Listen and Obey-Shema

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! "-Deuteronomy 6:4

The Hebrew word “shema” used as a noun is a title that refers to Deuteronomy 6:4.  This is a centerpiece verse that serves as the foundation for both Judaism and Christianity. This verse is important because it establishes the uncompromising monotheistic nature of both of these great world religions.  When Yeshua (Jesus) was asked by the ruling Jewish elite of His day what the most important commandment was, he responded with Deuteronomy 6:4.  If one were to pay a visit to a Jewish synagogue, he or she would find that this is the central prayer in the Jewish prayer book and orthodox Jews upon arising in the morning and before retiring in the evening say this prayer daily.  In fact, I would heartily endorse this practice to all believers.

Now the word shema used as a verb is usually translated as “listen” or “hear” as in the following verse: 

“And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God and shema Him.”-Joshua 24:23-24

Although a Hebrew-English dictionary will readily translate shema as “to hear” or “to listen”, this is NOT referring to a passive form of listening such as when you are kicking back in your easy chair and enjoying some of your favorite music.  Rather it is a stalwart call for obedience.  The connotation is that not only will you listen but after listening you will rise up, take positive action and make the commandments of G-d a part of your life. 

How many of you go to Synagogue every Shabbat or church every Sunday and let what the Rabbi or Pastor teaches go in one ear and out the other. In other words, you are just playing at church and operating under the assumption that just because you regularly fulfill your perfunctory church attendance and bible study duties, you are now leading a life pleasing to G-d. However, G-d can see through to the heart.  So while your going through the motions may fool those around you, G-d isn’t fooled.  The same goes for the tithe.  Some people seem to think that after the prescribed ten percent is paid, they can do whatever they want with the money left over.  No!  No!  A thousand times no!  G-d doesn’t just want your 10%.  He wants and deserves to be L-rd over every aspect, 100% of your life.  This should give all believers great assurance.  G-d wants to help you with that rent payment you’re worrying about paying.  He wants to straighten out the messed up relationships you have in your life.  He wants to help you with your debts.  He wants to help you with your sexual frustration and future marriage prospects.  He wants to bless you greatly in your future job or career prospects.  However, in order for Him to be able to do that, you have to let Him.

One of my favorite Christian preachers who I listen to on the internet is J.D. Farag.  I have mentioned him in an earlier lesson.  There is one profound point that he repeatedly makes in his sermons that I think is particularly fitting for this lesson.  The point is this.  G-d, being all mighty and powerful and the Creator of the universe has everything and is in need of nothing.  In other words, G-d is a perfectly self-sufficient being.  However, there is ONE thing that G-d does not have.  And He wants that one thing.  That one thing He wants but cannot have unless we give it to Him is our obedience.  Our obedience!  Since He created us as free human beings, unless we make a conscious decision and choose to obey G-d, G-d cannot force us to do so.  That would actually be slavery and not a loving relationship.

Hence, L-rd, I pray that out of love and gratitude for all of the wonderful things you have bestowed on our lives, I pray that we would choose to obey, to shema, your commandments with a sincere and devout heart.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.-Deuteronomy 6:5

Amen.

A Group of Ten-Minyan

Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only a minyan can be found there?”  He answered, “For the sake of a minyan, I will not destroy it (Sodom and Gomorrah).” When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.-Genesis 32-33

I am sure most readers are quite familiar with the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and how Abraham engaged in a little bargaining session with G-d prior to fire and brimstone being rained down on the doomed city.  Abraham concerned that the innocent might be destroyed right along with the wicked begins by asking G-d if He will destroy the city if there be 50 righteous people there. G-d’s answer is a firm no. So Abraham continues to bargain down until he reaches the number 10 or a minyan in Hebrew.  Again G-d assures Abraham that if there be at a minimum 10 righteous, He will not destroy the city.

Now within the realm of biblical numerology, the number 10 holds special significance.  It is considered to be the number of fullness or perfect completeness.  It is a number that represents G-d’s perfect order as opposed to utter confusion. That is why giving one-tenth or a tithe from all of our earnings is considered to be the perfect just amount owed G-d.  What is also interesting is that for the past approximate 500 years, Jewish mystical teachings have maintained that according to the Bible, the universe is comprised of ten dimensions and recently modern physics is also beginning to come to the same conclusion.  Even today, religious Jews will usually not hold a service or a group prayer if there are not at least 10 people in attendance.  So this number is considered to be an ideal minimum.  G-d was telling Abraham that unless this divine quota was met, Sodom and Gomorrah was toast. 

Hence, when you come across the number 10 while reading Scripture, realize that something of divine significance is about to unfold.  For example, when Absalom, the third son of King David, rebelled against his father’s throne, it was divinely determined that he was to be killed.  This was represented by the presence of exactly ten armed warriors that were sent out to slay him.  Or when G-d created man, He gave him 10 fingers and 10 toes.  Yom Kippur, the most important holiday on the Jewish calendar, takes place on the 10^th day of the 7^th month and so on and on.  By the way, the number 7 also holds great significance in Scripture.  However, we won’t get into that here.

Our Heavenly Father,

Please open up our hearts and minds so we may be able to fathom the wondrous mysteries entwined in your Holy Word.

Amen

Circumcision-Brit Millah

“You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.  Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.  Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”–Genesis 17:9-13

I am going to be going discussing circumcision or brit millah in Hebrew.  If you recall from previous lessons, Brit means covenant or contract and millah means to cut.  In fact, this is where we got our daily expression “to cut a deal”.  Given the extremely volatile nature of this topic, I have chosen to not be dogmatic.  However, I do wish to provide food for thought and hopefully a fresh perspective as I attempt to answer the $64,000 question concerning whether or not circumcision is valid for a messianic believer today, Jew or Gentile. 

So let’s get started.  First, the general prevailing notion within Christendom today is that circumcision is NOT a requirement for believers. The notion usually expressed is that it was an ancient Old Testament law only for the Israelites.  However, in spite of this notion, the Old Testament clearly states that the covenant of circumcision is to be everlasting, for all generations.  In fact, so important is this issue of circumcision that the above Scripture clearly states that those who fail to be circumcised will be cut off (or karet) from his people.  Prior to Christ, it seems pretty plain that circumcision is a basic requirement for salvation itself and not just a matter of obedience. 

However, after Christ, it appears as though something changed.  In the New Testament, we have such Scriptures as the following:

'Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law.-Galatians5:1

This is interesting.  In the Old Testament we have G-d telling Israel that circumcision is fundamental to being a part of one of his chosen.  And now in the New Testament we have G-d telling Israel that if they allow themselves to be circumcised, they can have no part of Messiah.

So here comes the first head scratcher.  How is it that G-d tells Israel in the Old Testament that circumcision is an absolute must for all generations but then seems to do an about face in the New Testament and now says ‘No way Jose’?

The answer is simple; Because Yeshua (Jesus) became our circumcision for us.  Let us not forget that our Savior Jesus was 100% Jewish!  Both His father and mother were Jewish.  He celebrated all of the Jewish holidays and kept all of the dietary kosher laws.  AND without a doubt He was circumcised on the 8^th day according to the covenant of Abraham.  In fact, He was the only human being in the history of mankind to fulfill the Torah perfectly.  That is why He was able to be a perfect eternal sacrifice for all of our sins.

In other words, through belief in Jesus Christ, we fulfill the eternal covenant of circumcision, a sort of circumcision of the heart so to speak.  I reiterate, through accepting Jesus the Christ as our savior, in G-d’s eyes it is as if we have already been physically circumcised.  In fact, because of the work that Jesus did on the cross for us, G-d the Father views us as perfect and holy, absolutely without blemish.

Let me put it in other words, if Jesus as a baby had never undergone circumcision, He could not have been a perfect substitute for us.  The same goes for the dietary laws.  If Jesus had ever eaten pork or shellfish, even once, He could not have been a perfect sacrifice for us.  If He had ever committed adultery, engaged in one act of homosexuality, or fornicated even once, He could not have been a perfect sacrifice for us.

Hence, that is why Paul says: “Once again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire law.”  Here Paul is addressing the issue of HOW ONE IS SAVED and not HOW ONE SHOULD LIVE AFTER BEING SAVED.  These are two different issues that a lot of Christians seem to get mixed up.

If you are going to attempt to justify yourself and become saved through circumcision, good luck baby!  First of all, not only do you have to be circumcised but you have to keep the entirely law perfectly!  And NO MAN, I don’t care if you are a super Jew with a red cape and boots, absolutely NO MAN is going to make it into heaven on his own merits.  So don’t even try.  Admit that you’re hopeless sinner and be justified through your messiah. 

However, and this is going to lead me to the $64,000 question, how should we live now that we have been justified thoroughly and absolutely?  What should be our response to our savior who kept the Torah perfectly so that we could be justified?  Since Jesus paid the price for adultery, should we freely commit adultery?  Since Jesus paid the price for murder, should we freely commit murder?  Since Jesus paid the price for breaking the Sabbath, should we go ahead and make the Sabbath just any old day we want?  Doesn’t the same principle apply to the kosher laws and circumcision?

It is a fact that all early believers in the Messiah kept the Torah.  In response to this, I can already hear many Christians objecting by saying, “That is because they were Jews and at the Jerusalem conference it was agreed upon that new Gentile believers did not have to become circumcised.”  Well, let’s take a look at what James who was the head of the Jerusalem church stated in the Book of Acts paying attention to the bolded parts:

"Wherefore my sentence (judgment) is this, that we trouble not them which from among the Gentiles who have turned to G-d: But we write unto them, they abstain from pollution of idolatry and from sexual impurity, and from things strangled and from blood. For Moses of old time (the Torah) has in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day" Acts 15:19-21.

James says that the Torah is being taught in the synagogues in every city on the Sabbath day.  I think it is very clear that while circumcision and observing the Torah is not required for salvation, it is strongly inferred that Gentiles who accept Jesus are expected to eventually become Torah observant including becoming circumcised. 

The conclusion of the matter is clear for me:

Though not justified by abstaining from adultery, in obedience to my L-rd, I will do my best to not commit adultery (both mental and physical).

Though not justified by abstaining from murder, in obedience to my L-rd, I will do my best to not take another life.

Though not justified from keeping the Sabbath, in obedience to my L-rd I will do my best to keep the Sabbath.

AND though not justified by being physically circumcised, I will become physically circumcised as a sign of my allegiance to my Messiah and Israel.

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.-Matthew 5:19

Amen.

Kilayim-Improper Mixing

“Keep my decrees.  Do not mate different kinds of animals.  Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.  Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”-Leviticus 19:19

In order to properly understand the Bible, it is important to not forget that all of the books in the Old and New Testaments are to be treated as a harmonious whole.  There is a straight line of logic running through Genesis to Revelation.  Scripture is consistent.  G-d clearly states that He does not change.  Hence, it is nonsensical to think that the G-d of the Old Testament is an unloving, vengeful deity while the G-d in the New Testament is not.  Or that the commandment of not breaking the Sabbath which G-d clearly stated is to be an eternal precept has suddenly been rendered null and void.  Or that G-d has a separate plan of salvation for the Jews and a separate plan for the Gentiles.  If these things are true, the Bible would be just a hodgepodge of contradictory ideas and teachings and we could hardly accept it as the Word of G-d.

Another important reason why we are to treat the Scriptures as one organic, harmonious whole is because they are replete with the patterns of how G-d and His laws work in certain situations.  That is a key word.  Patterns.  In other words, if G-d acted a certain way in a certain situation in the past, chances are pretty good that He is going to act the same way in a similar situation in the future.  Never forget that G-d is consistent.  He is not like an abusive parent who shows favoritism or shows love one day and then withdraws it the next.  With this in mind, I want to introduce one key G-d-pattern that is woven throughout all Scripture.  Please take a look at the following verses.

"You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, lest all the produce of the seed which you have sown, and the increase of the vineyard become defiled. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together.”-Deuteronomy 22:9

or

“A woman shall not wear man's clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.”-Deuteronomy 22:5

These Scriptures are establishing the pattern of the improper mixing or combining of things.  In Hebrew, this is known as Kilayim.  In the Torah, there are three types of improper mixtures spoken of in the Bible as follows:

1)     Sowing two types of seed together

2)     Interbreeding two different species of farm animals

3)     Weaving together the fibers of wool and linen.

Now at this point, many of you reading this are probably asking why these mixtures are prohibited.  “Why” is the wrong question to ask.  You could search the Scriptures or think deep and hard for some scientific reason why these mixtures are prohibited and you will never come up with anything.  That’s because you are barking up the wrong tree.  Instead, as with the kosher laws, it is more important to seek out what pattern or principle is being set down.  In this case, through the physical world, G-d is establishing the principle that the improper mixture of two fundamentally different things causes confusion and is thus to be avoided.

In the following Scripture, the Apostle Paul expounds on this pattern in the New Testament.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?”-2 Corinthians 6:14

He is referring specifically to the principle of kilayim here.  This is not some revolutionary New Testament theology.  It has its origin in the Torah.  The principle of Kilayim should make it evident that G-d is in the business of separation.  While the world seeks to bring true biblical Christianity under the umbrella of all other world religions, G-d’s purpose is the exact opposite.  He desires to separate us from the heathen.  We are not eat like the heathen, engage in sex like the heathen nor pray like the heathen.  Every aspect of our lifestyle should as much as possible mirror our Father in Heaven.

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."-2 Corinthians 6:17

Amen.

To-evah-Abomination

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Azazel-Scapegoat

“Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for Azazel. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.”-Leviticus 11

Today I want to take a look at the scapegoat ritual that takes place on Yom Kippur.  It is detailed in the last lesson in steps 3, 11, and 12.  The word Azazel from the above verses in Leviticus is normally translated into the word Scapegoat.  However, the simple truth is scholars have been beating themselves over the head for ages attempting to figure out exactly what this word means.  The dictionary gives us the following definitions:

1)     The demon or place in the wilderness to which the scapegoat is released in an atonement ritual.

2)     The scapegoat itself.

3)     A prince of demons (in later Jewish and Gnostic writings and in Muslim tradition)

Regardless of the many existing interpretations out there, one thing is for sure.  There is nothing positive about this Azazel. If you recall from Leviticus, Aaron the High Priest was to cast lots for two goats he had received from the Israelite community.  Depending on the results of the lots cast, one goat was to be presented as a holy sacrifice to the L-rd and the other was to carry all of the sin of the Israelites away into the wilderness.  So we have a compare and contrast paradigm being presented to us here.  One goat for G-d and the other for G-d’s opposite, although not explicitly stated.

There is much rich symbolism in this two-goat ritual that shadows the work that our Messiah would do in the future.  One goat for the L-rd was offered up as a hata’at (sin offering) by which atonement for our sins was made and the second goat that was sent out to the wilderness served to visibly banish our sins. In other words, our sins are not just covered up, they are completely gotten rid of.  This is what Yeshua accomplished for us on the cross.

This goat for Azazel that supernaturally carries on its shoulders all of the iniquity of the Israelites is a supreme example of G-d rebuffing Satan.  It’s as if G-d is demonstrating that regardless of what Satan and all his evil minions may attempt to do to thwart G-d’s purposes for His people, in the end, at one stroke of the pen, G-d is going to throw it all back in his face. 

This reminds me of Hitler’s Nazi Germany and the founding of the nation of Israel in 1948. I think Hitler could even be a sort of Azazel-prototype.  Here we have a demon-possessed maniac who in his diabolical hatred for the Jewish people literally tried to exterminate every Jew in the world.  And at one point during World War II it almost seemed as if he might have succeeded.  But what ended up happening? Hitler put a bullet in his head and shortly after in 1948 Israel became a nation again. Bible prophecy fulfilled!!! Hallelujah!

L-rd,

No matter how trying or hopeless our circumstances may seem to be.  Please give us the faith to stand firm as Job did when he cried out “Thou He slay me, Yet I will trust in him.”  L-rd, help us to trust you and have faith in Your power to rescue us utterly and totally from our destructive sins.

Amen.

Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement

“Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die.”-Leviticus 16:2

The Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur in Hebrew is one of the most important holidays for Israel.  Biblically speaking, the primary purpose of Yom Kippur was to purify the tabernacle.  However, after the destruction of the temple, this foundational Torah teaching gave way to the belief that the Day of Atonement was just to atone for the sins of Israel. 

The above Scripture (Leviticus 16:2) has G-d instructing Moses to tell his brother Aaron that he should by no means consider entry into the most Holy place to be a frivolous matter whereby he can just go in and out whenever he pleases.  It should be noted that this scene follows shortly on the heels of the Abihu and Nadab incident. If you recall, these two brothers of Aaron were burned alive for offering strange fire to the L-rd.  This shocking incident should effectively underscore how dangerous and immense the responsibilities of a priest were and even more so for the high priest.  Let us now take a look at the specific steps required of the high priest to gain entry into the Holiest of Holies.

First Step (Preparations):

Aaron, the high priest, in order to atone for his own sins, must bring a young bull for a hataat (sin offering) and a ram for an olah (a burnt offering).

Second Step (Preparations):

He is to bathe in living water (water that comes from a moving source such as a river) and then change from his normal priestly wear to all-white linen tunic with linen undergarments. He is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban.

Step Three (preparations):

He is to receive two male goats and a ram from the people of Israel to atone for the people of Israel. One of the goats will be chosen to be a hata-at (sin offering), the other will be kept alive to be sent out into the wilderness as a scapegoat and the ram will for an olah (the burnt offering).

Step Four (Implementation):

Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household.

Step Five (Preparation just before entering the Holy of Holies):

Just before entering the Holy of Holies, he is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense.

Step Six (Entering the Holy of Holies):

He is to enter the Holy of Holies and put the incense on the fire before the Lord.  This will result in smoke emerging that will cover the atonement cover.  The smoke serves as a protection so that Aaron will not die.

Step Seven (Still inside the Holy of Holies):

He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover. 

Step Eight (Still inside the Holy of Holies):

Aaron slaughters the goat chosen for the sin offering for the people and takes its blood behind the curtain and using his finger sprinkles some blood on the front of the atonement cover and seven times before the atonement cover.

Step Nine (Outside of the Holy of Holies):

Following on the heels of sprinkling the goat’s blood onto the front and before the atonement cover, the Scripture only states that Aaron is to “do the same for the tent of meeting”.  Though not detailed, I can only assume that both the bull’s and the goat’s blood are sprinkled onto the Tent of Meeting, most likely from the east or entrance side.  I’m not 100% sure on this.

Step Ten:

Aaron leaves the tent of meeting and goes to the brazen altar. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar.  After that, he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

Step Eleven:

Aaron shall bring forward the live goat.  He will both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites-all their sins-and put them on the goat’s head.

Step Twelve:

Aaron shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

Step Thirteen:

Aaron returns to the tent of meeting where he takes off his linen garments that he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and leaves them there. He bathes himself with living water in the sanctuary area and puts his regular garments back on.

Step Fourteen:

Aaron returns to the brazen laver and offers two rams as olah (burnt offerings). (One brought to atone for himself and the other received from the people of Israel) The fat from these sin offerings shall be burnt up on the altar.

Step Fifteen:

The man who released the scapegoat out into the wilderness must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water (living water!)

Step Sixteen:

The remaining hides, flesh and intestines from the sacrificed bull and goat are to be taken outside of the burned up.  The man who burns them up must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water; afterward he may come into the camp. 

The aforementioned procedures that you have just read are the once-a-year procedures for Yom Kippur.  It was that one time of the year, specifically the 7^th day of the 10^th month according to the Jewish calendar (October 7^th for 2011) when the high priest was allowed to enter the most Holiest place on the face of the earth.

Now I have a question for all of you Christians out there?  According to the New Testament, who is our high priest?  I am sure most of you answered “Jesus” which is correct.  Now when bridging the gap between the OT and the NT, if the NT Jesus is analogous to the OT high priest, what are NT believers analogous to?  The answer is the common priests. 

Hence, here, please brace yourself, I am about to decimate a commonly held Christian teaching. The idea that we as believers enter into the Holy of Holies is FALSE!!!  As the Scripture makes explicitly clear, entrance into the Holy of Holies is solely restricted to G-d the Father and His Chosen High Priest.  Our High Priest savior Jesus enters and atones for us but we, as believers can go no farther than the Holy Place.  

L-rd,

Thank you for your Torah and thank you for sending Yeshua to be our permanent high priest who became a onetime sacrifice for all of our sins for all eternity.

Amen.