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Commentary - Year 3 Sabbath 41

Deuteronomy 23:9-20   -   Isaiah 1:16   -   Psalm 138   -   Matthew 8:1-14

                      Hebrew Bibles = Deut 23:10-21

 

Tevet 16, 5764 / January 10, 2004

Tevet 16, 5767 / January   6, 2007

Tevet 16, 5770 / January   2, 2010

Tevet 16, 5773 / December 29, 2012

Tevet 14, 5776 / December 26, 2015

Tevet 14, 5776 / December 22, 2018

 

Ki-tetzei Machaneh  / When a Camp   SCRIPTURES should be read first

 

We know that sin is abomination before God, and righteousness is comely. We should also understand that reminders of sin – our resultant states from the fall – are uncleanness in His sight, and reminders of His righteousness – such as ordinances – are pleasing to Him.

 

(V.10-14) In today’s portion, we see that natural bodily functions representing death (unfulfilled life) and waste, which are results of the fall, should be taken care of “outside the camp”. In order for us to see God’s ultimate provision for our undertakings for Him, there must be holiness in the camp.

(V.14) “Since Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you lest He turn away from you.

Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated (holy) from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them” (Leviticus 15: 31).

 

While “uncleanness” was to be kept out of the camp, representations of God’s righteousness were to be performed only within the camp – at the Tabernacle.

But in the place which Yahweh chooses in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you” (Deuteronomy 12:14).

 

After the Sabbath Millennium, this earth will have all of the works and results of sin destroyed by fire, and will thus be renewed by fire more completely than by the great flood.

But the present heavens and earth by His Word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. . . and the earth and its works will be burned.” (2 Peter 3:7, 10).

 

“Uncleanness” is not sin, but a result of sin – a result of the fall. In uncleanness there may is seen a factor of death or destruction, which was not present in the original creation, and will not be present after the restoration– when Eden / Paradise is restored to a renewed earth. [Note: “Paradise” is a translation of “Eden” – Gr. “Paraditzo” = Heb. “Edan”.]

Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time” (Acts 3:19-21).

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Eden / Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7).

And I saw renewed heavens and a renewed earth; for the first heavens and the first earth passed away. . . And on either side of the river was the tree of life” (Revelation 21:1, 22:2).

 

In our eternal future, there will be no more “uncleanness” as a remembrance of sin:

For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).

 

Adam was created in God’s likeness (Genesis 1:26), but after the fall, and after he was a hundred years old, he had sons in his own image.

When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth. Then the days of Adam after he became the father of Seth were eight hundred years, and he had other sons and daughters (Genesis 5:3-4).

In the restored earth, a man will become accountable to observe Torah at the age of one-hundred years, and younger men will not be held in positions of leadership.

No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will become of age (accountable) at the age of one hundred, and the one who has not reached the age of one hundred shall be lightly esteemed (Isaiah 65:20).

 

Isaiah relates the above matters: God hates ordinances that are performed with wrong motivations.

Bring your worthless offerings no longer, your incense is an abomination to Me. . . New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies – I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly (Isaiah 1:13).

Then God says:

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil” (Isaiah 1:16).

When we are fighting God’s battles, immoral conduct is turning our backs on God, and He will then turn His back on us.

 

David sings of whole-hearted worship toward God’s Temple: “I will give Thee thanks with all my heart; I will sing praises to Thee before the gods. I will bow down toward Thy Holy Temple” (Psalm 138:1-2).

 

(V.15-16) When going to battle, some of the enemy’s slaves may desert to follow you. You shall not turn him back to his foreign master, but allow him to dwell with you, and treat him kindly.

 

(V.18) While the money is not of itself evil, we cannot dedicate sin-earnings to God, because it is a reminder of sin.

 

(V.19-20) We are not to cause another to sin: “You shall not cause your countryman to take interest”.

We are to fulfill any agreement to a foreigner, so as not to impugn God’s name: “You may cause a foreigner to take interest”.

 

Matthew 8

We learned from Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59 (commentaries Y2-33 & 34), that the disease tzaraat (commonly mistranslated leprosy) was a skin disease put upon a slanderer. The metzorah (diseased person) was unclean, and forbidden to enter the camp.

 

Now we see Yeshua stretching out His hand and touching a metzorah, then proclaiming him clean, and instructing him to fulfill the Torah’s requirement of having a priest’s certification before entering the camp. Touching him would seem to imply that Yeshua had first healed him of the sin of slander, and such healing would be the normal precursor to physical healing of tzaraat.

 

In the following chapter (Matthew 9), Yeshua first states that a certain man’s sins are forgiven, then heals him.

For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, and walk’? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (then He said to the paralytic) ‘Rise, take up your bed, and go home’ ” (Matthew 9:5-6).

Readings:

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who chose us from among all peoples by giving us Your Torah.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

 

Reader 1* Amen 9 “When a camp goes out against your enemies, then you shall keep yourself from every evil thing. 10 If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nocturnal emission, then he must go outside the camp; he may not reenter the camp. 11 But it shall be when evening approaches, he shall bathe himself with water, and at sundown he may reenter the camp.

12 You shall also have a place outside the camp and go out there, 13 and you shall have a spade among your tools, and it shall be when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and shall turn to cover up your excrement. 14 Since Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you lest He turn away from you.”

 

Reader 2* Amen 15 “You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. 16 He shall live with you in your midst, in the place which he shall choose in one of your towns where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat him.

17 None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any of the sons of Israel be a cult prostitute. 18 You shall not bring the hire of a harlot or the wages of a dog into the house of Yahweh your God for any votive offering, for both of these are an abomination to Yahweh your God.

19 You shall not charge interest to your countrymen: interest on money, food, or anything that may be loaned at interest. 20 You may charge interest to a foreigner, but to your countryman you shall not charge interest, so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you undertake in the land which you are about to enter to possess.”

 

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the Torah."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Who selected good prophets, delighting in their words which were spoken truthfully.

Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,

and the prophets of truth and righteousness."

 

Isaiah 1:10-18

Reader 3* Amen 10 Hear the word of Yahweh, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, You people of Gomorrah. 11 "What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?" Says Yahweh. "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats. 12 "When you come to appear before Me, Who requires of you this trampling of My courts? 13 "Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies-- I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.

 

Reader 4* Amen 14 "I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. 15 "So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 18 "Come now, and let us reason together," Says Yahweh, "Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.

 

Psalm 138  (To be sung.)   A Psalm of David.

 

1.      With all my heart my thanks I’ll bring,

Before the gods Your praises sing;

I’ll worship in Your Holy Place

And praise Your Name for truth and grace;

 

2.      For You above Your Name adored,

Have magnified Your faithful Word.

The day I called, Your help appeared;

With inward strength my soul was cheered.

 

3.      All kings of earth shall thanks accord

When they have heard Your Word O Lord.

Yahweh’s ways they’ll celebrate;

The glory of Yahweh is great.

 

4.      Although Yahweh is most high,

On lowly ones He bends His eye;

But those that proud and haughty are

He knows only from afar.

 

5.      Through trouble though my pathway be,

You will revive and comfort me.

Your outstretched hand You will oppose

Against the wrath of all my foes.

 

6.      Your hand, Yahweh, shall set me free

And perfect all that concerns me;

Your mercy, Yahweh, always stands;

Leave not the work of Your own hands.

 

Matthew 8:1-4

1 When Yeshua came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a (metzora) leper came to Him and bowed down before Him, and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." 3 Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his (tzaraat) leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Yeshua said to him, "See that you tell no one; but go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

 

"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of Ages, righteous throughout all generations.

You are the faithful God, promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,

for all Your words are true and righteous.

Faithful are You, Yahweh our God, and faithful are Your words,

for no word of Yours shall remain unfulfilled;

You are a faithful and merciful God and King.

Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."


© 2004  Beikvot HaMashiach
(Followers of the Messiah)