way.
We start with Leviticus 16 just after the death of Nadav and Avihu, their lives taken because of unauthorized fire these men thought they could offer to G-d even though it was not commanded. In His mercy G-d now makes sure Aharon and those in the priestly line have no doubt that G-d means what he says. I am going to expound on this concept as it applies to us today.
Comparing the specific instructions for offering sacrifices and the additional instructions for offering a goat as a sin offering for the entire nation once a year at Yom Kippur (Lev. 16:34) to Leviticus 19:1, we see a perpetual connection between obedience to G-d’s commands and being a holy people. Taking this concept down to a most basic level but one that is critical to our salvation is the observance of Shabbat (Lev. 19:3). This means that just as in Genesis 2:3 where G-d separated the Shabbat, the seventh day as holy and rested from his work, we are to honor it. If we are not convinced, we are told in Ex. 15:25 that “ There [the Shur desert],Adonai made laws and rules of life for them, and there he tested them.” Sure enough, we find that once again there were people who did not believe or trust G-d at his word and some went out to gather manna on the seventh day, only to find that G-d meant what he said and there was no manna provided on Shabbat(Ex. 16:27). The people were to gather twice as much on the sixth day (Ex. 16:22) but those who went out on the Shabbat did not follow G-d’s command and they went without.
After the 10 Commands were given (Ex. 20:1-15), Moshe told the people who were terrified at the sound of thunder and seeing lightning that “G-d has come only to test you and make you fear him, so that you won’t commit sins.” The commands are embedded in rulings that contain additional details for holy living. (Exodus 21-3) In Exodus 34 Shabbat is addressed again, this time with a clarification that even in plowing time and harvest season, man must rest on the seventh day.
The book of Leviticus laid out the rules for the priesthood which are many times not understood by true believers that the concepts within the sacrificial system apply to us as the new priesthood to which we belong (1 Pet. 2:9). The types and process for offering sacrifices for sins of omission and commission are given in detail (Lev. 5;14-15). As true believers we must rely on the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to speak to our conscience mind, bringing out from our unconscious mind sins of which we are initially unaware.
Another way for us to become aware of unintentional sins may be through G-d using another individual such as a Torah teacher or another believer who may be more spiritually mature and has the experience and biblical training to identify an infraction on the offending individual. This can be difficult if the offending individual has not learned to take the counsel of another believer as it is intended. In this case, the individual who has committed a sin of omission or commission should be referred to scriptures that explain the importance of listening to a more learned individual and praying that the Ruach HaKodesh reveal the truth of the matter so that repentance may take place. (See Prov. 19:20;2 Tim. 3:16-17).
With the above scriptural references and the commentary thus far, we need to realize that G-d is a G-d of detail and details matter to the point where we may be cut off from G-d’s presence if we choose to ignore His commands/law/instructions. The term “cut off” from G-d’s people appears repeatedly in the Old Testament in particular because this is the time period in which the basic commands/instructions/laws were given. The term is usually in reference to disobeying G-d’s commands. There can be several layers of punishment involved such as exclusion from the community of Israelites, loss of inheritance rights, or even physical death as in the case of Nadav and Avihu.
One example is found in Leviticus 7:20 where “ That person shall be cut off from his people.” This statement is made in the context of sacrifices and ritual purity, a subject that flows over into Parashah K’doshim included this week and underscores the seriousness of disregarding G-d’s instructions. Choosing to sin by ignoring G-d’s instructions, and true counsel from Torah teachers and more mature brethren when appropriate will result in a fractured relationship with G-d and the community of believers. Other examples of being “cut off” from our people and/or G-d include Leviticus 7:20-1 previously discussed, Exodus 12:15,Leviticus 20; and Exodus 30:33.
Parashah #30 is a beautiful continuation of G-d’s commands/law/instructions beyond those outlined for the priesthood and their ministration to the people. These and other parashot portray holiness and covenant loyalty as core values for true Israelites; Jew and Gentile who repent, trust in the faithfulness of Yahshua, and then follow the commands of G-d (Seven-fold witness in the book of Revelation). Ancient manuscripts, including fragments discovered at Qumran (part of the Dead Sea Scrolls) consistently describe these warnings, once again showing us the consistency, continuity, and weight of our behavior in all areas of our lives.
There is also a deeper spiritual reality that applies to all who consider themselves true believers/Israelites both Jew and Gentile as just defined. Since Israel was a nation set apart to reflect divine holiness , any willful sin that jeopardized the community had to be firmly and consistently addressed. Someone being “cut off” provided a shield for the congregation from corruption and similar behavior. Remember that there were foreigners living with the Israelites (Lev. 17:10). These individuals had to follow the same instructions/commands as did the Israelites with the exception of physical circumcision that only applies to biologic Jewish males. You can see that the foreigners were required to assimilate into the nation of “holy people” defined and instructed by G-d through Moshe. Nothing has changed. We are all required to choose between following G-d’s Torah out of love or suffer the consequences. It was not a reverse situation whereby the Israelites had to accommodate and assimilate into the pagan way of life. Further support for this “inclusion” by way of justice for all is also described in Leviticus 20:1-6. Anyone who is able to put two and two together must realize by now that G-d is consistent, never changing, and that no one will be able to stand before Him at the judgement and claim discrimination.
When the Israelites eventually turned away from G-d and followed the pagan way of life, they were severely punished each time with the destruction of both temples, Jerusalem, and exile to Babylon. The destruction of the First Temple occurred in 586 BC , a direct consequence of Israel’s persistent idolatry and disobedience to G-d’s covenant, as prophesied in Jeremiah 25:8-11) and others. The 10 northern tribes (Israel) that left Jerusalem became so entrenched in idolatry and pagan culture that G-d divorced her for a time (Jer. 8:3-11). Her repentance and marriage as the Bride of Yahshua is a subject for another teaching. Though only Israel (10 northern tribes) was formerly divorced, Judah had the greater guilt because she “did not fear” but copied her “sister’s sins.” The divorce served pedagogically, that is a teaching/warning- to jolt Judah into repentance before a similar judgment (Babylonian Exile 586 BC). The point is, G-d does not play favorites. He said to Moshe “ I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Rom. 9:15). Behavioral science has shown that concrete consequences often provide stronger deterrents than abstract warnings. Jeremiah prophetically leverages that principle.
The fall of Jerusalem and the Temple marked the beginning of the Babylonian exile but it was G-d’s way of pulling out those who loved G-d from among the other Israelites who were corrupt and remained in Jerusalem. This event underscores the seriousness of covenantal faithfulness and the consequences of choosing the broad road to destruction.
The destruction of the second Temple occurred on 70 AD, during the first Jewish-Roman War. At this time, the Jews were for the most part under foreign rule by the Persians, Greeks, and eventually the Romans. Besides this, the Jews were also plagued by internal corrupt politics, resulting in splitting into many factions which eventually led to the Temple’s destruction. If the Jews had been united, they would most likely have received G-d’s protection.
This is a process we are witnessing today in America. Author Rabbi Elie Mischel in his book “The War Against the Bible(2024) where he offers his opinion of the identity of Ishmael and Edom posits that the Roman Catholic Church is not Edom; that “Logically the Edomites of our time are those nations and peoples who are the cultural heirs of the pagan Roman Empire- namely the secular Western nations who have rejected G-d, His Bible, and His Chosen People(p.46). Mischel disagrees with a number of references in his book that point to and describe Rome as the modern manifestation of Edom, a viewpoint which I believe is based on scriptures found in the Old Testament and the B’rit Chadashah (Refreshed, renewed Covenant). Christianity is part and parcel of Catholicism, a fact which Mischel does not mention if he is even aware of the connection. In fact, the Catholic Church along with other apostate religion is described in Revelation 17. In Revelation 18:4 we read “ Then I heard another voice from heaven say,’ Come out of her my people,’ so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues.” The Catholic Church gives homage to Mary before G-d as a heavenly deity and spiritual mother of heaven. They believe in transubstantiation of the eucharist, they have changed G-d’s Word to fit their church replacement theology agenda, including changing the Sabbath and giving man authority to absolve sins, make images and pray to them among other practices that are completely contrary to G-d’s Word. In first century Rome this imperial power demanded emperor worship and drank blood of the martyrs.
Others see Babylon associated with apostate religion and the Catholic Church also qualifies. This is described as a counterfeit system that wears the clothing of truth while trafficking in idolatry.
Others see Babylon as a global system of human pride, commerce, and rebellion against G-d. This paradigm describes the progressive onslaught of secularism, paganism, rebellion against G-d and all who love and follow him. America as a nation once governed by G-d’s Word has given way to promoting an apostate way of life even to the point of flaunting and promoting abominations defined in G-d’s Word and hating Israel and everything associated with her, even G-d. Therefore, I maintain that while the United States is indeed progressively subscribing to and trafficking the Edomite paradigm previously described, but we cannot exclude the Catholic Church as Edom or her “daughters” of which Christianity is also at the very least a “close relative” of Edom.
I qualify my discussion on the subject of Edom in that there are well-meaning Christians who believe they are following the same G-d of Israel that the Jews and Israelites love and follow. However, getting back to our parashah K’doshim (Holy People), we find that Christians are taught that G-d’s laws were abrogated including his designated times and dietary laws, laws of the Sabbath. And that they celebrate Easter and Christmas, both of which have pagan roots and have nothing to do with the birth, death, or resurrection of Yahshua. They are taught a “once-saved always-saved ideology and that the G-d of Israel in the Old Testament has been replaced by the G-d of the New Testament, “Jesus” who is all love and grace. These ideologies are not supported in the Bible. Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us that G-d possess complete moral perfection and governs the universe according to his unchanging standards. Revelation 15:3 provides the same message showing us that His justice and truth have not changed from the Old Testament to the Refreshed, renewed Covenant (New Testament). A major problem is that many Christian clergy do not understand the Hebrew Bible in which the original Word of G-d was written along with Aramaic, or take the time to learn that many Christian teachings have been added to G-d’s Word along with mistranslations and are taught as if G-d accepts adding to or subtracting from His Torah. Revelation 22:18-19 provides the truth of the matter, whether Jew or Gentile that anyone who adds to G-d’s Word, G-d will “add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, G-d will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” If we want to be part of the holy community of G-d, we must follow the same instructions for a holy people in G-d’s Torah, the Bible.
Haftarah: Ezekiel 22: 1-16
In this passage G-d essentially told the people that they were going to be held accountable for their rebellious behaviors. Everything G-d commanded the people not to do, they did. They profaned the Shabbats, dishonored parents, wronged orphans and widows, treated the holy things with contempt, gossiped to the point of inciting bloodshed, committed incest, charged interest on loans, had sex with immediate members of their families, took their women during their menses, and forgot G-d completely before the nations who looked on Israel with scorn and laughter. This is the point where G-d decided to scatter Israel among the Goyim (nations) and disperse them throughout the countries. Through this process of isolation G-d would remove their defilement and cause them to know the full ridicule of the nations. This may be considered a type of spiritual “time out” on a national scale. Israel has been persecuted more than any other people and continues to be ridiculed and hated today. G-d reminds us in Matthew 23:37-39; “Yerushalayim! Yerushalayim! You kill the prophets! You stone those who are sent to you! How often did I wanted to gather your children, just as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you refused! Look! G-d is abandoning your house to you, leaving it desolate. For I tell you, from now on, you will not see me again until you say, ‘ Blessed is he who comes in the name of Adonai’ We will not know the true peace of G-d or see Yahshua until we say “ Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai.” I submit living to experience this time in history is a very plausible possibility with the exponential degradation in our country and the world in general. As terrible as things are and as they continue to compete with the crimes of Israel when she strayed so far from G-d, we can and must stay strong and draw on the peace that only YHVH/Yahshua can provide. We have been kept alive for this time for a reason; to make His Name known among the nations. This is done in the way He instructed so long ago: “ How blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell you all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! Rejoice, be glad because your reward in heaven is great-they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way. You are the salt for the Land. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except being thrown out for people to trample on. You are the light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven”(Matthew 5:11-16).
B’rit Chadashah: Romans 3:19-28
We are reminded that legalistic observance of Torah commands avails us nothing. Let us get our premise clear from the start. Sha’ul (Paul) is talking about legalism in following G-d’s commands and the added issue of placing the oral Torah, rabbinical law as that which should be followed. He clarifies it as he speaks of legalism without the spirit of obedience and love. He points out that the Torah (G-d’s Torah) shows us how sinful we are, lest anyone boast of his perceived righteousness in and of himself. Torah is a sort of “ground zero” that brings us all down to the level of sinners that we are and will remain unless we trust in Yahshua’s faithfulness continually and continue to follow His Torah (Rom. 3:21-22). Verse 24 informs us that we are granted the status of “being considered righteous before Him, through the act redeeming us from our enslavement to sin that Yahshua accomplished. This means that He freed us from the death indictment we inherited through original sin. This does not mean that we are “saved.” Yahshua’s sacrifice spiritually takes us through the Sea of Reeds and gives us a new beginning as we emerge into the desert that represents a clean slate. How can we say this with confidence? Let us look at Rom. 3:25; “G-d put Yahshua forward as the covering for sin through his faithfulness in respect to his bloody sacrificial death. This vindicated G-d’s righteousness; because, in his forbearance, he had passed over [ with neither punishment or remission] the sins people had committed in the past; and it vindicates his righteousness in the present age by showing that he is righteous himself and is also the one who makes people righteous on the ground of Yahshua’s faithfulness. So what room is left for boasting? None at all! What kind of Torah excludes it? One that has to do with legal observance of rules? No, rather a Torah that has to do with trusting. Therefore, we hold the view that a person comes to be considered righteous by G-d on the ground of trusting which has nothing to do with legalistic observance of Torah commands.”
Again, we see that G-d’s commands/laws/instructions remain in force with the exception of physical sacrifices previously described in the sacrificial system before the Temples were destroyed. Sha’ul (Paul) is talking about Jews who held the position that legalistic observance of rabbinical law and the commands of G-d followed without infusing the spirit of the law made one righteous in the sight of G-d. Remember that the majority of Jews were not convinced about Yahshua being the Messiah, let alone resurrected. The word trust is not some abstract cognitive concept as believed by most Christians. Rather, it is an action verb that means “to follow” or “commit to” something or someone. Therefore, what we have in this passage is a lesson that G-d’s Torah is not dead. If we are to be considered righteous, we must actively commit ourselves (trust) in the faithfulness of Yahshua’s sacrifice and His faithfulness and ability to forgive us of our sins. If you have any doubt about the meaning of trust, G-d provides plenty of examples in Hebrews chapter 11. You will always see the word trust associated with obedient action. There is no way around this truth. If we want to have life, and have it abundantly, we must return to our parashah in Lev. 18:5: “You are to observe my laws and rulings; if a person does them, he will have life through them; I am Adonai.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart
Additional reference
Mischel, Elie (2024) “ The was against the Bible,” www.israel365.com