Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah.
Whenever
people suppress the truth of YHVH’s Torah there will be all kinds of
manifestations of perverted human behavior. Restoration of His Kingdom will
only be able to truly begin after the death (Acherei-Mot) of a current corrupt
‘’priesthood’’ teaching and proclaiming such falsehoods.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against
all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness, Rom
1:19 because that which is known of Elohim is manifest among them, for
Elohim has manifested it to them. Rom 1:24 Therefore Elohim gave
them up to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts, to disrespect their bodies
among themselves, Rom 1:25 who changed the truth of Elohim into the
falsehood, and worshipped and served what was created rather than the Creator,
who is blessed forever. Aměn. (religion is created by man)Rom 1:26
Because of this Elohim gave them over to degrading passions. For even their
women exchanged natural relations for what is against nature,
Rom 1:27 and
likewise, the men also, having left natural relations with woman, burned in
their lust for one another, men with men committing indecency, and receiving
back the reward which was due for their straying. Rom 1:31 without
discernment, covenant breakers, unloving, unforgiving, ruthless;
Rom 1:32 who, though they know the righteousness of Elohim, that those who practise such deserve death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practise them
כמעשׂה ארץ מצרים – ‘’like the deeds of the land of Egypt’’
Lev 18:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev
18:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl,
and say to them, ‘I am יהוה
your Elohim.
Lev
18:3 ‘Do not do as they do in the land
of Mitsrayim, (כמעשׂה ארץ מצרים)where
you dwelt. And do not do as they do in the land of Kenaʽan, where I am bringing
you, and do not walk in their laws.
Lev
18:4 ‘Do My right-rulings and guard My
laws, to walk in them. I am יהוה your Elohim.
Lev
18:5 ‘And you shall guard My laws and My
right-rulings, which a man does and lives by them. I am יהוה.
Lev 18:6 ‘No one is to approach (draw near to expose yourself) anyone of his own flesh (or flesh of his flesh) to uncover his nakedness. I am יהוה. (ie show some respect)
ו אִישׁ אִישׁ אֶל-כָּל-שְׁאֵר בְּשָׂרוֹ, לֹא תִקְרְבוּ לְגַלּוֹת עֶרְוָה: אֲנִי, יְהוָה.
Men are addressed first ‘’ish, ish’’ and so righteous men have the primary responsibility of ensuring sexual purity within the camp of Israel.
Lev
18:7 ‘The nakedness of your father or
the nakedness of your mother you do not uncover. She is your mother, you do not
uncover her nakedness. See Gen 9:22-24 Ham uncovering his fathers nakedness.
Lev
18:8 ‘The nakedness of your father’s
wife you do not uncover, it is your father’s nakedness.
Lev
18:9 ‘The nakedness of your sister, the
daughter of your father, or the daughter of your mother, whether born at home
or elsewhere, their nakedness you do not uncover.
Lev
18:10 ‘The nakedness of your son’s
daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you do not uncover, for
theirs is your own nakedness.
Lev
18:11 ‘The nakedness of your father’s
wife’s daughter, brought forth by your father, she is your sister, you do not
uncover her nakedness.
Lev
18:12 ‘The nakedness of your father’s
sister you do not uncover, she is your father’s flesh.
Lev
18:13 ‘The nakedness of your mother’s
sister you do not uncover, for she is your mother’s flesh.
Lev
18:14 ‘The nakedness of your father’s
brother you do not uncover, you do not approach his wife, she is your aunt.
Lev
18:15 ‘The nakedness of your
daughter-in-law you do not uncover, she is your son’s wife, you do not uncover
her nakedness.
Lev
18:16 ‘The nakedness of your brother’s
wife you do not uncover, it is your brother’s nakedness.
Lev
18:17 ‘The nakedness of a woman and her
daughter you do not uncover, nor do you take her son’s daughter or her
daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are her relatives – it is
wickedness.
Lev
18:18 ‘And do not take a woman as a
rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
Lev
18:19 ‘And do not approach a woman to
uncover her nakedness in her monthly separation of uncleanness.
Lev
18:20 ‘And do not have intercourse with
the wife of your neighbour, to defile yourself with her.
Lev
18:21 ‘And do not give any of your
offspring to pass through to Moleḵ. And do not profane the Name of your
Elohim. I am יהוה.
Lev
18:22 ‘And do not lie with a male as
with a woman, it is an abomination.
Lev
18:23 ‘And do not have intercourse with
any beast, to defile yourself with it. And a woman does not stand before a
beast to mate with it, it is a perversion.
Lev
18:24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with all
these, for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am driving out before
you.
Lev
18:25 ‘Thus the land became defiled,
therefore I punished it for its crookedness, and the land vomited out its
inhabitants.
Lev
18:26 ‘But you, you shall guard My laws
and My right-rulings, and not do any of these abominations, the native nor
stranger who sojourns among you,
Lev
18:27 because the men of the land who
were before you have done all these abominations, and thus the land became
defiled,
Lev
18:28 ‘So let not the land vomit you out
for defiling it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
Lev
18:29 ‘For whoever does any of these
abominations, those beings who do them shall be cut off from among their
people.
Lev
18:30 ‘And you shall guard My Charge, so
as not to do any of these abominable practices which were done before you, so
as not to defile yourselves by them. I am יהוה
your Elohim.’”
So, why did
incest become such a problem? Because the ‘’seed’’ of man had become corrupted.
How was the seed of man corrupted? Through the introduction of a ‘’mixed’ seed.
Gen 6:1
And it came to be, when men began to increase on the face of the earth, and
daughters were born to them,
Gen 6:2 that the sons of Elohim
saw the daughters of men, that they were good. And they took wives for
themselves of all whom they chose. Gen 6:3 And יהוה said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever in his going
astray. He is flesh, and his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of Elohim came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, the men of name. Gen 6:5 And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Gen 6:6 And יהוה was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
Gen 3:15 “And I put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed.b He shall crush your head, and you shall crush His heel.” Footnote: bFirst promise of the Messiah.
Religion
and especially Christianity has entrenched and nourished this ‘’corrupt seed’’
for the past 2000 years. Consider the destruction the Roman Catholic church
introduced into society through their laws on celibacy. The Protestant movement
don’t have any moral high ground on this issue either. (Recently the pope announced
a blessing on same sex marriages – the protestants are equally guilty)
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of Elohim is revealed from heaven against all wickedness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, Rom 1:19 because that which is known of Elohim is manifest among them, for Elohim has manifested it to them.
This has been the sad history of YHVH’s people until this day.
Eze 22:1 And the
word of יהוה came
to me, saying, Eze 22:2 “And now, son of
man, judge, judge the city of blood! And you shall show her all her
abominations!
Eze 22:8 “You have despised that which is set-apart to
Me, and you have profaned My Sabbaths.
Eze 22:10 “In you they have uncovered the nakedness of a father. In you they have humbled women who are defiled during their uncleanness. Eze 22:11 “And the one has done abomination with his neighbour’s wife. And another has wickedly defiled his daughter-in-law. And another within you has humbled his sister, his father’s daughter. Eze 22:31 “Therefore I have poured out My displeasure on them, I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath. And I have put their way on their own head,” declares the Master יהוה.
Returning
to the truth and instruction given by the Torah regarding human sexuality is
essential in bringing about the ‘’restoration of all things’’.
In this regard this Torah portion instructs us on what is forbidden sexual conduct but is silent on what is ‘’allowed’’. This puts a great responsibility on spiritual leaders to guide YHVH’s flock regarding this critical issue. It is very evident judging the present moral condition of the world and of YHVH’s people that these leaders have miserably failed and even contributed themselves to the moral crisis that humanity finds itself in at this present time.
Sadly, today many have composed their own lists of what is sexually
forbidden. In doing so they exalt their own authority over that of YHVH’s Word.
Sexual activity was meant to take place between
a man and a woman who are committed to each other in a way that reflects YHVH’s
desire to establish covenantal life on earth and that will bring honour to His
Name.
Many people experience sexual frustration and guilt because of the way
their sexuality is conducted and expressed. Couples were meant to minister to
one another in such a way that a wonderful sexual fulfilment would result in a
drawing closer to one another and the One who created our sexuality. The very
first instruction YHVH gave man was to ‘’have sex’’ - Gen 1:27 And
Elohim created the man in His image, in the image of Elohim He created him –
male and female He created them. Gen 1:28 And Elohim blessed them,
and Elohim said to them, “Be fruitful and increase, (ie sexual
intercourse) and fill the earth and subdue it…..
YHVH invented sexual intercourse, not Hollywood.
It is significant to note that without hesitation the sages tell us that
the most set apart book in the ‘’Tenach’’ (Old Testament) is the “Song of
Songs” where through the use of Hebrew imagery sexual intimacy is expressed in
the most explicit of ways. Many of these sages believe the Song of Songs is an
allegory* of YHVH’s desire for His people Israel and Israels response to YHVH.
Regarding this ‘’explicit’’ description of human sexuality conservative
Christian commentator, Adam Clarke, wrote: There are many passages in it which
should not be explained. ... the references being too delicate; and Eastern
phraseology on such subjects is too vivid.... Let any sensible and pious
medical man read over this book, and, if at all acquainted with Asiatic
phraseology, say whether it would be proper, even in medical language, to
explain all the descriptions and allusions in this poem.
*Definition of ‘’allegory’’ it is a story, poem, or picture that can be
interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or spiritual one.
‘’Religious and depraved’’ men continue to
hold the view that it was a ‘’mistake’’ to include the book of the ‘’Song of
Songs’’ into the ‘Biblical canon’’, they conclude that it was a song sung by
‘’lewd’’ and drunk men in taverns in ancient times.
Mankind’s struggle to ‘’cover up’’ their sexual ‘’awkwardness’’ began in the garden of Eden after their fall.
Fig leaves are not the most comfortable means of concealing your genitals.
This ‘’awkwardness ’prevails
and man still pursues ‘’awkward’’ ways in concealing his sexual behaviour. (the
message of this week’s Torah portion) Incest also remains one of the ‘’big
secret sins’’.
Recent reports
indicate that one in two South African children have experienced some form of
sexual abuse before the age of 18, says Joan van Niekerk, national coordinator
of Childline, an organisation that assists children who have experienced abuse.
Tragically most cases
of abuse go unreported. The full extent of statistics therefore remains
unrecorded.
According to
Childline, the notion of "stranger danger" is misleading. People
often think that children are only abused by strangers, but sometimes the
person who abuses children is a friend of the parents or a family member.
In recent years in
Israel, certain haredi (ultraorthodox) Sephardi rabbis have
pressured the Chief Rabbinate to lift the ban on polygyny for Sephardi men
because of sexual sin. This is not a fringe group of rabbis: former
Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yoseph was their leader until his death in 2013.
Today, Yoseph’s disciples have founded an organization Habayit Hayehudi
Hashalem (the Complete Jewish Home) which continues to advocate
that all Sephardi men — who are childless and economically able — be
allowed to marry a second wife.
Regarding human
sexuality, it is time for believers to ‘’face the music’’ or suffer the
consequences of our disobedience and ignorance regarding this issue.
Eze 16:44 “See, all who use
proverbs shall use this proverb against you, ‘Like mother, like
daughter!’
Eze 16:45 “You are your mother’s
daughter, who despises her husband and her children. And you are the sister of
your sisters, who despised their husbands and their children. Your mother was a
Ḥittite and your father an Amorite. Eze 16:46 “And your elder sister
is Shomeron, she and her daughters, who is dwelling to the north of you. And
your younger sister, who is dwelling to the south of you, is Seḏom and her
daughters.
Eze 16:47 “And have you not
walked in their ways and did according to their abominations? But in all
your ways you soon became more corrupt than they. Eze 16:48 “As
I live,” declares the Master יהוה,
“neither your sister Seḏom nor her daughters have done as you and your
daughters have done. Eze 16:49 “See, this was the crookedness of
your sister Seḏom: She and her daughter had pride, sufficiency of bread, and
unconcerned ease. And she did not help the poor and needy. Eze 16:50
“And they were haughty and did abomination before Me, and I took them away when
I saw it. Eze 16:51 “And Shomeron (northern 10 tribes)did not commit
half of your sins, but you have increased your abominations more than they, and
by all the abominations which you have done you made your sisters seem
righteous! Eze 16:52 “You also, who pleaded for your sisters, bear
your own shame, because the sins which you committed were more abominable than
theirs. They are more righteous than you. So be ashamed too, and bear your own
shame, because you have made your sisters seem righteous. Eze 16:53
“And I shall turn back their captivity, the captivity of Seḏom and her
daughters, and the captivity of Shomeron and her daughters, and the captivity
of your captives with them,
Eze 16:54 so that you bear your
shame, and shall blush for all that you did when you comforted them,
Eze 16:55 “and your sisters, Seḏom
and her daughters, return to their former state, and Shomeron and her daughters
return to their former state, and you and your daughters return to your former
state.
Eze 16:56 “Was not your sister Seḏom
a byword in your mouth in the days of your pride,
Eze 16:57 before your evil was
exposed, as the time of the reproach of the daughters of Aram and all who were
around her, and of the daughters of the Philistines, who are despising you
everywhere?
Eze 16:58 “You shall bear your
wickedness and your abominations,” declares יהוה.
YHVH's Everlasting Covenant
Eze 16:59 For thus said the Master
יהוה, “I shall deal with you as you have done,
in that you have despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Eze
16:60 “But I shall remember My covenant with you in the days of your
youth, and I shall establish an everlasting covenant with you. Eze
16:61 “And you shall remember your ways and be ashamed, when you receive
your older and your younger sisters. And I shall give them to you for
daughters, though not by your own covenant. Eze 16:62 “And I Myself
shall establish My covenant with you. And you shall know that I am יהוה, Eze 16:63 so that you
remember. And you shall be ashamed, and never open your mouth any more because
of your shame, when I pardon you for all you have done,” declares the Master
יהוה.’ ”
Mat 10:14 “And whoever does not
receive you nor hear your words, when you leave that house or city, shake off
the dust from your feet. Mat 10:15 “Truly, I say to you, it shall be
more bearable for the land of Seḏom and Amorah in the day of judgment than for
that city! Mat 11:23 “And you, Kephar Naḥum, who were exalted to
the heaven, shall be brought down to She’ol!b Isa_14:13 and Isa_14:15.
Because if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Seḏom, it would
have remained until this day. Footnote: bSee Explanatory Notes - She’ol. Mat
11:24 “But I say to you that it shall be more bearable for the land of Seḏom
in the day of judgment than for you.”
1Pe 4:17 Because it is time for judgment to begin from the House of Elohim. And if firstly from us, what is the end of those who do not obey the Good News of Elohim? 1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where shall the wicked and the sinner appear? Pro_11:31.
The
Parable of the Two Sons
Mat
21:28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the
first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’
Mat
21:29 “And he answering, said, ‘I do not wish to,’ but afterwards he
repented and went.
Mat
21:30 “And having come to the second, he said similarly. And he
answering, said, ‘I go, master,’ but he did not go.
Mat
21:31 “Which of the two did the desire of the father?” They said to Him,
“The first.” יהושע
said to them, “Truly, I say to you that tax collectors and whores are entering
into the reign of Elohim before you,
Mat 21:32 for Yoḥanan came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but tax collectors and whores believed him. And when you saw it, you did not repent afterwards, to believe him.
It is time to ‘’face the music’’ this is more serious than we realize - we have all sinned and fallen short of YHVH’s Esteem regarding these matters – there is still time to repent and receive mercy and times of refreshing from our Master.
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