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.
The previous Torah portion addresses all of Yisael, this Torah portion addresses the Levitical priests or ‘’kohanim’’
Lev 21:1 And יהוה
said to Mosheh, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aharon, and say(share My
heart) to them: ‘No one is to be defiled for the dead among his people,
א וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה,
אֱמֹר אֶל-הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן; וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, לְנֶפֶשׁ לֹא-יִטַּמָּא
בְּעַמָּיו. 1 And YHVH said unto
Moshe: Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them: There shall
none defile himself for the soul (nefesh)
among his people;
We assume that this applies to dead people, however the word
death (Heb. “Mut”) is not used. We may thus assume this implies that we must
not allow ourselves to be contaminated by others.
Rom 5:12 For this
reason, even as through one man sin did enter into the world, and death through
sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned – (sin defiles, sin
brings death)
How is the ‘’nefesh’’ of a ‘’Cohen’’ defiled? When he comes
into contact with anyone who undermines or hinders him from carrying out his
calling and duties as a priest before YHVH – Mat 10:36
Rev 3:1 “And to the
messenger of the assembly in Sardis write, ‘He who has the seven Spirits of
Elohim and the seven stars, says this, “I know your works, that you have a name
that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rev 3:2 “Wake up, and
strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works
complete before Elohim.
2Jn 1:11 for he who greets him shares in his wicked works.
Lev 21:2 except for
his relatives who are nearest to him: for his mother, and for his father, and
for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother;
Lev 21:3 and for his
maiden sister who is near to him, who has had no husband – for her he is defiled.
(Heb ‘’yitama’’)
Lev 21:4 ‘A leader does not defile himself among his people, to profane himself; (Heb ‘’chalal’’)
Man was not created to die. All sin defiles and is causing
this present world to spiral out of control until it is destroyed.
Col 1:24 who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in Messiah’s afflictions, for the sake of His Body, which is the assembly,
While there is no priesthood and temple we are called to bear the sin of others.
2Co 4:12 so that
death indeed is working in us, but the life in you.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by works of Torah no flesh shall be declared right before Him, Psa_143:2 for by the Torah is the knowledge of sin.b Footnote: b Exo_20:20, Rom_4:15, Rom_7:7.
Lev 21:5 they do not make any bald place on their heads, and they do not shave the corner of their beard, and they do not make a cutting in their flesh – see also 19:28 – Lev 19:28 ‘And do not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor put tattoo marks on you. I am יהוה.
http://www.cogwriter.com/tattoos-and-the-bible.htm
Lev 21:6 ‘They are set-apart to their Elohim and do not profane the Name of their Elohim, for they bring the offerings of יהוה made by fire, and the bread of their Elohim, and shall be set-apart.
Lev 21:7 ‘They do not
take a woman who is a whore or a defiled woman, and they do not take a woman
put away from her husband, for he is set-apart to his Elohim.
Lev 21:8 ‘And you
shall set him apart, for he brings the bread of your Elohim, he is set-apart to
you. For I, יהוה, setting you apart, am set-apart.
Lev 21:9 ‘And when
the daughter of any priest profanes herself by whoring, she profanes her
father. She is burned with fire.
Lev 21:10 ‘And the
high priest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing (Heb – ‘’mishcha’’)
oil was poured and who is ordained to wear the garments, does not unbind his
head nor tear his garments, (Mark 14: 63)
Lev 21:11 nor come
near any dead body,(Heb ‘’nefshot met’’) nor defile himself for his father or
his mother,
Lev 21:12 nor go out of the set-apart place, nor profane the set-apart place of his Elohim, for the sign of dedication of the anointing(‘’mishchah’’) oil of his Elohim is upon him. I am יהוה.
In the book of Baruch, chapter 6:31, the priests of Babylon are represented sitting in their temples, with their clothes rent, and their heads and beards shaven, and having nothing upon their heads.” (Clarke)
This may be the reason Muslims have made a grave yard outside the eastern gate of the old city of Yerushalayim.)
Lev 21:13 ‘And let
him take a wife in her maidenhood. (High priest)
Lev 21:14 ‘A widow or
one put away or a defiled woman or a whore – these he does not take. But a
maiden(Heb ‘’betulah’’) of his own
people he does take as a wife.
Lev 21:15 ‘And he
does not profane his offspring among his people, for I am יהוה, who sets him
apart.’ ”
Lev 21:16 And יהוה
spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 21:17 “Speak to Aharon,
saying, ‘No man of your offspring throughout their generations, who has any
defect, is to draw near to bring the bread of his Elohim.
Lev 21:18 ‘For any
man who has a defect is not to draw near: a man blind or one lame or disfigured
or deformed,
Lev 21:19 a man who
has a broken foot or broken hand,
Lev 21:20 or is a
hunchback or a dwarf, or a man who has a defect in his eye, or eczema or scab,
or is a eunuch.
Lev 21:21 ‘No man
among the offspring of Aharon the priest, who has a defect, is to come near to
bring the offerings made by fire to יהוה – he has a defect, he does not come
near to bring the bread of his Elohim.
Lev 21:22 ‘He does
eat the bread of his Elohim, both the most set-apart and the set-apart,
Lev 21:23 only, he
does not go near the veil or approach the altar, because he has a defect, lest
he profanes My set-apart places. For I am יהוה, who sets them apart.’ ”
Lev 21:24 Thus Mosheh spoke to Aharon and his sons, and to all the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Midrash:
Isa 66:21 “And from them too I shall take for priests (kohanim)– for Lĕwites,” declares יהוה.
What did Yahshua mean when he said - Luk 9:59 And He said to another, “Follow Me,” but he said, “Master, let me first go and bury my father.”
Luk 9:60 And יהושע
said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and announce the
reign of Elohim.” ?
We should also consider that the instructions regarding the role of the Levites will continue until the end of the millennium.
1. Yahshua said that not a jot or a tittle will pass from
the Torah until heaven and earth pass away and all is accomplished (Matthew
5:17-19). According to Revelation 21:1-4, heaven and earth won’t pass away
until there is no more crying, mourning, pain, and death. Since we still have
crying, mourning, pain, and death, it follows logically that nothing from the
Torah has passed away. Indeed, Yahshua lived and taught the Torah throughout
His ministry. Yahshua even instructed people to give offerings at the Temple
(Mark 1:40-45). And Paul participated in the Temple services when he took a
Nazarite vow, which requires an offering (Acts 21:20-16).
2. In addition to the references in the New Testament
indicating a continuation of the Temple services and sacrifices, most believers
acknowledge the reality that a future earthly priesthood, Temple, Levites, and
animal sacrifices will be reinstituted in the millennial kingdom (Ezekiel
40-48; Zechariah 14:20-21). Indeed, YHVH declared that His covenant with the
Levitical priesthood can never be broken, just as His covenant that says David
will always have a son—that is Yahshua, the son of David (Matthew 15:22; Mark
10:47)—to reign on his throne:
Jer 33:17 “For thus
said יהוה, ‘For Dawiḏ there is not to cease a man to sit on the throne of the
house of Yisra’ěl.
Jer 33:18 And for the
priests, the Lěwites, there is not to cease a man to offer ascending offerings
before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to slaughter continually.’ ”
Jer 33:19 And the
word of יהוה came to Yirmeyahu, saying,
Jer 33:20 “Thus said יהוה,
‘If you could break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so
that there be not day and night in their season,
Jer 33:21 then My
covenant could also be broken with Dawiḏ My servant – so that he shall not have
a son to reign upon his throne – and with the Lěwites, the priests, My
attendants.
Jer 33:22 As the host
of the heavens is not counted, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I increase
the descendants of Dawiḏ My servant and the Lěwites who attend upon Me.’ ”
Yahshua is our High Priest in the heavenly realm (Hebrews
7:15-17). And it is impossible for animal sacrifices to take away our sins
(Hebrews 10:4). Our eternal atonement is found only in the Messiah, not
anything else. But these facts are not in conflict with the validity of the
earthly priesthood and animal sacrifices.
One might ask, “But wouldn’t the reinstitution of animal
sacrifices in the millennium take away from the value of the Messiah’s
sacrifice?”
It’s important to note that although we affirm the validity
of the Torah—including the earthly priesthood and animal sacrifices—we must
also acknowledge that many aspects of the Torah cannot be kept today due to the
fact that the elements required to scriptually observe them do not exist right
now. When it comes to commandments concerning the earthly priesthood and animal
sacrifices, they cannot be applied because there is no physical temple in
Jerusalem at which to make sacrifices. This doesn’t take away from the validity
of these parts of the Torah; it’s merely an acknowledgement of the reality that
some commandments are impossible to keep right now in our current context.”
3. When Messiah returns he will build the Temple – Offerings
are required for such a dedication and continuation of the Temple service.
Zec 6:12 and shall
speak to him, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, saying, “See, the Man whose
name is the Branch!a And from His place He shall branch out, and He shall build
the Hěḵal of יהוה. Footnote: aSee Zec_3:8.
Zec 6:13 “It is He
who is going to build the Hěḵal of יהוה. It is He who is going to bear the
splendour. And He shall sit and rule on His throne, and shall be a priest on
His throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between Them both,” ’
Zec 6:14 while the
crown is for a remembrance in the Hěḵal of יהוה to Ḥělem, and to Toḇiyah, and
to Yeḏayah, and to Ḥěn son of Tsephanyah.
Zec 6:15 “And those who are far away shall come and build the Hěḵal of יהוה. And you shall know that יהוה of hosts has sent Me to you. And this shall be, if you diligently obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim.”
Psa 132:13 For יהוה
has chosen Tsiyon, He has desired it for His dwelling:
Psa 132:14 “This is
My place of rest forever; Here I dwell, for I have desired it.
Psa 132:15 “I greatly bless her provision, I satisfy her poor with bread.
Joe 3:17 “Then you shall know that I am יהוה your Elohim, dwelling in Tsiyon, My set-apart mountain.a And Yerushalayim shall be set-apart, and foreigners shall not pass through her again. Footnote: aSee Joe_3:21 and footnote at Isa_24:23.
Joe 3:20 “But Yehuḏah
shall dwell forever, and Yerushalayim to all generations.
Joe 3:21 “And I shall
avenge their blood, which I have not avenged. And יהוה shall be dwelling in
Tsiyon!”
Isa 24:23 And the moon shall blush, and the sun shall be ashamed, for יהוה of hosts shall reign on Mount Tsiyon, and in Yerushalayim,d and before His elders, in esteem! Footnote: d Isa_12:6, Isa_16:5, Isa_46:13, Isa_52:8, Isa_59:20, Psa_102:16, Eze_43:7-9, Joe_3:17 and Joe_3:21, Mic_4:7-8, Zep_3:14-17, Zec_1:16-17, Zec_2:10, Zec_8:3-8, Zec_14:1-11, Act_1:6-7, Rev_21:1-27.
Eze 43:4 And the esteem
of יהוה came into the House by way of the gate facing east.
Eze 43:5 And the
Spirit took me up and brought me into the inner courtyard. And see, the esteem
of יהוה filled the House.
Eze 43:6 And I heard
someone speaking to me from the House, while a man stood beside me.
Eze 43:7 And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, when I dwell in the midst of the children of Yisra’ěl forever, and the house of Yisra’ěl shall no longer defile My set-apart Name, they nor their sovereigns, by their whoring and by the corpses of their sovereigns on their high places.
Zec 1:16 Therefore
thus said יהוה, “I shall return to Yerushalayim with compassion. My house shall
be built in it,” declares יהוה of hosts, “and a surveyor’s line be stretched
out over Yerushalayim.” ’
Zec 1:17 “Again proclaim, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, “Again My cities shall overflow with goodness. And יהוה shall again comfort Tsiyon, and shall again choosea Yerushalayim.” ’ ” Footnote: aSee Zec_2:12, and footnote at Isa_14:1.
Zec 8:2 “Thus said יהוה
of hosts, ‘I shall be jealous for Tsiyon with great jealousy, with great wrath
I shall be jealous for her.’
Zec 8:3 “Thus said יהוה,
‘I shall return to Tsiyon, and I shall dwell in the midst of Yerushalayim. And
Yerushalayim shall be called: City of the Truth, and the Mountain of יהוה of hosts,
the Set-apart Mountain.’
Zec 8:4 “Thus said יהוה
of hosts, ‘Again old men and old women shall dwell in the streets of
Yerushalayim, each one with his staff in his hand because of great age,
Zec 8:5 and the
streets of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its
streets.’
Zec 8:6 “Thus said יהוה
of hosts, ‘If it is marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these
days, should it also be marvellous in My eyes?’ declares יהוה of hosts.
Zec 8:7 “Thus said יהוה
of hosts, ‘See, I am saving My people from the land of the sunrise and from the
land of the sunset.
Zec 8:8 And I shall
bring them back, and they shall dwell in the midst of Yerushalayim. And they
shall be My people, and I shall be their Elohim, in truth and in righteousness.’
Zec 8:9 “Thus said יהוה of hosts, ‘Let your hands be strong, you who are listening in these days to these words, from the mouth of the prophets, of the day the foundation was laid for the House of יהוה of hosts, the Hěḵal that was to be rebuilt.
Zec 14:2 And I shall
gather all the nations to battle against Yerushalayim.a And the city shall be
taken, the houses plundered, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go
into exile, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Footnote: a Joe_3:2, Zep_3:8, Rev_16:14.
Zec 14:3 And יהוה
shall go forth, and He shall fight against those nations, as He fights in the
day of battle.
Zec 14:4 And in that day His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, which faces Yerushalayim on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, a very great valley, and half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.
Midrash – Heb chapters 8 and 9 and Ezekiel chapters 40 - 48
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