Parashat 19 Portion 63 Shemot 25:1- 26:30 Haftarah: Yesh 66:1-13 Second Writings: 1 Cor 6:12-20

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.)

The very first letter of the Torah is a “beit” it is an enlarged letter and could have many possible applications. One meaning is that from the very beginning YHVH has sought to dwell among mankind.

2Ch 16:9  “For the eyes of יהוה diligently search throughout all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect to Him.

YHVH still seeks a dwelling place in every person’s heart. This Torah portion is about how the ancient Yisraelites were to make a voluntary contribution for this to take place. YHVH still calls those who are willing to pay the price so that His Ruach (Spirit) may have a dwelling place on earth.

      Isa 66:1  Thus said יהוה, “The heavens are My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is this house that you build for Me? And where is this place of My rest?

Isa 66:2  “And all these My hand have made, and all these that exist,” declares יהוה. “Yet to such a one I look: on him who is poor and bruised of spirit, and who trembles at My Word.

Isa 57:15  For thus declares the high and exalted One who dwells forever, whose Name is set-apart, “I dwell in the high and set-apart place, with him who has a bruised and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of bruised ones.

  אשרי עניי רוח כי להם מלכות השמים׃

Shaul/Paul more than most understood the mystery of YHVH dwelling in “one new man” called Yisrael.

Selected passages from the book of Ehpesians highlighting YHVH’s desire to dwell among His people:

Eph 1:9  having made known to us the secret of His desire, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him,

What is His secret desire?

That the eyes of our understanding will be opened to see how Messiah and his “kehelah” the called out one become the dwelling place of the Almighty.

Yisrael and not the church is YHVH’s secret desire.

Eph 1:10  to administer at the completion of time, to gather together in one all in Messiah, both which are in the heavens and which are on earth, in Him,

Eph 1:11  in whom also we did obtain an inheritance, being previously ordained according to the purpose of Him working all matters according to the counsel of His desire,

Eph 1:12  for us to be the praise of His esteem  (both Jew and Gentile becoming one in Messiah)

Eph 1:15  For this reason I too, having heard of your belief in the Master יהושע and your love for all the set-apart ones, (who are the set apart ones?)

Eph 1:16  do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

Eph 1:17  that the Elohim of our Master יהושע Messiah, the Father of esteem, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

Eph 1:18  the eyes of your understanding¹ being enlightened, so that you know what is the expectation of His calling, and what are the riches of the esteem of His inheritance in the set-apart ones, Footnote: ¹Lk. 24:45.

Eph 1:19  and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who are believing, according to the working of His mighty strength,

Eph 1:20  which He wrought in the Messiah when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenlies,

Eph 1:21  far above all rule and authority and power and mastery, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Eph 1:22  And He put all under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all, to the assembly,

Eph 1:23  which is His body, the completeness of Him who fills all in all.

Eph 2:13  But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

Eph 2:14  For He is our peace, who has made both one, and having broken down the partition of the barrier,

Eph 2:15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity – the Torah of the commands in dogma – so as to create in Himself one renewed man from the two, thus making peace, (Paul is referring to the way Torah had been incorrectly presented by man)

Eph 2:19  So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the set-apart ones and members of the household of Elohim,¹ Footnote: ¹Rom. 11:17-24, Isa. 14:1.

Eph 2:20  having been built upon the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, יהושע Messiah Himself being chief corner-stone,

Eph 2:21  in whom all the building, being joined together, grows into a set-apart Dwelling Place in יהוה,

Eph 2:22  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of Elohim in the Spirit.

Eph 3:10  so that now, through the assembly, the many-sided wisdom of Elohim might be known to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies,

Eph 3:19  to know the love of Messiah which surpasses knowledge, in order that you might be filled to all the completeness of Elohim.

Eph 4:2  with all humility and meekness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

Eph 4:3  being eager to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace –

Eph 4:4  one body and one Spirit, as you also were called in one expectation of your calling,

Eph 4:5  one Master, one belief, one immersion,

Eph 4:7  But to each one of us favour was given according to the measure of the gift of Messiah.

Eph 4:8  That is why it says, “When He went up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

Eph 4:11  And He Himself gave some as emissaries, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as shepherds and teachers

Eph 4:12  for the perfecting of the set-apart ones, to the work of service to a building up of the body of the Messiah,

Eph 4:13  until we all come to the unity of the belief and of the knowledge of the Son of Elohim, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the completeness of Messiah,

Eph 4:14  so that we should no longer be children, tossed and borne about by every wind of teaching, by the trickery of men, in cleverness, unto the craftiness of leading astray,¹ Footnote: ¹5:6, also 2 Cor. 10:5, 2 Cor. 11:3-14, Gal. 1:6-9, 2 Tim. 3:1-8, 2 Tim. 4:2-4, 2 Peter 2:2-22, Jud. vv. 10-19.

Eph 4:15  but, maintaining the truth in love, we grow up in all respects into Him who is the head, Messiah,

Eph 4:16  from whom the entire body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the working by which each part does its share, causes growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Eph 5:5  For this you know, that no one who whores, nor unclean one, nor one greedy of gain, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the reign of Messiah and Elohim.

Eph 5:6  Let no one deceive you with empty words,¹ for because of these the wrath of Elohim comes upon the sons of disobedience. Footnote: ¹See 4:14.

Eph 5:7  Therefore do not become partakers with them.

Eph 5:8  For you were once darkness,¹ but now you are light in the Master. Walk as children of light – Footnote: ¹See 2:2, 4:18, Col. 3:7.

Eph 5:9  for the fruit of the Spirit¹ is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth – Footnote: ¹See Philip 1:11.

Eph 5:10  proving what is well-pleasing to the Master.

Eph 5:11  And have no fellowship with the fruitless works of darkness, but rather reprove¹ them. Footnote: ¹Or confute, or expose.

Eph 5:12  For it is a shame even to speak of what is done by them in secret.

Shaul ends his letter with a call to spiritual warfare. Why? Because Ha Satan and all his demons are doing all they can to prevent YHVH from finding a dwelling place with His one new man – Yisrael – both Jew and gentile in Messiah.

Eph 6:12  Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies.

Eph 6:13  Because of this, take up the complete armour of Elohim, so that you have power to withstand in the wicked day, and having done all, to stand.

Commentary:

If we don’t see this letter of Paul as an attempt to bring together one new body consisting of both Jew and Gentile into One faith – the faith of our fathers – walking in the ancient paths of Torah illuminated by the life and death of Messiah – and understand the spiritual forces opposing this desire of YHVH – we will not understand what Paul is trying to say. This letter must be seen and understood in its context or it will be completely misunderstood as it has been for centuries.

Our Torah portion begins:

Exo 25:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,

Exo 25:2  “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, that they take up a contribution for Me. From everyone whose heart moves him you shall take up My contribution.

Exo 25:3  “And this is the contribution which you take up from them: gold, and silver, and bronze,

Exo 25:4  and blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,

Exo 25:5  and rams’ skins dyed red, and fine leather, and acacia wood,

Exo 25:6  oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,

Exo 25:7  shoham stones, and stones to be set in the shoulder garment and in the breastplate.

Exo 25:8  “And they shall make Me a Set-apart Place, and I shall dwell in their midst.

Exo 25:9  “According to all that I show you – the pattern of the Dwelling Place and the pattern of all its furnishings – make it exactly so.

The Torah teaches us the exact pattern – tavniet – that causes His presence to come and dwell within us – IT BEGINS WITH THE HEART –

Why did YHVH create within us hearts?

So that we could love Him with all of our hearts.

And it is from loving YHVH with all of our hearts that all the rest falls into place.

Above all else, guard and preserve your heart, for from your heart spring the outflowings of life. (Prov 4:23)

כג  מִכָּל-מִשְׁמָר, נְצֹר לִבֶּךָ:    כִּי-מִמֶּנּוּ, תּוֹצְאוֹת חַיִּים.

Deu 30:6  “And יהוה your Elohim shall circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being, so that you might live,

Exo 25:10  “And they shall make an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.

Exo 25:11  “And you shall overlay it with clean gold, inside and outside you shall overlay it. And you shall make on it a moulding of gold all around.

Exo 25:12  “And you shall cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in its four corners, two rings on one side, and two rings on the other side.

Exo 25:13  “And you shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold,

Exo 25:14  and shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to lift up the ark by them.

Exo 25:15  “The poles are in the rings of the ark, they are not taken from it.

Exo 25:16  “And into the ark you shall put the Witness which I give you.

This is the witness that established His presence in our hearts and lives:

The two tablets – The Torah of YHVH.

The manna – the resurrected life of Messiah – He is the bread of life.

Aaron’s Rod – a set apart priesthood that will intercede for us.

Exo 25:17  “And you shall make a lid of atonement of clean gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide.

Exo 25:18  “And you shall make two keruḇim of gold, make them of beaten work, at the two ends of the lid of atonement.

Exo 25:19  “And make one keruḇ at one end, and the other keruḇ at the other end. Make the keruḇim from the lid of atonement, at its two ends.

Exo 25:20  “And the keruḇim shall be spreading out their wings above, covering the lid of atonement with their wings, with their faces toward each other, the faces of the keruḇim turned toward the lid of atonement.

Exo 25:21  “And you shall put the lid of atonement on top of the ark, and put into the ark the Witness which I give you.

Exo 25:22  “And I shall meet with you there, and from above the lid of atonement, from between the two keruḇim which are on the ark of the Witness, I shall speak to you all that which I command you concerning the children of Yisra’ĕl.

Exo 25:23  “And you shall make a table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high.

Exo 25:24  “And you shall overlay it with clean gold, and shall make a moulding of gold all around,

Exo 25:25  and shall make for it a rim of a handbreadth all around, and shall make a gold moulding for the rim all around.

Exo 25:26  “And you shall make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings on the four corners that are at its four legs.

Exo 25:27  “The rings are close to the rim, as holders for the poles to lift the table.

Exo 25:28  “And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be lifted with them.

Exo 25:29  “And you shall make its dishes, and its ladles, and its jars, and its bowls for pouring. Make them of clean gold.

Exo 25:30  “And you shall put the showbread on the table before Me, continually.

Exo 25:31  “And you shall make a lampstand of clean gold – the lampstand is made of beaten work. Its base and its shaft, its cups, its ornamental knobs and blossoms are from it,

Exo 25:32  and six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side;

Exo 25:33  three cups made like almond flowers on one branch, with ornamental knob and blossom, and three cups made like almond flowers on the other branch, with ornamental knob and blossom – so for the six branches coming out of the lampstand.

Exo 25:34  “And on the lampstand itself are four cups made like almond flowers, with ornamental knob and blossom,

Exo 25:35  and a knob under the first two branches of the same, and a knob under the second two branches of the same, and a knob under the third two branches of the same, according to the six branches coming out of the lampstand.

Exo 25:36  “Their knobs and their branches are of the same – all of it one beaten work of clean gold.

Exo 25:37  “And you shall make seven lamps for it, and they shall mount its lamps so that they give light in front of it.

Exo 25:38  “And its snuffers and their trays are of clean gold.

Exo 25:39  “It is made of a talent of clean gold, with all these utensils.

Exo 25:40  “So see, and do according to the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.

Exo 26:1  “And make the Dwelling Place with ten curtains of fine woven linen and blue and purple and scarlet material. Make them, with keruḇim, the work of a skilled workman.

Exo 26:2  “The length of each curtain is twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits, all the curtains having one measure.

Exo 26:3  “Five curtains are joined to each other, and five curtains are joined to each other.

Exo 26:4  “And you shall make loops of blue on the edge of the end curtain on one set, and do the same on the edge of the end curtain of the second set.

Exo 26:5  “Make fifty loops in the one curtain and make fifty loops on the edge of the end curtain of the second set, the loops being opposite to each other.

Exo 26:6  “And you shall make fifty hooks of gold, and shall join the curtains together with the hooks, and the Dwelling Place shall be one.

Exo 26:7  “And you shall make curtains of goats’ hair, for a tent over the Dwelling Place, make eleven curtains.

Exo 26:8  “The length of each curtain is thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits, one measure to the eleven curtains.

Exo 26:9  “And you shall join the five curtains by themselves, and the six curtains by themselves, and you shall double over the six curtains at the front of the Tent.

Exo 26:10  “And you shall make fifty loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in one set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtain of the second set.

Exo 26:11  “And you shall make fifty bronze hooks, and put the hooks into the loops, and join the tent together, and it shall be one.

Exo 26:12  “And the overlapping part of the rest of the curtains of the Tent, the half curtain that remains, shall hang over the back of the Dwelling Place.

Exo 26:13  “And a cubit on one side and a cubit on the other side, of what remains of the length of the curtains of the Tent, is to hang over the sides of the Dwelling Place, on this side and on that side, to cover it.

Exo 26:14  “And you shall make a covering of ram skins dyed red for the Tent, and a covering of fine leather above that.

Exo 26:15  “And for the Dwelling Place you shall make the boards of acacia wood, standing up.

Exo 26:16  “Ten cubits is the length of a board, and a cubit and a half the width of each board,

Exo 26:17  two tenons in each board for binding one to another. Do the same for all the boards of the Dwelling Place.

Exo 26:18  “And you shall make the boards for the Dwelling Place, twenty boards for the south side,

Exo 26:19  and make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards, two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons.

Exo 26:20  “And for the second side of the Dwelling Place, on the north side, twenty boards,

Exo 26:21  and their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under each of the boards.

Exo 26:22  “And for the extreme parts of the Dwelling Place, westward, make six boards,

Exo 26:23  and make two boards for the two back corners of the Dwelling Place.

Exo 26:24  “And they are double beneath and similarly they are complete to the top, to the one ring. So it is for both of them, they are for the two corners.

Exo 26:25  “And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets – two sockets under the one board, and two sockets under the other board.

Exo 26:26  “And you shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the Dwelling Place,

Exo 26:27  and five bars for the boards on the other side of the Dwelling Place, and five bars for the boards of the side of the Dwelling Place, for the extreme parts westward,

Exo 26:28  with the middle bar in the midst of the boards, going through from end to end.

Exo 26:29  “And overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold as holders for the bars, and overlay the bars with gold.

Exo 26:30  “And you shall raise up the Dwelling Place according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

Finally Shaul warns us about how we are to build this dwelling place of YHVH.

1Co 3:10  According to the favour of Elohim which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But each one should look how he builds on it.

1Co 3:11  For no one is able to lay any other foundation except that which is laid, which is יהושע Messiah.

1Co 3:12  And if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

1Co 3:13  each one’s work shall be revealed, for the day shall show it up, because it is revealed by fire. And the fire shall prove the work of each one, what sort it is.

1Co 3:14  If anyone’s work remains, which he has built on, he shall receive a reward.

1Co 3:15  If anyone’s work is burned, he shall suffer loss, but he himself shall be saved, but so as through fire.

1Co 3:16  Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?

1Co 3:17  If anyone destroys the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, which you are.

2Co 4:7  And we have this treasure (His Presence) in earthen vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim, and not of us –

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 Yahweh, 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, Yahweh 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.

Parashat 18 Portion 62 Shemot 24:1-18 Haftarah: Yesh 60:17-61:9 Second Writings: Matt 26:27-28

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.)

This Torah portion reminds us once again that in our own strength and understanding we will not be able to come into the presence of YHVH, nor accomplish His purposes in our lives. We need intercessors.

         1Co 1:29  so that no flesh should boast in His presence.

Yahshua spoke these words in Matityahu 5:3

  אשרי עניי רוח כי להם מלכות השמים׃

Mat 5:3  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the reign of the heavens.

According to a commentary the word “poor” can mean “to crouch like a helpless beggar” This word provides an image of someone in abject poverty, totally dependent on others for help.

 http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Brit_Chadashah/Beatitudes/beatitudes.html

Yahshua’s sermon on the mount reveals the heart of one who has truly embraced the Torah of YHVH.

This Torah portion reveals once again the substance of true intercession.

If we reject the Torah we reject the very foundations upon which mediation is made available to us.

Pro 28:9  He who turns away his ear from hearing the Torah, Even his prayer is an abomination¹. Footnote: ¹See also 15:29, Isa. 59:1-2, John 9:31, 1 John 3:22.

If this is true of us how much more for those who are called to be intercessors.

Isa 43:11  “I, I am יהוה, and besides Me there is no saviour.

Saviour –“Moshiah”

Psa 98:1  Sing to יהוה a new song! For He has done wonders; His right hand and His set-apart arm Have brought Him deliverance.

YHVH chose a Mediator to make this redemption a reality. Yahshua acknowledges that YHVH and YHVH alone has the power to save and so Yahshua offers up himself to make this known and available to those who will receive the redemption of YHVH.

1Ti 2:5  For there is one Elohim,¹ and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah יהושע, Foornote: ¹1 Cor. 8:6, Eph. 4:6, Mk. 12:29-34.1Ti 2:6  who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be witnessed in its own seasons,

1Co 8:5  For even if there are so-called mighty ones, whether in heaven or on earth – as there are many mighty ones and many masters –

1Co 8:6  for us there is one Elohim,¹ the Father, from whom all came and for whom we live, and one Master יהושע Messiah, through whom all came and through whom we live. Footnote: ¹Eph. 4:6, 1 Tim. 2:5, Mk. 12:32,34.

Gal 3:20  The Mediator, however, is not of one, but Elohim is one.

 Lit Greek – “The mediator of one is not but Elohim is one.”

There are many different views on the above scripture. I believe Yahshua is not One because he could not operate on or by his own agenda – he came in the volume of the book – Torah –

Psa 40:7  Then I said, “See, I have come; In the scroll of the Book it is prescribed for me.

Psa 40:8  I have delighted to do Your pleasure, O my Elohim, And Your Torah is within my heart¹.” Footnote: ¹Ps. 37:31, Ps. 119:11, Isa. 51:7, Heb. 10:7-9.

Contrary to Trinitarian teaching Yahshua exists because YHVH caused him to exist. Yahshua’s existence was planned by YHVH before the foundation of the world.

Yahshua’s very name means “Yahveh is my salvation” or “salvation of Yah/Yahveh”. Yahshua and Yahshua alone is the Chosen Mediator to bring us into the salvation of Yahveh.

Jud 1:3  Beloved ones, making all haste to write to you concerning our common deliverance, I felt the necessity to write to you urging you to earnestly contend for the belief which was once for all delivered to the set-apart ones.

Jud 1:4  For certain men have slipped in, whose judgment was written about long ago, wicked ones¹ perverting the favour of our Elohim for indecency, and denying the only Master יהוה and our Master יהושע Messiah. Footnote: ¹See Mt. 13, 2 Thess. 2.

Greek “contend” means to struggle exceedingly to gain the prize….

This is the belief: Without mediation we are lost, without recognizing our need for mediation we are in a pitiful spiritual condition.

It is going to cost us – parable of the 10 virgins. It may be too late for some – this kind of truth cannot be gained overnight – it takes a much longer time of perseverance and patience and dedication to surrender your life to the Mediator of the faith and be transformed into his image. Religion will deceive us to believe that somehow we can make it on our own.

The events of our parasha clearly portray Mount Sinai as the model after which the Mishkan and then the Beit Ha Mikdash (tabernacle and temple) would be constructed. There are three distinct zones in our parasha; the foot of the mountain; an intermediate ascent upon the mountain and the top of the mountain where the presence of YHVH resided, covered by a thick cloud. The people remain at the foot of the mountain while representatives of the people ascend to the intermediate area or zone. Moshe alone continues to ascend to the top of the mountain where he alone speaks to YHVH. These three zones compare to the courtyard of the tabernacle where the people came; the Set Apart place of the tabernacle where only the priests served and finally the most set apart place where only the High Priest entered into once a year. It was now on this most set apart place on top of the mount Sinai where the initial enactment of YHVH covenant would become a pattern for His redemptive plan throughout the ages for mankind.

So Shaul/ Paul gives us an answer for why we need the Torah:

Gal 3:19  Why, then, the Torah? It was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come to whom the promise was made. And it was ordained through messengers in the hand of a mediator.

The words “because of transgressions” has been misunderstood as to mean the “punishment of transgression” However what Paul is saying is the Torah covenant is given “with regard to transgressions” that is that this is the way that YHVH deals with our transgressions – all pointing to the ultimate offering of Messiah as our atonement.

Our Torah portion begins.

Exo 24:1  And to Mosheh He said, “Come up to יהוה, you and Aharon, Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu, and seventy of the elders of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall bow yourselves from a distance.

Exo 24:2  “But Mosheh shall draw near to יהוה by himself, and let them not draw near, nor let the people go up with him.”

Exo 24:3  And Mosheh came and related to the people all the Words of יהוה and all the right-rulings. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the Words which יהוה has spoken we shall do.”

These words refer to the words given in the previous two parashiot – the ten words – aseret divrot -  and the right rulings – mishpatim.

Exo 24:4  And Mosheh wrote down all the Words of יהוה, and rose up early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve standing columns for the twelve tribes of Yisra’ĕl.

Note the words are given to YYisrael – the renewed covenant is once again only made with YYisrael – (Yer 31:33)

Let us remind ourselves that YHVH did not make these covenants with the church. He made them with YYisrael and all those who are called to be grafted into YYisrael.

Eph 2:11  Therefore remember that you, once gentiles¹ in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision’ made in the flesh by hands, Footnote: ¹1 Cor. 12:2.

Eph 2:12  that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisra’ĕl and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world.

Eph 2:13  But now in Messiah יהושע you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

Eph 2:19  So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the set-apart ones and members of the household of Elohim,¹ Footnote: ¹Rom. 11:17-24, Isa. 14:1.

The church was never meant to be some new innovation separated from its Hebraic root.

And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the Words which יהוה has spoken we shall do.”

There is a view that the people who uttered these words did so brashly not realizing that they would never be able to keep them. There is another view that they uttered these words of agreement because they knew that MEDIATION formed one of the key elements of the covenant. They understood from the very beginning that the Torah taught that if you lost your way there was instruction on how to make teshuvah and find your way back to the heart of YHVH.

Exo 24:5  And he sent young men of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and they offered burnt offerings and slaughtered peace slaughterings of bulls to יהוה.

Exo 24:6  And Mosheh took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar.

Exo 24:7  And he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that יהוה has spoken we shall do, and obey.”

Exo 24:8  And Mosheh took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “See, the blood of the covenant which יהוה has made with you concerning all these Words.”

The blood always pointed to mediation and ultimately to the Mediator himself – Yahshua. Half of the blood was sprinkled on the words of the covenant and the other half on the people. YHVH reminding us that no covenant can be made without blood and that the people in being sprinkled with blood acknowledged they themselves had to receive the blood of the covenant to be able to have atonement of sin.

Heb 9:16  For where a covenant is, it is necessary for the death of the covenanted one to be established.

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 10:28  Anyone who has disregarded(Greek means unplacing or repudiating – arorist active) 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?

Many people today who call themselves believers scorn the reintroduction of the temple service and the offerings. There seems to be an attitude that this was once necessary but no longer required. This is a grave error and ignores the critical issue that without mediation we cannot receive the progressive working of His atonement nor ever come into the presence of YHVH.

Exo 24:9  And Mosheh went up, also Aharon, Naḏaḇ, and Aḇihu, and seventy of the elders of Yisra’ĕl,

Exo 24:10  and they saw the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, and under His feet like a paved work of sapphire stone, and like the heavens for brightness.

Exo 24:11  Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the chiefs of the children of Yisra’ĕl! And they saw Elohim, and they ate and drank.

These verses are used by many to prove the existence of a pre incarnate Messiah. (I disagree)

See the influence of Mithraism over Christianity:

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Religions/iranian/Mithraism/mithraism_and_christianity.htm 

Exo 24:12  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there, while I give you tablets of stone, and the Torah and the command which I have written, to teach them.”

Exo 24:13  And Mosheh arose with his assistant Yehoshua, and Mosheh went up to the mountain of Elohim.

Exo 24:14  And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. And see, Aharon and Ḥur are with you. Whoever has matters, let him go to them.”

Exo 24:15  And Mosheh went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.

Exo 24:16  And the esteem of יהוה dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. And on the seventh day He called to Mosheh out of the midst of the cloud.

Exo 24:17  And the appearance of the esteem of יהוה was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain, before the eyes of the children of Yisra’ĕl.

Exo 24:18  And Mosheh went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And it came to be that Mosheh was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

These verses point us to Yahshua after he was mikvey ed (immersed in water) in the Yarden river by Yochanan the immerser. The Ruach descended upon him and then led him into the wilderness for 40 days.

Mat 3:16  And having been immersed, יהושע went up immediately from the water, and see, the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of Elohim descending like a dove and coming upon Him,

Mat 3:17  and see, a voice out of the heavens, saying, “This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I did delight.”

Mat 4:1  Then יהושע was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tried by the devil.

Mat 4:2  And after having fasted forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

The Number Forty - Trial and Testing

The establishing of the Covenant comes about through great conflict and anguish of soul by those who are truly willing to lay down their lives for others.

Selfish self centered leaders and people will never be able to establish truth on earth.

• Yisrael 40 years in the wilderness
• Yisrael under David's rule 40 years
• Yisrael mourns for Ya'akov 40 days
• Yonah preaches 40 days
• Saul rules 40 years
• Shlomo/Solomon rules 40 years
• Yisrael in wilderness 40 years
• Yisrael under the Philistines 40 years
• Mosheh in Mitsrayim/Egypt 40 years
• Mosheh in Midian 40 years
• Mosheh at Mt. Sinai 40 days
• Eliyahu/Elijah 40 days
• Yechezk'el lays on right side 40 days
• Yahshua tempted 40 days
• Yahshua spoke of Kingdom of Elohim 40 days (Acts 1:3)
• time of Noach - rained 40 days and 40 nights

·            Goliath defied Yisrael 40 days

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.

Parashat 18 Portion 61 – Shemot 22:25 – 23:33 – Haftarah: Yesh 49:1-6 Second Writings: Yakov/James 1:26 – 2:4

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.)

You would think that the more knowledge and wisdom we have of Torah the more blessed and joyful we would be in this world. However for those who have been on this road of genuine Torah restoration some time often find themselves in despair over their own state and the state of those around them. This present world system has always been hostile against walking in the truth. Messengers of those seeking the truth also often find themselves persecuted and shunned.

Ecc 1:17  And I set my heart to know wisdom – and to know madness and folly. I know that this too is feeding on wind.

Ecc 1:18  For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases suffering.

Wesley's Notes for Ecclesiastes 1:18 (Wesley’s personal experience)

1:18 Grief - Or, displeasure within himself, and against his present condition. Sorrow - Which he does many ways, because he gets his knowledge with hard and wearisome labour, both of mind and body, with the consumption of his spirits, and shortening of his life; because he is often deceived with knowledge falsely so called, and often mistakes error for truth, and is perplexed with manifold doubts, from which ignorant men are wholly free; because he hath the clearer prospect into, and quicker sense of his own ignorance, and infirmities, and disorders, and withal how vain and ineffectual all his knowledge is for the prevention or removal of them; and because his knowledge is very imperfect and unsatisfying, yet increasing his thirst after more knowledge; lastly, because his knowledge quickly fades and dies with him, and then leaves him in no better, and possibly in a much worse condition than the meanest and most unlearned man in the world. End quote.

Once again this week’s Torah portion is about YHVH’s “mishpatim” His assessments of how we are to live and understand our lives. There can be no greater wisdom for us – Shaul says we are born to good works, to live fruitful and productive lives.

This can surely only happen as we walk in YHVH’s Torah.

We are saved by our obedience to Torah – we are saved so that we are able to walk In the obedience to Torah.

Eph 2:10  For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah יהושע unto good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

2Ti 3:10  But you did closely follow my teaching, the way of life, the purpose, the belief, the patience, the love, the endurance, 2Ti 3:11  the persecutions, the sufferings, which came to me at Antioch, at Ikonion, and at Lustra – what persecutions I bore. Yet out of them all the Master delivered me.

2Ti 3:12  And indeed, all those wishing to live reverently in Messiah יהושע, shall be persecuted.¹ Footnote: ¹Mt. 5:10.

Joh 16:33  “These words I have spoken to you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have pressure, but take courage, I have overcome the world.”

Act 14:22  strengthening the beings of the taught ones, encouraging them to continue in the belief, and that through many pressures we have to enter the reign of Elohim.

Even Yashua was a man of sorrows acquainted with grief – yet he endured with joy his suffering. Heb 12:2  looking to the Princely Leader and Perfecter of our belief, יהושע, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the stake, having

despised the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of Elohim. Heb 12:3  For consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and faint in your lives.

Heb 12:4  You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And so our Torah portion begins:

Exo 22:25  “If you do lend silver to any of My people, the poor among you, you are not to be like one that lends on interest to him. Do not lay interest on him.

Does this still happen today?

In this present world system money lending is one of the biggest causes of financial bondage. In fact the world economy is on the brink of absolute collapse because so much money has been borrowed and people and even nations are finding it impossible to repay their debts because of all the interest.

Exo 22:26  “If you take your neighbour’s garment as a pledge at all, you are to return it to him before the sun goes down.

Exo 22:27  “For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What does he sleep in? And it shall be that when he cries to Me, I shall hear, for I show favour.

How do we treat people who have reached rock bottom in their lives? This is a warning to us not to take advantage of someone who is extremely desperate because of their poverty. You must make sure that they can at least sleep warmly. YHVH may show them favour one day and you might be in need of their favour.

Exo 22:28  “Do not revile Elohim, nor curse a ruler of your people.

Do not treat with contempt rulers of this world and the world we cannot see. – Elohim can also be translated “mighty ones” We are to “resist the ha satan” and pull down his strongholds by discerning his lies. Ha Satan is the father of all lies. He is a defeated foe but he can still operate where there is spiritual darkness and deception. He has not yet been cast into the eternal lake of fire because he is an instrument of YHVH’s purposes on earth.

From personal experience and my own understanding I don’t believe we are equipped or called upon to engage the enemy so that we can go to battle against ha satan and demons.

Jud 1:8  In the same way, indeed, these dreamers defile the flesh, and reject authority, and speak evil of esteemed ones.

Jud 1:9  But Miḵa’ĕl the chief messenger, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Mosheh, presumed not to bring against him a blasphemous accusation, but said, “יהוה rebuke you!”

Exo 22:29  “Do not delay giving your harvest and your vintage. Give Me the first-born of your sons.

Do we follow the custom of the “Pidyon Ha Ben”?

Most of struggle to give YHVH the firstfruits of our increase.

It’s not important firstly because the priesthood need it – ITS IMPORTANT BECAUSE HE SAID IT.

Exo 22:30  “Likewise you are to do with your oxen, with your sheep. It is to be with its mother seven days. On the eighth day you give it to Me.

Exo 22:31  “And you are set-apart men to Me, and you do not eat any meat which is torn to pieces in the field, you throw it to the dogs.

Exo 23:1  “Do not bring a false report. Do not put your hand with the wrong to be a malicious witness.

Exo 23:2  “Do not follow a crowd to do evil, nor bear witness in a strife so as to turn aside after many, to turn aside what is right.

Civil Disobedience?

Rom 13:1  Let every being be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim. Rom 13:2  So he who opposes the authority withstands the institution of Elohim, and those who withstand shall bring judgment on themselves.

“It is my contention that Paul’s instructions in 13:1-7 are not concerned with the state, empire, or any other such organization of secular government. His concern was rather to address the obligation of Christians, particularly Christian gentiles associating with the synagogues of Rome for the practice of their new “faith,” to subordinate themselves to the leaders of the synagogues and to the customary “rules of behavior” that had been developed in Diaspora synagogues for defining the appropriate behavior of “righteous gentiles” seeking association with Jews and their God. However, their leaders are to be obeyed, for their authority is from God and is recognized even by the Roman emperor for the execution of their responsibility to oversee the behavior of the Jewish communities, to which these Christian gentiles were now attached through synagogue attendance and when meeting in their homes under the authority granted the synagogues. ” – Nanos.

Today this is very difficult because there are no Jewish synagogues that preach Yashua as Mashiach as some of these early synagogues were doing.

1Pe 2:13  Be subject to every institution of man because of the Master, whether to the sovereign as supreme, 1Pe 2:14  or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of doers of evil, and a praise for those who do good.

I don’t believe we are called to overthrow governments or to be part of those who so wish.

Often self seeking leaders stir up the masses to unseat existing authorities so that they may be placed in those positions of authority. These usurpers have a hidden agenda to fill the void and their pockets.

In the Torah community we are governed by a Theocracy and the Torah and not a democracy.

Exo 23:3  “And do not favour a poor man in his strife. Exo 23:4  “When you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall certainly return it to him. Exo 23:5  “When you see the donkey of him who hates you lying under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving it to him, you shall certainly help him. Exo 23:6  “Do not turn aside the right-ruling of your poor in his strife. Exo 23:7  “Keep yourself far from a false matter, and do not kill the innocent and the righteous, for I do not declare the wrong right. Exo 23:8  “And do not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the seeing one and twists the words of the righteous. Exo 23:9  “And do not oppress a sojourner, as you yourselves know the heart of a sojourner, because you were sojourners in the land of Mitsrayim. Exo 23:10  “And for six years you are to sow your land, and shall gather its increase, Exo 23:11  but the seventh year you are to let it rest, and shall leave it, and the poor of your people shall eat. And what they leave, the beasts of the field eat. Do the same with your vineyard and your oliveyard.

Exo 23:12  “Six days you are to do your work, and on the seventh day you rest, in order that your ox and your donkey might rest, and the son of your female servant and the sojourner be refreshed.

Exo 23:13  “And in all that I have said to you take heed. And make no mention of the name of other mighty ones, let it not be heard from your mouth.

For example Mo ..day; Tu..day etc

Exo 23:14  “Three¹ times in the year you are to observe a festival to Me: Footnote: ¹The Festivals of יהוה are grouped in three, for three different times of the year. Exo 23:15  “Guard the Festival of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Aḇiḇ – for in it you came out of Mitsrayim – and do not appear before Me empty-handed; Exo 23:16  and the Festival of the Harvest, the first-fruits of your labours which you have sown in the field; and the Festival of the Ingathering at the outgoing of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labours from the field. Exo 23:17  “Three times in the year all your males are to appear before the Master יהוה. Exo 23:18  “Do not offer the blood of My slaughtering with leavened bread, and the fat of My offering shall not remain until morning. Exo 23:19  “Bring the first of the first-fruits of your land into the House of יהוה your Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk. Exo 23:20  “See, I am sending a Messenger before you to guard you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Please note it is not THE messenger and messenger is not spelled with a capital M.

Exo 23:21  “Be on guard before Him and obey His voice. Do not rebel against Him, for He is not going to pardon your transgression, for My Name is in Him.

Note how the name of Elohim is in the name of each of the following messengers.

“The earliest reference to a system of seven archangels as a group appears to be in Enoch I (the Book of Enoch) which is not part of the Jewish Canon but is prevalent in the Judaic tradition, where they are named as Gabriel, Michael Raphael Gabriel,Michael, Raphael, Uriel,Raguek and Saraqael, Wiki

Exo 23:22  “But if you diligently obey His voice and shall do all that I speak, then I shall be an enemy to your enemies and a distresser to those who distress you. Exo 23:23  “For My Messenger shall go before you and shall bring you in to the Amorites and the Ḥittites and the Perizzites and the Kenaʽanites and the Ḥiwwites and the Yeḇusites, and I shall cut them off.

Heb 1:13  And to which of the messengers did He ever say, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? Heb 1:14  Are they not all serving spirits sent out to attend those who are about to inherit deliverance?

Heb 1:1  Elohim, having of old spoken in many portions and many ways to the fathers by the prophets, Heb 1:2  has in these last days spoken to us by the Son, whom He has appointed heir of all, through whom also He made the ages,¹ Footnote: ¹John 1:3.Heb 1:3  who being the brightness of the esteem and the exact representation of His substance, and sustaining all by the word of His power, having made a cleansing of our sins through Himself, sat down at the right hand of the Greatness on high, Heb 1:4  having become so much better than the messengers, as He has inherited a more excellent Name than them. Heb 1:5  For to which of the messengers did He ever say, “You are My Son, today I have brought You forth”?¹ And again, “I shall be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son”?² Footnotes: ¹Ps. 2:7. ²2 Sa. 7:14.

Heb 1:6  And when He again brings the first-born into the world, He says, “Let all the messengers of Elohim do reverence to Him.” Heb 1:7  And of the messengers indeed He says, “... who is making His messengers spirits and His servants a flame of fire.” Heb 1:8  But to the Son He says, “Your throne, O Elohim, is forever and ever, a sceptre of straightness is the sceptre of Your reign.

Exo 23:24  “Do not bow down to their mighty ones, nor serve them, nor do according to their works, but without fail overthrow them and without fail break down their pillars. Exo 23:25  “And you shall serve יהוה your Elohim, and He shall bless your bread and your water. And I shall remove sickness from your midst.

Exo 23:26  “None shall miscarry or be barren in your land. I shall fill the number of your days.

Exo 23:27  “I shall send My fear before you, and cause confusion among all the people to whom you come, and make all your enemies turn their backs to you. Exo 23:28  “And I shall send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Ḥiwwite, the Kenaʽanite, and the Ḥittite from before you. Exo 23:29  “I shall not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become a waste and the beast of the field become too numerous for you. Exo 23:30  “Little by little I shall drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Exo 23:31  “And I shall set your border from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River, for I shall give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. Exo 23:32  “Do not make a covenant with them nor with their mighty ones. Exo 23:33  “Let them not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me when you serve their mighty ones, when it becomes a snare to you.”

No one person will be able to understand all these mishpatim – they were meant to be worked out in an Elohim fearing Torah community under the guide of Torah seeking leaders.

Deu 30:11  “For this command which I am commanding you today, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far off. Deu 30:12  “It is not in the heavens, to say, ‘Who shall ascend into the heavens for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ Deu 30:13  “Nor is it beyond the sea, to say, ‘Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it to us, and cause us to hear it, so that we do it?’ Deu 30:14  “For the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart – to do it.

Deu 30:15  “See, I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil,

Deu 30:16  in that I am commanding you today to love יהוה your Elohim, to walk in His ways, and to guard His commands, and His laws, and His right-rulings (mishpatim). And you shall live and increase, and יהוה your Elohim shall bless you in the land which you go to possess.

טז  אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ, הַיּוֹם, לְאַהֲבָה אֶת-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לָלֶכֶת בִּדְרָכָיו, וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְו‍ֹתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו; וְחָיִיתָ וְרָבִיתָ--וּבֵרַכְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בָּאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר-אַתָּה בָא-שָׁמָּה לְרִשְׁתָּהּ.

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 Yahveh, 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, Yahweh 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.