1/25/2014

Parashat 19 Portion 64- Shemot 26:31-27:19 -Ezekiel 16:10-19- Hebrews 8:1-6


Blessing for the Torah Reading:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim,
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe, you have selected us from among all the peoples,and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH, giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)

As one reads this Torah portion one is struck by the separation that takes place with the construction of the Mishkan (Hebrew for Tabernacle).

This act of separation is deeply interwoven in YHVH’s creation and revealed in His redemption.
We see in the beginning the first thing that YHVH creates is light – Truth – so that a distinction can be made between night and day. The next act of creation was water – He then commands a separation of water in the heavens and water that covered the earth. Then there was a further separation between water and land. Then YHVH creates two separate kinds of animals – water animals and sky animals. Then YHVH creates animals to live on the earth -  kosher animals and non kosher animals. Then YHVH creates man – male and female.
YHVH’s separation is always meant to bring about perfect restoration.

Mankind has polluted and defiled themselves by creating their own patterns and rules of separation.
Religious people have set apart Sun..day as a day of worship as well as many other religious rituals and rules that they have chosen to separate themselves from others.
We see this tragically played out in all forms of religion and distinctions found in society amongst peoples.
There can be no more important issue in the universe than our being joined together with our Creator.
This Torah portion shows the pattern of separation that gets us back into the presence of YHVH and to be One with Him forever.

The Tabernacle or Mishkan gives us the pattern of being restored into perfect fellowhip with YHVH.
First we need to be grafted into Yisrael – The 12 tribes were camped around the tabernacle in the wilderness – see Rom 11 and Ephesians 2.

Then to enter into the courtyard of the tabernacle one had to be ritually clean - that is seperated from things which contaminate you. Many would first undergo a mikvah before entering into the courtyard. The mikvah (immersion) also speaks of a seperation which takes place on ones life.

At the brazen altar the circumcised Yisraelite would bring his offering according to the Torah of Korbanot (offerings)
The priests or Kohaniem would be  the only ones who could proceed further into the tabernacle with the required offerings and ritual cleaness as intercessors on behalf of individuals as well as for the nation of Yisrael.
The High Priest would only enter into the  most set apart place once a year on the day of Yom Kippur in the prescribed manner for atonement for himself and for the nation of Yisrael.

On the “Eighth day” Shemeni Atze ret or the beginning of the 8th millenium this tabernacle and later temple pattern will be done away with because its purpose would have been achieved – our unification with YHVH.
Mat 5:18  “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17.

The Torah shows the pattern and instruction of how our restoration with YHVH through Yahshua becomes reality. This will be achieved in His time and according to His Torah.

Our Torah portion begins:
Exo 26:31  “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, the work of a skilled workman, made with keruḇim.
Exo 26:32  “And you shall put it on the four columns of acacia wood overlaid with gold, their hooks of gold, upon four sockets of silver.
Exo 26:33  “And you shall hang the veil from the hooks, and shall bring the ark of the Witness there, behind the veil. And the veil shall make a separation for you between the Set-apart and the Most Set-apart Place.

The Hebrew word for separate is “badal” it is a hiphil verb meaning that it is a causative verb.

וְהִבְדִּילָה הַפָּרֹכֶת, לָכֶם, בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ, וּבֵין קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים.

The fact that this Hebrew word is a hiphil or causitve verb teaches us that by the power of the word of YHVH’s Torah all creation is brought into order and subjection. Yahshua – the Torah in the flesh was YHVH’s plan of bringing all things into perfect restoration with Himself.

Col 1:16  Because in Him were created all that are in the heavens and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or rulerships or principalities or authorities – all have been created through Him and for Him. (note- not by him)
Col 1:17  And He is before all, and in Him all hold together.
Col 1:18  And He is the Head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that He might become the One who is first in all.
Col 1:19  Because in Him all the completeness was well pleased to dwell,
Col 1:20  and through Him to completely restore to favour all unto Himself, whether on earth or in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of His stake.

Exo 26:34  “And you shall put the lid of atonement upon the ark of the Witness in the Most Set-apart Place. (another act of separating – the revelation is for an appointed time)
Exo 26:35  “And you shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the Dwelling Place toward the south, and put the table on the north side.
Exo 26:36  “And you shall make a covering for the door of the Tent, of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver.
Exo 26:37  “And you shall make for the covering five columns of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, their hooks of gold, and you shall cast five sockets of bronze for them.
Exo 27:1  “And you shall make an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide – the altar is square – and its height three cubits.
Exo 27:2  “And you shall make its horns on its four corners, its horns are of the same. And you shall overlay it with bronze.
Exo 27:3  “And you shall make its pots to receive its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its fire holders. Make all its utensils of bronze.
Exo 27:4  “And you shall make a grating for it, a bronze network, and shall make on the network four bronze rings at its four corners,
Exo 27:5  and shall put it under the rim of the altar beneath, so that the network is halfway up the altar.
Exo 27:6  “And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and shall overlay them with bronze.
Exo 27:7  “And the poles shall be put in the rings, and the poles shall be on the two sides of the altar for lifting it.
Exo 27:8  “Make it hollow with boards. As it was shown to you on the mountain, so they are to make it.
Exo 27:9  “And you shall make the courtyard of the Dwelling Place: for the south side screens for the courtyard made of fine woven linen, one hundred cubits long for one side,
Exo 27:10  and its twenty columns and their twenty sockets of bronze, the hooks of the columns and their bands of silver,
Exo 27:11  and so for the north side in length, screens one hundred cubits long, with its twenty columns and their twenty sockets of bronze, and the hooks of the columns and their bands of silver.
Exo 27:12  “And the width of the courtyard on the west side screens of fifty cubits, with their ten columns and their ten sockets.
Exo 27:13  “And the width of the courtyard on the east side fifty cubits.
Exo 27:14  “And the screens on one side of the gate fifteen cubits, with their three columns and their three sockets.
Exo 27:15  “And on the other side screens of fifteen cubits, with their three columns and their three sockets.
Exo 27:16  “And for the gate of the courtyard a covering twenty cubits long, of blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine woven linen, made by a weaver – four columns and four sockets.
Exo 27:17  “All the columns around the courtyard have bands of silver, their hooks silver and their sockets bronze.
Exo 27:18  “The length of the courtyard is one hundred cubits, and the width fifty by fifty, and the height five cubits, woven of fine linen thread, and its sockets of bronze.
Exo 27:19  “All the utensils of the Dwelling Place for all its service, all its pegs, and all the pegs of the courtyard, are bronze.


In the ancient tabernacle the sages called the outer court the way; the set apart place the truth and the most set apart place the LIFE. (John 14:6)
Today we know that only by following Yahshua can we get to the LIFE.

The only way to follow Yahshua is by death – separation of our old life to the new life of him dwelling in us

Col 3:3  For you have died, and your life has been hidden with Messiah in Elohim.
Col 3:4  When the Messiah, who is our life, is manifested, then you also shall be manifested with Him in esteem.
Col 3:5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: whoring, uncleanness, passion, evil desire and greed of gain, which is idolatry
Paul even died to the Torah.
Gal 2:19  “For through Torah I died to Torah,1 in order to live to Elohim. Footnote: 1See Rom. 7.

What Paul means here is that the Torah apart from the Ruach of YHVH is merely words written on stone. The Torah without the Ruach (Spirit) will only bring death and condemnation. The Torah without the Ruach will cause you to sin even more. Paul had died to his own understanding and attempts to keep the Torah as a means of establishing righteousness to having the revelation of the Ruach that in Messiah the Torah takes on its revelation of YHVH’s redemption and a life of perfect  liberty  in the Ruach. The Torah was meant to set us free not bind us.

Jas 1:25  But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom,1 and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah. Footnote: 1See 2:12.

Today I believe we must separate ourselves from both Christian and Jewish doctrines of men that obscure the true liberating life-giving teaching of the Torah as  revealed by Messiah and his messengers through the First and Second writings (Old and New Testament)

Gal 2:20  “I have been impaled with Messiah, and I no longer live, but Messiah lives in me.1 And that which I now live in the flesh I live by belief in the Son of Elohim, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Footnote: 1Rom. 8:10, 2 Cor. 6:16, 2 Cor. 13:5, Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:27, 1 John 4:4.
Let’s once again to turn to Paul who by the Ruach of YHVH explains to us what this Torah portion is really trying to teach us.
Isa 8:20  To the Torah and to the witness! If they do not speak according to this Word, it is because they have no daybreak1. Footnote: 1Or light

We will look at selected passages from the book of Hebrews chapters 8-10.

Heb 8:1  Now the summary of what we are saying is: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Greatness in the heavens,
Heb 8:2  and who serves in the set-apart place and of the true Tent, which יהוה set up, and not man.
Heb 8:3  For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and slaughters. So it was also necessary for this One to have somewhat to offer.
Heb 8:4  For if indeed He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Torah,
Heb 8:5  who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly, as Mosheh was warned when he was about to make the Tent. For He said, “See that you make all according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Heb 8:6  But now He has obtained a more excellent service, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was constituted on better promises.

This is not an anti Torah statement -  The better covenant or renewed covenant was that the Torah would be in our hearts – see Yer 31:31-33

This was YHVH’s intent all along. And from the beginning he told everyone it was his intent; it is part of The Shema itself:
Hear O Israel . . . these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. (Deuteronomy 6:4, 6)

And again,
You shall impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul. (Deuteronomy 11:18a)

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.

It is critical that we notice that the word “covenant” here is not in the original manuscript – it is written in italics and is an intended meaning.

The covenant or Torah is perfect – it has no fault.

Psa 19:7  The Torah of יהוה is perfect, bringing back the being; The witness of יהוה is trustworthy, making wise the simple;

The important terms of first and second are defined in the following chapter 9 – note once again the use of covenant in italics.

Heb 8:8  For finding fault(Gk “blaming”) with them,(note use of the plural - the first and second parts of the tabernacle) He says, “See, the days are coming,” says יהוה, “when I shall conclude with the house of Yisra’ĕl and with the house of Yehuḏah a renewed covenant,
Heb 8:9  not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Mitsrayim, because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them,” says יהוה.
Heb 8:10  “Because this is the covenant that I shall make with the house of Yisra’ĕl after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws in their mind, and I shall write them on their hearts, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.
Heb 8:11  “And they shall by no means teach each one his neighbour, and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know יהוה,’ because they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
Heb 8:12  “Because I shall forgive their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall no longer remember.”1 Footnote: 1Jer. 31:31-34, Heb. 10:16-17.
Heb 8:13  By saying, ‘renewed,’ He has made the first old. Now what becomes old and growing aged is near disappearing.
Heb 9:1  Now the first covenant indeed had regulations of worship and the earthly set-apart place.
Heb 9:2  For a Tent was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, and the table, and the showbread, which is called the Set-apart Place.
Heb 9:3  And after the second veil, the part of the Tent which is called Most Set-apart,
Heb 9:4  to which belonged the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that held the manna, and the rod of Aharon that budded, and the tablets of the covenant,
Heb 9:5  and above it the keruḇim of esteem were overshadowing the place of atonement – about which we do not now speak in detail.
Heb 9:6  And these having been prepared like this, the priests always went into the first part of the Tent, accomplishing the services.
Heb 9:7  But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for sins of ignorance of the people,1 Footnote: 1Num. 15:15-28.
Heb 9:8  the Set-apart Spirit signifying this, that the way into the Most Set-apart Place was not yet made manifest while the first Tent has a standing,
Heb 9:9  which was a parable for the present time in which both gifts and slaughters are offered which are unable to perfect the one serving, as to his conscience,
Heb 9:10  only as to foods and drinks, and different washings, and fleshly regulations imposed until a time of setting matters straight.
Heb 9:11  But Messiah, having become a High Priest of the coming good matters, through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,
Heb 9:12  entered into the Most Set-apart Place once for all, not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood, having obtained everlasting redemption.
Heb 9:13  For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the flesh,
Heb 9:14  how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?
Heb 9:15  And because of this He is the Mediator of a renewed covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called might receive the promise of the everlasting inheritance.
Heb 9:16  For where a covenant is, it is necessary for the death of the covenanted one to be established.
Heb 9:17  For a covenant over those dead is firm, since it is never valid while the covenanted one is living.
Heb 9:18  Therefore not even the first covenant was instituted without blood.
Heb 9:19  For when, according to Torah, every command had been spoken by Mosheh to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
Heb 9:20  saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which Elohim commanded you.”
Heb 9:21  And in the same way he sprinkled with blood both the Tent and all the vessels of the service.
Heb 9:22  And, according to the Torah, almost all is cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Heb 9:23  It was necessary, then, that the copies of the heavenly ones should be cleansed with these, but the heavenly ones themselves with better slaughter offerings than these.
Heb 9:24  For Messiah has not entered into a Set-apart Place made by hand – figures of the true – but into the heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of Elohim on our behalf,
Heb 9:25  not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters into the Set-apart Place year by year with blood not his own.
Heb 9:26  For if so, He would have had to suffer often, since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the offering of Himself.
Heb 9:27  And as it awaits men to die once, and after this the judgment,
Heb 9:28  so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to those waiting for Him, unto deliverance.
Heb 10:1  For the Torah, having a shadow of the good matters to come, and not the image itself of the matters, was never able to make perfect those who draw near with the same slaughter offerings which they offer continually year by year.
Heb 10:2  Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? Because those who served, once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
Heb 10:3  But in those offerings is a reminder of sins year by year.
Heb 10:4  For it is impossible for blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Heb 10:5  Therefore, coming into the world, He says, “Slaughtering and meal offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.
Heb 10:6  “In burnt offerings and offerings for sin You did not delight.1 Footnote: 1Ps. 40:6, 7.
Heb 10:7  “Then I said, ‘See, I come – in the roll of the book it has been written concerning Me – to do Your desire, O Elohim.’ ”
Heb 10:8  Saying above, “Slaughter and meal offering, and burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor delighted in,” which are offered according to the Torah,
Heb 10:9  then He said, “See, I come to do Your desire, O Elohim.” He takes away the first to establish the second.
Heb 10:10  By that desire we have been set apart through the offering of the body of יהושע Messiah once for all.
Heb 10:11  And indeed every priest stands day by day doing service, and repeatedly offering the same slaughter offerings which are never able to take away sins.
Heb 10:12  But He, having offered one slaughter offering for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of Elohim,
Heb 10:13  waiting from that time onward until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet.
Heb 10:14  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being set apart.
Heb 10:15  And the Set-apart Spirit also witnesses to us, for after having said before,
Heb 10:16  “This is the covenant that I shall make with them after those days, says יהוה, giving My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I shall write them,”1 Footnote: 1Jer. 31:33, Heb. 8:8-12.
Heb 10:17  and, “Their sins and their lawlessnesses I shall remember no more.”
Heb 10:18  Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer a slaughter offering for sin.
Heb 10:19  So, brothers, having boldness to enter into the Set-apart Place by the blood of יהושע,
Heb 10:20  by a new and living way which He instituted for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Heb 10:21  and having a High Priest over the House of Elohim,
Heb 10:22  let us draw near with a true heart in completeness of belief, having our hearts sprinkled from a wicked conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.
Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the confession of our expectation without yielding, for He who promised is trustworthy.
Heb 10:24  And let us be concerned for one another in order to stir up love and good works,1 Footnote: 1Mt. 16:27.
Heb 10:25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging, and so much more as you see the Day coming near.
Heb 10:26  For if we sin purposely after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a slaughter offering for sins,1 Footnote: 1See also 6:6, Heb. 9:7, Num. 15:15-28.
Heb 10:27  but some fearsome anticipation of judgment, and a fierce fire which is about to consume the opponents.
Heb 10:28  Anyone who has disregarded the Torah of Mosheh dies without compassion on the witness of two or three witnesses.
Heb 10:29  How much worse punishment do you think shall he deserve who has trampled the Son of Elohim underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as common, and insulted the Spirit of favour?
Heb 10:30  For we know Him who has said, “Vengeance is Mine, I shall repay, says יהוה.” And again, “יהוה shall judge His people.”
Heb 10:31  It is fearsome to fall into the hands of the living Elohim.
Heb 10:32  But remember the former days, when, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings.
Heb 10:33  On the one hand you were exposed to reproaches and pressures, and on the other hand you became sharers with those who were so treated,
Heb 10:34  for you sympathised with me in my chains, and you accepted with joy the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have a better and a lasting possession for yourselves in the heavens.
Heb 10:35  Do not, then, lose your boldness, which has great reward.
Heb 10:36  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the desire of Elohim, you receive the promise:
Heb 10:37  “For yet a little while – He who is coming shall come and shall not delay.”
Heb 10:38  “But the righteous shall live by belief, but if anyone draws back, my being has no pleasure in him.”
Heb 10:39  But we are not of those who draw back to destruction, but of belief to the preservation of life.

Yahshua did not come to do away with the Torah and the priesthood but came to elevate it as it served to show that he the Messiah would bring all things to perfection.
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-‘Olam, asher natan lanu Toraht-emet, v’chay-yeh o’lam nata-b’tochenu. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”

(Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Ameyn

Please note these notes are under construction and are subject to correction and are in no way a final authority on any subject.