- there are 70 faces to 
Post by alon on Apr 25, 2018 18:05:38 GMT -8
From Mark:
This week’s readings:
Date of reading: 28 April 2018/13 Iyyar 5778
Name of Par’shah: K’doshim (Holy People)
Par’shah: Vayikra 19:1-20:27
Haftara: ‘Amos 9:7-15; Yechezk’el 20:2-20
Brit Chadashah: Mattityahu 5:33-37, 5:43-48, 15:1-11, 19:16-30, 22:33-40; Mark 7:1-23, 12:28-34;
Luke 10:25-37; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13-26; Ya’akov 2:1-9; 1 Kefa 1:13-21
D’rash: Leviticus 19:5-8 When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to Adonai, offer it in a way that will make you accepted. It is to be eaten the same day you offer it and the following day; but if any of it remains until the third day, it is to be burned up completely. If any of it is eaten on the third day, it will have become a disgusting thing and will not be accepted; moreover, everyone who eats it will bear the consequences of profaning something holy meant for Adonai---that person will be cut off from his people.
The peace offering, also known as the fellowship offering, was a voluntary offering that was given for a blessing bestowed by G-d, in conjunction with a fulfilled vow, in an hour of great need, or as a free-will offering. It could be made following a sin offering to symbolize the restored fellowship that the worshiper had with G-d. The one sacrificing was to eat part of this offering as an expression of unhindered fellowship. If verse 5 is taken by itself without the context of the following verses, that is, to offer the sacrifice of peace offerings in a way that will be accepted, one could easily conclude that the foundation for acceptance is stated in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: Sh’ma, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad; and you are to love Adonai your G-d with all your heart, all your being and all your resources.
An example of a peace offering done in this righteous manner is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10. Hannah, one of two wives of Elkanah, was barren and taunted severely for it from her rival. Hannah poured out her heart before Adonai asking for a son and vowing to give him back to Him for a lifetime of service. Adonai heard her cry and granted her request. One only needs to read her prayer of thanksgiving to G-d to see her deep love and appreciation for Him (1 Samuel 2:1-10). Though the peace offering is not directly mentioned, at least one of the three young bulls she brought to the Temple would be reserved for it. No doubt, there were no regrets when she fulfilled her vow to G-d, who eventually blessed her with three more sons and two daughters.
The second example reveals a peace offering that would be considered totally unacceptable. Proverbs chapter 7 describes an adulteress who uses religion as a bargaining chip for sin. Verses 13-15 gives a brief description of the larger picture: “She grabs him, gives him a kiss, and, brazen-faced, she says to him, ‘I had to offer peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today. This is why I came out to meet you, to look for you; now I have found you.’” Whether this literally happened or is considered an Hebraic teaching method to illustrate a useless and legalistic obedience to any of the Mitzvot, one thing is clear in this passage---there is no peace with Adonai and this kind of observance is an abomination to Him. This same idea is expressed in Yesha’yahu 1:11-15: “Why are all those sacrifices offered to Me?” asks Adonai. “I’m fed up with burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals! I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls, lambs and goats! Yes, you come to appear in My Presence; but who asked you to do this, to trample through My courtyards? Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! They are like disgusting incense to Me! Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations---I can’t stand evil together with your assemblies! Everything in Me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to Me---I’m tired of putting up with them! “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won’t be listening; because your hands are covered in blood. Here, G-d is not annulling His law regarding the sacrifices and appointed times as is generally believed. He is saying that evil simply cannot be practiced along with the Mitzvot and believe everything is alright.
Now back to our par’shah scripture. The peace offering could be eaten on the same day and the second day, but on the third day it was to be completely burned up. If any of it was eaten on that day it was considered disgusting and a profaning of something holy meant for Adonai, and that person would be cut off from his people. The word “disgusting” in the KJV is “abominable”, in Hebrew, Piggul (Strong’s 6292), which comes from an unused root meaning “to stink”. Therefore, it meant filth, what is putrefied, unclean, abominable. Likely, the sacrifice by the third day may have had the beginnings of decay. There is a strong parallel of this connected to the prophecy regarding Yeshua in Psalm 16:10: “…for You will not abandon Me to Sh’ol, You will not let Your Faithful One see the Abyss.” Immediately after the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh on the emissaries, Kefa confirms the fact of the risen Messiah by using this same scripture only being more specific, saying, “…that You will not abandon Me [Yeshua] to Sh’ol or let Your Holy One see decay” (Acts 2:27). Emissary Sha’ul uses the same interpretation in his teaching to the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch in Acts 27:35. So, if one partook of the peace offering on the third day, it was in complete opposition of the work of Adonai in raising Yeshua from the dead, the One who saw no decay. This same principle applies to abstaining from leaven, representing sin, which is a form of decay, during the season of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Continuing with this spiritual thread, partaking of decay can signify a wandering back into sin whether by false doctrine or the lusts of the flesh or both. Emissary Sha’ul warns that in the acharit-hayamim there will be people who will practice various sins, retaining the outer form of religion but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5). There are some who will attempt to appease their conscience and offset their sin by performing righteous acts, no doubt with an external motive. This may include congregation attendance, giving alms, participation in ministry or charitable works, or other religious acts. In Matthew 7:21-23, Yeshua warns that even those who do great works in His Name but practice lawlessness will be turned away. We can find this same problem recorded in the Tanakh as well: Yirmeyahu 7:9-10: First you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer to Ba’al and go after other gods that you haven’t known. Then you come and stand before Me in this house that bears My Name and say, “We are saved”---so that you can go on doing these abominations!
In conclusion, we see that the old but wise saying applies well to our discussion: “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” That is, don’t do things in the wrong order. Also, the horse and cart are a unit---so is love and obedience. Any form of legalism means that the horse is put into an unnatural position to push the cart. The nature of love does not push one into obedience; only punishment or the threat of it does that. Love’s goal is to pull, or rather attract one to desire obedience. Let’s put things in the right order and operate it correctly. If you need to see an example of a well set up horse and cart operating in perfect union, just read Psalm 119.
References: Gotquestions.org, The Complete Word Study Old Testament, copyright 1994 by AMG International,The Revell Bible Dictionary, copyright 1990 by Fleming H. Revell Company, The Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stearn
MRD
This week’s readings:
Date of reading: 28 April 2018/13 Iyyar 5778
Name of Par’shah: K’doshim (Holy People)
Par’shah: Vayikra 19:1-20:27
Haftara: ‘Amos 9:7-15; Yechezk’el 20:2-20
Brit Chadashah: Mattityahu 5:33-37, 5:43-48, 15:1-11, 19:16-30, 22:33-40; Mark 7:1-23, 12:28-34;
Luke 10:25-37; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13-26; Ya’akov 2:1-9; 1 Kefa 1:13-21
D’rash: Leviticus 19:5-8 When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to Adonai, offer it in a way that will make you accepted. It is to be eaten the same day you offer it and the following day; but if any of it remains until the third day, it is to be burned up completely. If any of it is eaten on the third day, it will have become a disgusting thing and will not be accepted; moreover, everyone who eats it will bear the consequences of profaning something holy meant for Adonai---that person will be cut off from his people.
The peace offering, also known as the fellowship offering, was a voluntary offering that was given for a blessing bestowed by G-d, in conjunction with a fulfilled vow, in an hour of great need, or as a free-will offering. It could be made following a sin offering to symbolize the restored fellowship that the worshiper had with G-d. The one sacrificing was to eat part of this offering as an expression of unhindered fellowship. If verse 5 is taken by itself without the context of the following verses, that is, to offer the sacrifice of peace offerings in a way that will be accepted, one could easily conclude that the foundation for acceptance is stated in Deuteronomy 6:4-5: Sh’ma, Yisra’el! Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad; and you are to love Adonai your G-d with all your heart, all your being and all your resources.
An example of a peace offering done in this righteous manner is found in 1 Samuel 1:1-2:10. Hannah, one of two wives of Elkanah, was barren and taunted severely for it from her rival. Hannah poured out her heart before Adonai asking for a son and vowing to give him back to Him for a lifetime of service. Adonai heard her cry and granted her request. One only needs to read her prayer of thanksgiving to G-d to see her deep love and appreciation for Him (1 Samuel 2:1-10). Though the peace offering is not directly mentioned, at least one of the three young bulls she brought to the Temple would be reserved for it. No doubt, there were no regrets when she fulfilled her vow to G-d, who eventually blessed her with three more sons and two daughters.
The second example reveals a peace offering that would be considered totally unacceptable. Proverbs chapter 7 describes an adulteress who uses religion as a bargaining chip for sin. Verses 13-15 gives a brief description of the larger picture: “She grabs him, gives him a kiss, and, brazen-faced, she says to him, ‘I had to offer peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today. This is why I came out to meet you, to look for you; now I have found you.’” Whether this literally happened or is considered an Hebraic teaching method to illustrate a useless and legalistic obedience to any of the Mitzvot, one thing is clear in this passage---there is no peace with Adonai and this kind of observance is an abomination to Him. This same idea is expressed in Yesha’yahu 1:11-15: “Why are all those sacrifices offered to Me?” asks Adonai. “I’m fed up with burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals! I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls, lambs and goats! Yes, you come to appear in My Presence; but who asked you to do this, to trample through My courtyards? Stop bringing worthless grain offerings! They are like disgusting incense to Me! Rosh-Hodesh, Shabbat, calling convocations---I can’t stand evil together with your assemblies! Everything in Me hates your Rosh-Hodesh and your festivals; they are a burden to Me---I’m tired of putting up with them! “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won’t be listening; because your hands are covered in blood. Here, G-d is not annulling His law regarding the sacrifices and appointed times as is generally believed. He is saying that evil simply cannot be practiced along with the Mitzvot and believe everything is alright.
Now back to our par’shah scripture. The peace offering could be eaten on the same day and the second day, but on the third day it was to be completely burned up. If any of it was eaten on that day it was considered disgusting and a profaning of something holy meant for Adonai, and that person would be cut off from his people. The word “disgusting” in the KJV is “abominable”, in Hebrew, Piggul (Strong’s 6292), which comes from an unused root meaning “to stink”. Therefore, it meant filth, what is putrefied, unclean, abominable. Likely, the sacrifice by the third day may have had the beginnings of decay. There is a strong parallel of this connected to the prophecy regarding Yeshua in Psalm 16:10: “…for You will not abandon Me to Sh’ol, You will not let Your Faithful One see the Abyss.” Immediately after the outpouring of the Ruach HaKodesh on the emissaries, Kefa confirms the fact of the risen Messiah by using this same scripture only being more specific, saying, “…that You will not abandon Me [Yeshua] to Sh’ol or let Your Holy One see decay” (Acts 2:27). Emissary Sha’ul uses the same interpretation in his teaching to the synagogue at Pisidian Antioch in Acts 27:35. So, if one partook of the peace offering on the third day, it was in complete opposition of the work of Adonai in raising Yeshua from the dead, the One who saw no decay. This same principle applies to abstaining from leaven, representing sin, which is a form of decay, during the season of Passover and Unleavened Bread. Continuing with this spiritual thread, partaking of decay can signify a wandering back into sin whether by false doctrine or the lusts of the flesh or both. Emissary Sha’ul warns that in the acharit-hayamim there will be people who will practice various sins, retaining the outer form of religion but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5). There are some who will attempt to appease their conscience and offset their sin by performing righteous acts, no doubt with an external motive. This may include congregation attendance, giving alms, participation in ministry or charitable works, or other religious acts. In Matthew 7:21-23, Yeshua warns that even those who do great works in His Name but practice lawlessness will be turned away. We can find this same problem recorded in the Tanakh as well: Yirmeyahu 7:9-10: First you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, offer to Ba’al and go after other gods that you haven’t known. Then you come and stand before Me in this house that bears My Name and say, “We are saved”---so that you can go on doing these abominations!
In conclusion, we see that the old but wise saying applies well to our discussion: “Don’t put the cart before the horse.” That is, don’t do things in the wrong order. Also, the horse and cart are a unit---so is love and obedience. Any form of legalism means that the horse is put into an unnatural position to push the cart. The nature of love does not push one into obedience; only punishment or the threat of it does that. Love’s goal is to pull, or rather attract one to desire obedience. Let’s put things in the right order and operate it correctly. If you need to see an example of a well set up horse and cart operating in perfect union, just read Psalm 119.
References: Gotquestions.org, The Complete Word Study Old Testament, copyright 1994 by AMG International,The Revell Bible Dictionary, copyright 1990 by Fleming H. Revell Company, The Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stearn
MRD
