Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
WEEKLY PARASHA
Parasha # 33: B'chukkotai (By my regulations) 26:3-27:34
Haftarah: Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 16:19-17:14
B’rit Hadashah: Yochanan (John) 14:15-21; 15: 10-12; 1 Yochanan (1 John)
Parsha:
This week's Parsha tells us about the blessings and curses we bring upon ourselves determined by our response to YHVH's Torah. It begins on a positive note. YHVH tells Israel that He will bestow blessing upon the nation if they will but follow and keep His commandments. However, if they will not listen to Him and keep His commandments He will punish the nation.
If you look closely you will see a connection between the blessings and the punishments. Israel would either follow YHVH and live in peace in a Land of milk and honey or they could stray from His path following their own evil inclinations and live in fear in a barren land.
Midway through the punishments YHVH tells the people, "And if (with all these punishments going on) you walk with Me casually, then I will increase the punishment for your sins seven-fold" (26:21). What could the people have done to get seven-times more punishment? Are there worst sins than not walking in YHVH's ways? Is walking casually worse than walking arrogantly or not walking in His way at all?
Rashi explains that the Hebrew word Keri, "casual" carries the implication of "by chance." This suggests that while all these curses are occurring the people carry on casualty as though everything that is happening is by chance and not by the hand of YHVH. They don't relate their troubles as a warning from YHVH. YHVH doesn't even come into the picture.
In Judaism there should believe that there is no coincidences. As long as you believe that YHVH interacts in this world and with you personally, there cannot be chance because YHVH Elohim controls the world.
So why are these people going to be punished with curses that are seven times worse than those already befallen them? Because in not seeing the Hand of YHVH Elohim in what is happening to them, B'nai Yisrael lost her chance to repent. And without repentance and the realization that you have done something wrong, there is no hope for forgiveness and blessing.
That is why in this Parsha we see and YHVH points out that even if the punishments come, you can still eventually receive the blessings as long as you don't walk casually with YHVH Elohim and ignore His role and Torah in this world.
Halftarah Connection: Yermeyahu (Jeremiah) 16:19-17:14
In the Parsha YHVH tells us if we follow His path we will be blessed. However, if we fail to do so we will be punished.
Our Halftarah emphasizes the reward for following in YHVH's path by comparing a man to a tree. If we put our trust in people, we will be like a tree in the desert, always wondering how it will get some water. However, if we put our trust in YHVH, we will be like a tree by the river, never fearing where its water will come from even during a drought.
B’rit Chadasha
Yochanan (John) 14:15-21: 15: 10-12; 1Yochanan (1 John)
I want to start a verse earlier in the text and will not cover all the text for lack of time.
John 14: (V.14) "If you ask me for something in my name, I will do it." The word "me" is missing in many later translations of the New Testament, as it was not in the original scrolls. The translations employing "me" were supplied because translators thought there was convincing evidence in the manuscript to include it. Since then even those translators whose translation underlie the KJV, omit it. The first concern is was Yahshua intention to mean “ask the Father” and not Himself. Aside from that, if you include "me" it creates a "Jewish problem," because it makes it appear that people should "Pray to "Jesus", and not to YHVH." This goes against the doctrine that prayer should be to YHVH alone. In the same manner the translation of Yahshua (YHVH Saves) to "Jesus," Greek Iesous meaning savior, makes it appear that "Jesus" saves and not YHVH.
Elsewhere, we see that Yahshua taught His followers to pray to YHVH (16:23; Matthew 6:9). Even if we receive the text with "me" included as correct, Midrash on this verse might conclude that it really does not present a contradiction because Yahshua has taught that He is One with the Father, who is living in Him and doing His work through Him (vv. 10-11). Then petitioning Yahshua is similar to petitioning the Father because they are ONE, and because the Son is the divine agent of the Father He may be addressed in prayer. Certainly, we can correctly address our prayers of repentance to Yahshua Who is our Cohen Gadol and Who represents us to the Father in the High Priestly office as Aaronic priest hood did in ancient Israel. Nevertheless, there is a condition for YHVH to hear prayers of petition since YHVH is not obligated to hear the prayers of sinners (Isaiah 59:1-2 quoted in Romans 3:23). So, what am I saying to you? First, seek forgiveness through Yahshua and then you may address YHVH directly for your petition for if He is to hear it, we must be reconciled first before He alone may grant a petition..
In verse 15 Yahshua says, "If you love me, you will keep my commands." Again, let me reiterate, Yahshua is Echad with YHVH and therefore cannot command something contrary to YHVH's Torah, in fact He is the Living Torah. It is wrong to think of Christianity or even Messianic Judaism as something "easy" requiring only pleasant feelings of professed love, but no actions to prove it. Again and again I refer you to the seven-fold witness in Revelations of trusting Yahshua, and obeying Torah as the definition of a true worshipper. Dake's Annotated Reference Bible lists 1,050 New Testament commands, which according to this verse are to be obeyed by those who love Yahshua. Read them and see that the Torah is to be obeyed as well and pointing out to us additional elements inherent to that obedience. No longer is only the physical act of adultery a sin, but in addition, even the desire to commit adultery is a sin. If you open your minds to the truth you will see that both the OT and the NT are both based upon Love and Law, mercy and justice. It has always been so and shall always be so.
V 16 -17 promises the Ruach HaKodesh for all believers. The Greek word, "parakletos" means literally "one called alongside " but infers a "counselor, comforter, exhorter," something like a loving spouse wouldn’t you say? This is an astounding concept for Jewish people for in the OT we see that the Ruach HaKodesh was given only to a selected few. Also we read where they had the Ruach "with" or "upon" them, and not "in" them. Moshe and the seventy elders, Gideon, Samson, King Saul, David having the Ruach HaKodesh "with" or "upon" them and even fewer of having the Ruach HaKodesh "in" them: Joseph (Genesis 41:38) and Betzal'el (Exodus 31:3). This is something to think about.
Wisdom:
"Five of you will chase 100, and 100 of you will chase 10,000." (26:8)
YHVH tells B'nai Yisrael that they will destroy their enemies. The math doesn't make sense. If five chase 100, 100 should only be able to chase 2,000, not 10,000. This demonstrates to us how people can draw strength from each other. If there are five people, each one will only be able to chase 20. But if you have 1200 working together and giving each other strength to and support than each person will be able to chase 100 people.
"These are the laws and the Torot that YHVH gave to Moshe." (26:46)
The Sages claim that this sentence justifies the Oral Torah. They say that the word Torot, the plural of the word Torah, is used here in order to let us know that there were two Torahs given to Moshe. The Written everyone can read for himself and the Oral law although passed down from generation to generation is no less important that the written. For without the oral the written cannot be understood. Of course, I disagree with this because Yahshua and Sha'ul both spoke against the Oral Torah where it conflicted with YHVH's written Torah. Having an Oral Torah, which is basically a commentary of Written Torah, regarded, as equal in weight to YHVH's Word is patently dangerous. It becomes the vehicle whereby we seek guidance to obey YHVH's Torah instead of the Written Word itself.
Think about this:
1. Why are there so few blessing compared to the amount of curses in our Parsha? What does this show us about the power of blessings?
2. At the end of the curses, YHVH says that He will remember His covenant with Yaacov, Yitzhak, and Avraham. Since Avraham was our first forefather shouldn't the order be reversed?
3. Why are there specific values worth of people? Why not leave it up to the courts to decide the value of someone based on his or her worth in the community?
Gematria:
V'natati Mishkani b'tohahem," "And I will place My Sanctuary within you." (26:11)
The Hebrew word Mishkan, "Sanctuary," has a numerical value of 420. This represents the 420 years that the Second Temple existed.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Davis (R. Milchamah b. David)