ACHAREI MOT - After the death -(אחרי מות) AND K’DOSHIM -Holy ones ( קדשים ) Audio Podcast April 29, 2023
Notes
Transcript
Leviticus 16:1-20:27
Review
TORAH GPS
We continue to use the Torah as our guide to do our portions
So far we have come from Genesis to now Leviticus, and God has been at work
We have talked about Vayikra in the last few weeks
So far we can summarize the book of Leviticus/ Vayikra like this:
Cumulative Summary and Overview
VaYikra Adonai el Moshe (and the Lord called to Moses), as corporate head, to draw near to the tabernacle, radiating from God’s glorious Presence!
God further instructs Moshe: Tsav (command!) the priests to follow ritual procedures when receiving offerings from Yisra’el. Elevate the priests for holy service. Consecrate them seven days.
Then ba-yom ha-Sh’mini (on the eighth day), commence the service of the sanctuary. Aharon’s sons, zealous to offer incense, jump ahead of orders and die in the holy place. Nobody knows what to do …
Scripture devotes the next two parashiot to distinguishing tahor (pure/not impure) from tamei (impure/contagious). When a woman Tazria (bears seed), she remains ritually impure for a week. On the eighth day, she can return to her husband; but she is still tamei to enter God’s house or to consume offerings designated for priestly families. Instead, she must wait a total of 40 days (or 80 days from the birth of a daughter), before completing her days of filling. Then she can ascend to the altar in a pure state.
In contrast, waiting is not sufficient for the M’tsora (infected one). He must be healed by God to become ritually cleansed. Otherwise, he is barred indefinitely from the camp and must cry out, “Tamei! Tamei!”
Acharei Mot (after the death of) Nadav and Avihu, God restricts immediate access to His holy Presence. He orders yearly cleansing of the camp on Yom Kippur to restore purity and remove impurities introduced by sin.
Respect for the sanctity of life requires all blood to be consecrated. Blood is holy, specially reserved for creating life, removing impurity, or restoring purity in the camp where the Holy One dwells.
We all are called to become K’doshim (holy ones), for God is holy! He radiates holiness to the sanctuary and to the priests: Ani Adonai m’kadish’chem (I am the Lord Who makes you holy), the house of Yisra’el.
But Yisra’el must obey Torah, keep the covenant, and maintain holiness—in the Land, in the households, and in the nation. In short, with help from God, Yisra’el must struggle to be holy ones …
Scarcely is the first service completed when the Lord sends a pillar of fire to kindle offerings on both altars.
We talked about Nadab and Abihu -wanting to do it their own way
The people shout and fall on their faces in glorious worship!
All know, on that day, that the Lord has appeared in the midst of His people.
We talked about the circumcision of the heart
This is only possible by the Power of His Anointed One
The sanctification we have been called to attain
To procure of the holiness of His righteousness
We talked how the word seed/sara is so similar to the word for leprous/tsara - leprosy/Tsara’at (as white as snow)
Lasho Hara
How words have power and specially evil talk
Pride and evil speech
Childbearing and what that means: cleanness/ uncleanness - importance to teach holiness to our children
We linked all this to the Passover/ Shabbat and the end times
We will continue to develop this topic in conjunction to our Torah Portion for today
Please listen to the warning
Introduction
Introduction
Leviticus 16:1-20:27
ACHAREI MOT - After the death -(אחרי מות) AND K’DOSHIM -Holy ones ( קדשים )
The roadmap
We will talk about Acharei Mot and K’doshim from a helicopter perspective
Explain how they correlate to each other
We will zoom in on each one of them as we go through the scriptures in the Torah Portion
We will talk about the atonement the Lord made so that we could be holy
We will explain how we keep holy
First let us have an overall view of the portion
After studying Lashon Hara last Torah Portion, this is a very good portion to follow up on - to keep holy we must watch of our own slander on others.
Holiness is in contention with sin.
They cannot co-exist.
One will take over the other.
Sin is the separation from God, which is exactly what makes us unholy.
We can only be made holy by a Holy God.
We will continue to content with the desire to sin, but must learn not to -since since has no dominion over us
There is specific part of God’s Torah that shows us what the consequences are if we do not follow His Torah- That is when dealing with sin:
14 ‘But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments,
15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant,
16 I also will do this to you: I will even appoint terror over you, wasting disease and fever which shall consume the eyes and cause sorrow of heart. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
But there is also a promise
4 then I will give you rain in its season, the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
This Torah Portion teaches us about holiness. We can summarize it like this:
Holiness is an integral part of the process walking with the Lord
Leviticus is a very difficult to study because the patterns are implicit - not explicit
We need to peel the onion in order to go deep
The Torah Portion is so deep that it is virtually impossible to unpack all there is to it in one session. We probably need weeks to study only this Torah Portion
Vayikra requires a more intimate relationship with Lord. This is the nature of a Covenant
Acharei Mot (Ps 26)
The Key People
Moshe (Moses), Aharon (Aaron) and sons, and the assembly.
The Scene
the tabernacle, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Main Events
Advice to approach God carefully after the death of Aharon’s sons;
to follow the order of ritual specified in detail;
to atone for the sanctuary (Tent of Meeting) and for the assembly (the people and the priests);
information about Yom Kippur offerings (the service of Yom Kippur is taught to the whole nation of Israel);
a reminder that the life is in the blood and there is only one place, the altar, for making sacrifices;
the spiritual connection between the altar, the priests, and the assembly;
advice to keep holy after all is cleansed and to avoid immoral behavior;
warning that the land vomits out its unclean inhabitants;
and the necessity of holiness so that God will continue to dwell in His nation.
The atonement for the altar, in white linen coat
On Yom Kippur, cut a bull by its throat
Go into God’s presence with an unblemished goat
Remember the truth, that life is in the blood
We all need atonement to get rid of our sin
Because God is holy, and our sins are like mud
We must be washed clean, and or we will die
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered profane fire before the Lord, and died;
2 and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
This Torah Portion seems to present a connection between the tragical death of Nadab and Abihu AND Yom Kippur, introducing the service of Yom Kippur.
This is derived by the idea that God spoke to Moses after the death of the sons of Aaron.
By implication this is a connection made here.
It also adds an enhanced dimension to the cause of their death: they died when they approached the Lord- Adonai.
They were not punished ONLY for going ahead of God and Aaron; or for treating what is holy as a common thing.
This verse seems to suggest that they were punished for entering a forbidden area.
This area can only be entered by the Kohen Gadol.
The sages see the death of Nadab and Abihu - considered to be righteous, as an introduction to the idea of Atonement.
The death of the righteous brings atonement for others. (Yerushalmi Yoma 1:1)
Meshech Chochaham explains that Yom Kippur is a time for favour for the righteous. The whole idea is that the soul of the righteous person ascends to Heaven and the other righteous souls rejoice at his coming.
14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
There seems to be a contradiction whatsoever, in that they were punished for the strange fire, but it was an offering of righteous men. The answer is YES
If Aaron had only been told of the consequences of death for entering the Holy of Holies in an improper manner, it would not have the same effect as it was emphasized by the death Aaron had just witnessed. He had had to considered the death as a Divine penalty for the sin. So, it is a sin to approach God in an improper manner. The penalty for sin is death
Acharei Mot (Ps 26)
A Psalm of David.
1 Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip.
2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
3 For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth.
4 I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, Nor will I go in with hypocrites.
5 I have hated the assembly of evildoers, And will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
7 That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, And tell of all Your wondrous works.
8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.
9 Do not gather my soul with sinners, Nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
10 In whose hands is a sinister scheme, And whose right hand is full of bribes.
11 But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me.
12 My foot stands in an even place; In the congregations I will bless the Lord.
Kedoshim (Ps 15)
The Key People
Moshe (Moses) and the whole assembly.
The Scene
the tabernacle, in the wilderness of Sinai.
Main Events
include the Lord telling Moshe to say, “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy;” various laws to keep the people holy; and a list of punishments for sin.
This portion is mainly about Holiness, Parents, Sabbath and Idols
Holiness:
God’s will was to rest among Israel that in His Presence they could rise to His calling to be a holy nation- to be His Servants
26 And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine.
6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Israel was not only brought together among its tribes, but yoked to God - to enter a joint venture through the Testing God will put before them
Israel was called to be set apart - to avoid the spiritual contaminations that would result from the sexual and religious practices He outlines in these two Torah Portions
The ten commandments are repeated
But the reasons for the commandments is not a prohibition, but a way to become holy by emulating our Creator as much as possible
Reveals the heart of the Torah and the Father’s holy ones, which are called to treat one another fairly
Parents:
This Torah Portion teaches that respect for parents ordains not only that they be honoured through personal service, but that it would also be done in a respectful manner
Sabbath:
The definition goes beyond the 7th day of the week and includes the 7th year sabbatical of fields and loans, as they testify that God is the Creator and Master of the Universe
Idols:
We are exhorted that the prohibition against idolatry includes not only acts of worship, but anything that shows them (the idols) belief or respect, even when it may seen beneficial to do it.
We are told to respect peoples religions and beliefs. In reality we cannot show respect to untruth and other means to come to God.
We respect the people who believe whatever they want to believe, but are not called to have any credence or respect for the belief they have
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
K’doshim (holy ones) develop the kind of character that honours a holy God. Kol adat Yisra’el (the whole community of Israel) shares the collective responsibility to become holy, since God is holy (Lev. 19:2).
Become holy, for God is holy.
Holiness is more than a quality or power
it has relational and experiential meaning, enacted and actualized in the life of community [Gorman, p.111].
All Yisra’el must tira’u (hold in awe) their parents as co-creators of life, keep Shabbat as holy, and respect the downtrodden—society’s poor, deaf, and blind.
3 ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.
To reenter in the presence of the Lord is to be purified
Purify our speech
Clean up our tongues: Physical tongue - Inside Tongue called THOUGHTS
12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;
13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;
14 Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Human beings think THOUGHTS which are words we speak to ourselves - lashon hara
These words will eventually come up in our physical word
We need to clean up so that we do not end up with Tsara’at/ leprosy
In order to do this we must take the Cohen’s help (The High Priest - Yeshua) - and He sometimes uses the preacher’s help
To help examine ourselves to find those places where we might be guilty of one or more causes of Tsara’at / leprosy
We need to pay attention that this comes from deep inside: out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks
The Lashon Hara is growing from your THOUGHTS into the physical realm - your inside words become your outside actions
The whole idea of this help is not that you may feel bad about yourself
To harm yourself
But to help you discern and ask for the father to change what you see, in thanksgiving
Ask the Father to be uprooted from this place - to change
Entertaining inside of you does not help you go into life, but destruction
This is an opportunity to pray - dialogue with the Lord to heal
Nadav and Avihu did it their own way
They convinced themselves they could do it
And that they could get away with it - in front of God
Yeshua put His life on the line so that we could heal from this
The service for Yom Kippur is risky
The High Priest used to put his life on the line - he could die
A Psalm of David.
1 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;
3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Lashon Hara
The currency is inner words
Words used to exchange with others
Whatever you ask for I will give you
Words become the going and the coming
The things the I want and desire are expressed with words
Somebody can bribe us with what we want if we are not careful
We don’t even realize we are taking a bribe - but most of us do take bribes
They bring up our self-esteem
Make us feel like we belong
They make us feel we are honoured
In their presence they recognize us - pay attention to us - acknowledge we are in the world
That’s what the flesh wants
Example: we have a friend, brother, sister, coworker - We put up with them because the words that they say makes us feel good
Or the words they say express what our heart desires - which is not always from God
Jeremiah says it this way:
5 Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
10 I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
The words become the bribes because this friend, brother, sister, mother - whoever it may be condone our unrighteous behaviours, behaviour which are not from the Lord then these words are bribes
We exchange our righteousness for good words - or make me feel good words
These words come through the Tongue
We compromise because we want people to know how good, intelligent, noble, righteous we are
So after the dead of Nadav and Avihu, God directs Moses to put together a manual to understand when the priest dies (like Nadav and Avihu)what are the mistakes they made and their personal consequences
Kodeshim explains the relationship instructions to prevent such inner dialogue that leads to tzara’at/leprosy and death
At that time, a human participant was required to remove his earthly shoes in order to experience the higher level of existence presented in the temple service
Many say, well we do not have to do that anymore.
That was a ritual.
It was so strict
Ritual increases mindfulness
It cannot substitute for the truthful internal speech
But we cannot understand and experience the holiness of the Devine Presence without ritual
2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
But we like freedom here in the West - we confuse / mix up freedom and being free
Freedom and rebellion
Rituals set the boundaries to know we are free but not necessarily having to be in rebellion
Another example of a ritual is the removing of the sandals:
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”
15 Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
33 ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
The holiness of the Lord requires reverence, boundaries
The freedom in God requires to follow his commandments
Presentation
Presentation
Let us begin with atonement
PURIFICATION WITH TWIN ANIMALS
1- Atonement for the High Priest
2 and the Lord said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
3 “Thus Aaron shall come into the Holy Place: with the blood of a young bull as a sin offering, and of a ram as a burnt offering.
The Priest cannot come at any time - specified by the Lord
Priest has to wait for the Lord to appear
To come in to the Holy Place - sacrifice a bull - get the blood, come in - SIN OFFERING
plus
A RAM - BURNT OFFERING
He has to dress in a specific way:
4 He shall put the holy linen tunic and the linen trousers on his body; he shall be girded with a linen sash, and with the linen turban he shall be attired. These are holy garments. Therefore he shall wash his body in water, and put them on.
He must wash in water before putting on white tunic - linen
symbolic of forgiveness - heavenly angels wear linen
Still until this day everyone celebrating Yom Kippur will wear white
6 “Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.
ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF
11 “And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself.
2- Atonement for the Congregation
He is asked to take two goats to the door of the house of meeting
5 And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering.
The congregation brings the two kids of the goats
SIN OFFERING (lamb)
A RAM BURNT OFFERING
7 He shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
8 Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.
9 And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering.
10 But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness.
Escape Goat = AZAZEL
6439 עֲזָאזֵל (ʿǎzā(ʾ)·zēl): n.[masc.] [oth n.pr. pagan demon god ]; ≡ Str 5799; TWOT 1593—LN 53.1–53.15 scapegoat, i.e., a goat released (not sacrificed) into the desert as a ceremony of releasing sin from the community out to a desolate place (Lev 16:8, 10,26+), note: the name of the goat may refer to a desert demon, or Satan; (asv, rsv, nrsv, nab, njb, reb, Tanakh) Azazel;
Yom Kippur - DAY OF ATONEMENT
2 goats
1 is sacrificed - as a SIN OFFERING
For the forgiveness of Israel’s sin
1 Escape Goat - taken outside the city of Jerusalem.
It was taken to a cliff to disappear and die, bearing and carrying aways the sins of the people for that year
15 “Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, which is for the people, bring its blood inside the veil, do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and before the mercy seat.
16 So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a suitable man.
3- Atonement for the Temple
17 There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel.
18 And he shall go out to the altar that is before the Lord, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around.
19 Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
20 “And when he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place, the tabernacle of meeting, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat.
27 The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy Place, shall be carried outside the camp. And they shall burn in the fire their skins, their flesh, and their offal.
28 Then he who burns them shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and afterward he may come into the camp.
29 “This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.
The 10th day of Tishri - Yom Kippur
Afflict your souls = to deny self = humble yourself
ATONEMENT
30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict your souls. It is a statute forever.
ATONEMENT
BLOOD
The primary atonement of an offering is affected by the blood service, not by the confession.
This is the power of the blood that takes away the sin of the world. We can see this in
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘No one among you shall eat blood, nor shall any stranger who dwells among you eat blood.’
13 “Whatever man of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell among you, who hunts and catches any animal or bird that may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust;
14 for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’
15 “And every person who eats what died naturally or what was torn by beasts, whether he is a native of your own country or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. Then he shall be clean.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
The confession of our sin is an essential part of REPENTANCE to receive the atonement.
In other words, in order for the blood to be of effect I must receive the atonement of the blood.
This means the blood does not depend on the repentance, but the removal of the sin depends on the blood.
Not repeating the sin requires repentance and confession which is at the end the fruit of having been forgiven.
Never again, do I want to do that again.
Atonement is one of God’s greatest gifts, whereby He allows a person to erase the sins of his past so that he can begin a better life, a life that is not limited by the corrosive effects of past sins.
Such a new beginning is not possible unless the sinner has repented, by
confronting his misdeeds
acknowledging his misdeeds
and resolving to change sincerely
This is the purpose of confession- a sincere declaration of remorse
People are unwilling to do something, or to acknowledge something, or to own something is going feel like hurt to them, more that they can bear
Do not be afraid to admit before the Lord your shortcomings. He is faithful
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’
The word use for atonement in the Hebrew in here is:
4114 כַּפֹּרֶת (kǎp·pō·rěṯ): n.[fem.]; ≡ Str 3727; TWOT 1023c—1. LN 40.13 atonement cover, lid, i.e., the ornamental top of the Ark of the Testimony, as the central place where sins are forgiven (Ex 25:17–40:20 passim; Lev 16:2–15 passim; Nu 7:89+), see also domain LN 53.16–53.27; note: some interp not as a place or thing, put as a procedure or performance of reconciliation, though context prefers the former; 2. LN 7.2–7.25 unit: בַּיִת כַּפֹּרֶת (bǎ·yiṯ kǎp·pō·rěṯ) temple, formally, house of atonement, i.e., that building which is separate from the porticoes and porches of the temple (1Ch 28:11+)
Consider the teachings of Paul
22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,
Merriam Webster:
Propitiation =
1- the act of gaining or regaining the favor or goodwill of someone or something : the act of propitiating : APPEASEMENT
a sacrifice in propitiation of the gods
2- something that propitiates or appeases
specifically : an atoning sacrifice
First known use: 15th Century
Propitiate
pro•pi•ti•ate \prō-ˈpi-shē-ˌāt\ verb transitive
Propitiate
-at•ed; -at•ing [Latin propitiatus, past participle of propitiare, from propitius propitious] 1583: to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of: appease, conciliate synonym see pacify—pro•pi•ti•a•tor \-ˌā-tər\ noun1
1 Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
The word Propitiation in Greek is:
2663 ἱλαστήριον (hilastērion), ου (ou), τό (to): n.neu.; ≡ DBLHebr 4114; Str 2435; TDNT 3.318—1. LN 40.12 means of forgiveness, a sacrifice of atonement (Ro 3:25+); 2. LN 40.13 place of forgiveness, atonement cover (Heb 9:5+)
Atonement by Merriam Webster’s
ex•pi•ate \ˈek-spē-ˌāt\ verb
-at•ed; -at•ing [Latin expiatus, past participle of expiare to atone for, from ex- + piare to atone for, appease, from pius faithful, pious] verb transitive circa 1500
1 obsolete: to put an end to
2 a: to extinguish the guilt incurred by
b: to make amends for 〈permission to expiate their offences by their assiduous labours—Francis Bacon〉 verb intransitive: to make expiation—ex•pi•a•ble \ˈek-spē-ə-bəl\ adjective—ex•pi•a•tor \-spē-ˌā-tər\ noun
ex•pi•a•tion \ˌek-spē-ˈā-shən\ noun
15th century
1: the act of making atonement
2: the means by which atonement is made
ex•pi•a•to•ry \ˈek-spē-ə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective
15th century: serving to expiate1
1 Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).
Which is the exact Hebrew parallel for:
4114 כַּפֹּרֶת (kǎp·pō·rěṯ): n.[fem.]; ≡ Str 3727; TWOT 1023c—1. LN 40.13 atonement cover, lid, i.e., the ornamental top of the Ark of the Testimony, as the central place where sins are forgiven (Ex 25:17–40:20
1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law),
9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The circumcision of the heart
SEXUAL IMMORALITY
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God.
3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the Lord your God.
5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the Lord.
6 ‘None of you shall approach anyone who is near of kin to him, to uncover his nakedness: I am the Lord.
7 The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness.
8 The nakedness of your father’s wife you shall not uncover; it is your father’s nakedness.
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 shall not uncover.
10 The nakedness of your son’s daughter or your daughter’s daughter, their nakedness you shall not uncover; for theirs is your own nakedness.
11 The nakedness of your father’s wife’s daughter, begotten by your father—she is your sister—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s sister; she is near of kin to your father.
13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother’s sister, for she is near of kin to your mother.
14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father’s brother. You shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt.
15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law—she is your son’s wife—you shall not uncover her nakedness.
16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother’s wife; it is your brother’s nakedness.
17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, nor shall you take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness. They are near of kin to her. It is wickedness.
18 Nor shall you take a woman as a rival to her sister, to uncover her nakedness while the other is alive.
19 ‘Also you shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness as long as she is in her customary impurity.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
ABOMINATIONS
16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
21 And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
23 Nor shall you mate with any animal, to defile yourself with it. Nor shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it. It is perversion.
24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you.
25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.
26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you
27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled),
28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you.
29 For whoever commits any of these abominations, the persons who commit them shall be cut off from among their people.
Cut off = exile from the community and left alone for God to judge.
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!
2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed.
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Closing
Closing
Has Yeshua become the atonement of my sin/ your sin, that we may continue to sin?
Paul answers that question like this:
Because of the covering that now we have in Yeshua...
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
The answer is NO
15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!
16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?
The answer is NO
How is this different from the Vayikra?
It is not
After having been redeemed from bondage from Egypt He gave
GIVING OF THE COMMANDMENTS
1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
3 ‘Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.
5 ‘And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will.
11 ‘You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.
12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.
13 ‘You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.
14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
15 ‘You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.
16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 ‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
19 ‘You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you.
20 ‘Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
These are His promises
He did not die so that we may continue to sin!
He died so that I could bare His righteous image
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Many times have I heard an explanation
We are not under the law but grace
which leads to grease grace - continue to sin
Freedom = rebellion
that He died so that I would not - TRUE
That He kept the commandments so that I would not - NO TRUE
Am I the only one saying this?
DEALING WITH SIN
A. W. Tozer
Many evangelical teachers insist so strongly upon free, unconditional grace as to create the impression that sin is not a serious matter and that God cares very little about it!
They make it seem that God is only concerned with our escaping the consequences.
The gospel, then, in practical application, means little more than a way to escape the fruits of our past!
But the heart that has felt the weight of its own sin and has seen the dread whiteness of the Most High God will never believe that a message of forgiveness without transformation is a message of good news.
To remit a man's past without transforming his present is to violate the moral sincerity of his own heart.
To that kind of thing God will be no party! For to offer a sinner the gift of salvation based upon the work of Christ, while at the same time allowing him to retain the idea that the gift carries with it no moral implications, is to do him untold injury where it hurts him most!
Listen to the warning
29 ‘Do not prostitute your daughter, to cause her to be a harlot, lest the land fall into harlotry, and the land become full of wickedness.
30 ‘You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord.
31 ‘Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.
32 ‘You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.
37 ‘Therefore you shall observe all My statutes and all My judgments, and perform them: I am the Lord.’ ”
Those are the Torah Portions for Today
Shabbat Shalom