Let me begin this morning with a story, a story only too familiar to many of us.
For traditions sake, I will tell it to you, as it was told to me, even though the specifics may not apply to this particular audience.
It goes like this:
One Sunday morning, as a couple awoke, the Wife nudged her Husband declaring, “Get up. We have to get to Church.”
“I’m not going to Church today!" Grumbled the Husband.
“Why not?” asked the Wife obviously concerned by his response.
“I don’t like those people!” He declared pulling the covers over his head.
“What do you mean?”
“Just like I said, I don’t LIKE them.” He replied.
“What’s wrong with the People at Church?”
“What’s wrong with them? What’s wrong with them, you ask?”
Taking a deep breath, he began to list the reasons of why he was not going to get out of bed.
“Well for one thing, they are all Sinners, and for another, they just take and take. They don’t love one another like they are supposed to. Many of them are hypocrites. They lie, they steal, and they do everything that they are not supposed to do! I’m tired of it, and I’m not going!” he shouted rolling over, and turning his back to his wife.
She was silent for a moment, thinking of all that he had just said. Then in a soft voice she declared, “But you have to go!”
“Give me one good reason why I HAVE to go!” the husband shouted back to his Wife.
“Well for one thing… You are the Pastor!”
And THIS is the reason that we hold our Services on Shabbat!
No, not really.
Do you ever have mornings like this? Mornings that you are just not motivated to do anything, to go anywhere, tired of the routine of it all? How about THIS morning?
What brought you here today, in spite of it all? I mean, we could have all had a REAL Shabbat and just slept in and stayed home, right?
Well, for one thing, we put our differences aside, and come to serve the LORD.
Amen?
BUT - Is this enough? Is it enough to do this unto the LORD, alone?
We just declared the Words of the Shema earlier, and added the context that states the words of our Mashiach, which proclaims that we are to also Love our Neighbours as ourselves. All of the Torah and the Prophets depend on these two Mitzvoth. Therefore, to declare that we are doing it unto the LORD is only half the effort. In spite of ourselves, we are to do it unto one another, as well.
This is His Command; I’m not making this up.
Yeshua said:
9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my Chaverim if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you Chaverim (“friends,”) for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my Mitzvah: Love each other. John 15:9-17
I began today’s message with some levity, because we are going to be dealing with some issues today which should make us uncomfortable, especially me, because as much as I am the one standing up here delivering this message, this doesn’t make me any less guilty of this behaviour. In fact, I might be, as Paul declared “The Chief among Sinners.”
This message was born through signs, wonders, prayer and divine instruction.
As a Leader of this Congregation, I am to be accountable to you. However, although I have given to you, according to the Gifting that was given to me, I have not been accountable to you. We have not been accountable to each other. At present, we are still operating as a Chaverim, a “Fellowship,” all the while we aspire to become a Community, but to become a Community, we must form structure to support that Community, and this requires Accountability on all our parts, and especially Leadership.
The LORD wants us to know, and to understand, that a Community is not built upon infrastructure alone, but on the foundation of LOVE.
I have come to service to “Do my part,” and to “Serve,” but from what motivation, A Vision? I was questioned by the LORD about my intents. Why would you want to lead this people? I know what I want to see, but is MY Vision, OUR Vision, in line with what the LORD wants to do here? -- This is the Question.
A couple weeks ago, when Michael was last away, I don’t know if all of you noticed, but many of us did take notice of a sign.
The 1st Candle of our Menorah burned out quickly, before we even began the Torah Service. This is unusual.
I was asked if we should replace it, but I refused stating, that this was a sign from the LORD. For some reason, I knew it. I honestly hoped that it was just a candle burning down quickly – A coincidence at best. However, I know better than anyone, that this word “Coincidence” is not a Kosher word. There is no such thing within God’s Creation. Everything is with reason.
I was asked what this meant. I directed those who asked to look up the meaning in Revelation, the LORD is speaking to us through the Menorah.
I’ll read now, how I interpreted this from Revelation 2:
“To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Kehilot. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Revelation 2:1-7
I took my own advice and read these words as well, and considered their meaning. As I did, it became quite apparent that the LORD was speaking through this event. He is here. He is among us, and He is watching.
A few months ago, I delivered a message about The Fear of the LORD. In this teaching we learned that the Fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom, and that Wisdom is not only knowing the Truth, but knowing what to do about it.
So, therefore, what do we do?
I have been dealing with Spiritual issues all my life, and in spite of myself, I have continued to walk in God’s grace in hope and expectation of His Salvation. This is where I put my Hope and Faith. All the same, I have also stated in my teaching, “Come as you are, just don’t STAY as you are.” Meaning that we must learn to Walk in His Ways, to be in the Light, as He is in the Light.
There comes a time where even the limits of Grace are Challenged. There comes a time of Trial, to see that we are even still in the Faith, or are we just going through the motions?
There comes a time where we must accept the Challenge, and strive for the higher calling, walking in Holiness, as He is Holy. This is what the Scriptures demand of us.
Is this something that we can do in and of ourselves? Is this the product of self-righteousness? Of course not. For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. For all have missed the Target, which is perfection.
Do we still lean upon His Grace? Always, but there comes a time that we must stop playing games with God’s Mercy and snap to attention and truly -- Shema!
Hear in order to Obey – to Do – To Exercise Emunah and actually Walk in Faith, rather than just talk about it.
Rav Sha’ul states;
11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
1 Corinthians 13:11
(In context, this is also a Writing about Love – If you are not attending any Weddings this summer, I would recommend you read it again anyway. It’s always a pleasure to read.)
There comes a time that we must step up to the next level, and grow. Is this easy? It hasn’t been for me. In many ways, I am still that child, and I have still not put away all those childish things. “It keeps me young!” I declare like so many. Fine. There’s nothing wrong with youth. In fact Yeshua declared:
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
The children are symbols of innocence and dependence. They depend upon the direction and provision of their parents. He is not talking about the foolishness of youth, where Sin is simply brushed away as “Boys will be boys.” There comes a Time that we must Grow into Maturity of Faith, and Walk accordingly. This is Halacha – This is “The Way” in which to Walk.
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Kehielot.”
He rebukes and disciplines those whom He loves. Let us consider it an honour that the LORD made the flame to go out, as a sign to us - to teach us, to have us look at ourselves in the light of the 7 Kehielot of Revelation. This is not about “Them.” This is about “Us.”
These words were given for “Us,” and not to them. These words are hidden from them, words that they wish not to see and understand, because they are content in whom and where they are. As for us, to those who have ears, let us “Shema” what the Spirit is saying to us, and not to them!
Let us listen and consider the Words of HaShem YHVH Tzvaot. I encourage you to read the messages to the 7 Kehilot of Revelation, and not only to see what He was declaring to “These Names” that are place holders, which are actually meant for us today, as well. Let us read, and take these messages to heart, and allow them to convict us, to help change us, and provoke us to T’shuva, returning to our first love. This is the very Reason that we are here, or should be here.
Amen?
The LORD is Watching, and He is Teaching.
So, therefore, let us Listen and Learn.
Now, let’s have a look at how this all ties into this Week’s Parasha.
As you know, when I deliver a message, they tend to be kind of on the meaty side, and therefore I know some of you like to take notes. Let me warn you now, in this Teaching there is a lot. Therefore, after the service, feel free to ask me for the link to my Blog, “Messianic Midrash” so that you can just listen now, as I’ve already taken the notes for you.
This week, we are looking at a double Parashot:
Tazria and Metzora.
Tazria means “she conceives” and Metzora means “one being diseased``
A question was asked last week, as it was asked from the year before, and was asked for the thousands of years before this, and will be asked until He reveals the fullness of it to us - but:
Why is there a difference between the time of purification between the Male Child, and the Female Child, as stated in Leviticus 12?
Many of us Midrashed this question, attempting to find the understanding behind this Mitzvah. The traditional answer is that since the blood of birth is equated with the blood of the monthly issue, then therefore the female child required double time, as once for the Mother, and the 2nd portion for the Daughter, as when she herself, in the future, fulfills the Mitzvah to "Be Fruitful and Multiply," she will then contribute to this “Uncleanness.”
Although I find this a bit of a stretch in Theology, I must admit that this is still the best understanding that I have come across so far.
However, in our Midrash, I feel that we have solved at least one aspect of this mystery, and that is that the whole Mitzvah is based around the Brit Milah, the Covenant of Circumcision. So, once we have this understanding, we are at least one step closer to the answer.
Basically, it comes down to this: The 1 week after the birth of the male child, was for the purpose of circumcision (On the 8th Day), and the proceeding 33 days, would equate to 40 Days in total, depicting the time of “Purification.” i.e.: Moses was on the Mountain for 40 Days, and Yeshua’s temptation lasted this long as well.
Here comes the question: Then why the 2 weeks and 66 days for the female child?
This part we could not solve, as of yet. Nevertheless, the time was simply doubled up, based upon the initial time stated for the Brit Milah. This is the focus of this mitzvah, and therefore the next point appears to depend upon the previous point.
In fact, the very word Tazria, which in itself actually means “Conceives,” when looked at closer within its application in Hebrew, has to do specifically with the male child, as it is not used within context when addressing the female child.
Let me demonstrate my meaning:
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: If a woman be ‘delivered,’ and bear a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of the impurity of her sickness shall she be unclean.” Leviticus 12:2
The word in this translation is “delivered,” which is Tazria in Hebrew. However, the Tazria is not The Birth, per se. It is the “Conception,” and the word for “Bear,” a man-child is “Va-Ya-La-Da” – Which is another word for “To Father,” or “To Bring Forth” the child. Therefore the Hebrew is taking into account the process involved, whereas the translators simply cut to the chase, when translating into English. Perhaps, they cut right over the most important part?
What does this matter? As I will further demonstrate later, understanding the layout in Hebrew, delivers a much clearer message than we receive in the English translation.
“But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her impurity; and she shall continue in the blood of purification threescore and six days.” Leviticus 12:5
The Word Tazria is not used in this context. The word “Taled” is used in this case, which is the same root word of “Ya-la-da” or “To Bear.” Which means that the word “To Bring Forth,” is common to the two verses, but the word Tazria or “Conceive” is not common. One could argue that, since Tazria was addressed in the previous verse, it would not need to be restated in the 5th verse, but since it has a specific meaning, I felt that there had to be more to it.
Therefore I looked to the Hebrew Word Picture to help get a better angle on the word Tazria. This is what I found it to mean in Ancient Hebraic thought:
“The Covenant to Cut the Head of the `Carnal` Eye” – If this is not a specific depiction of the Brit milah, I don’t know what is! Therefore, although the matrix of word translation places the English word “Conceive” to mean Tazria, Tazria is actually pointing more directly at the “conception” of the male child, and the preceding instruction of what must be done – The Circumcision.
When comparing this to the 1st Messianic prophesy, found in Genesis 3:15, we read:
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; they shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise their heel.' {S}”
The root word here, for “seed” is“Zarah” which is “Conceive,” which is the root word of Tazria. All this is to say that the Word Tazria is directing us back to Genesis 3:15 to tell us that this is speaking about the “Conception” of HaMashiach (Then Messiah). This word also stems from the concept of “Zakar,” which is the Hebrew word for “Remember.” This is the term that Moses used to defend Israel after the Sin of the Golden Calf. Moses asked God to “Zakar” (Remember) His Covenant with Avrahm, Yitzak, and Yacov. The Mark (the Zakar) of the Covenant is the Brit Milah – The Circumcision.
Another interesting connection to all this is that Yacov’s name means “to grab the heel,” because he grabbed onto Esau’s heel at birth. As you know Yacov becomes “Israel,” and “Rachel,” becomes his wife. The Man and the Woman (They) shall bruise thy head. This is a vision of “The Seed,”Yacov and Rachel, the Masculine and Feminine natures of Israel in prophesy. From this, the Tazria (conception) of Mashiach was declared. This also takes us to the womb battle of Perez and Zarah from Genesis 38 (there’s that word again), “Zarah” (to conceive) where we find Perez (“To Breach”) pulling Zarah back and fought his way out first, so that he would become the Father in the line of Mashiach.
The word of God is fascinating, in and of itself, but when you can read into the dimensions of Hebraic thought, there is just SO MUCH more in there! It’s exciting.
Now, I want to take you into the journey of Metzora. Again it means, “one being diseased”
The question is “diseased,” by what?
The word in Hebrew is Tzaraas. It is a bean shaped skin disease that would manifest in a variation of shades of white. According to the Rabbis, each shade would determine the level of severity and development. In fact, these shades where placed into 4 categories: Nature Wool, Snow, Egg Shell, and Chalk.
Does anyone else find it odd that this “disease” was determined by shades of white? White, in biblical terms, is usually a symbol of redemption or in Hebrew “Taharah” meaning “Restored.” Which is the word used to describe when you are delivered from Tzaraas. Ironic? –Maybe.
What I find interesting, is that Red is used to describe Sin, as in the Scarlet thread used on the goat released for the Azezel, and white is the color it turns when atonement is accepted. Tzaraas would almost appear to work in reciprocate, but once we understand its purpose, the picture becomes more clear.
Translators, unable to explain what it was to the audience that they were translating for, decided to go with “leprosy” as a translation, because it was the closest skin disease to what the Scriptures deemed “Tzaraas” to be.
We know that it was, in fact, not “Leprosy,” because the Scriptures go on to teach of what to do when Tzaraas affects a house. Leprosy, a skin disease, does not directly affect a house with the same manifested symptomology. The Rabbis deem Tzaraas, as a specific punishment or “chastisement” for those guilty of particular un-confessed sins. Meaning that, this was onset by a Spiritual condition, rather than a Physical condition. Simply put, it was a Spiritual sickness, manifested in a Physical form.
In the case where Tzaraas would appear, it was indicative that the victim was hiding their transgression instead of confessing their Sin, and going to the Priest with the prescribed restitution. Therefore, if they were not going to follow HaShem’s instruction on HOW to deal with Sin, He was going to strike them with Tzaraas to provoke them to deal with it. This could be viewed either as a blessing or a curse, depending on how you look at it. As we had read earlier in Revelation 3, the LORD chastises and disciplines those that He loves. Therefore, this was a warning of judgment, rather than the judgment itself.
What does Proverbs 9:8 say?
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.”
Perhaps the Tzaraas was the LORD’s way of saying that I want to make you white, but there is something holding you back… Deal with it.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Now there is a word used in Isaiah 53:4, “Nagua” that depicts a similar notion as Metzora.
This word, Nagua is significant within the Messianic debate over WHO will be the Messiah, in Rabbinical Jewish thought.
Isaiah 53:4 reads:
4 Surely our diseases he did bear, and our pains he carried; whereas we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
This word is translated as “Stricken.” Now, although there is no direct reference here to “Tzaraas,” or as some translations call “Leprosy,” this word “Nagua” is accepted by the Rabbis to imply Tzaraas. It is accepted, because in the Scripture, Tzaraas was not contracted by any other means, other than to be “Stricken” by God, based on a Spiritual affliction. You could not simply acquire Tzaraas by a communicable contraction. Therefore, if you showed signs of it, it was given to you by Hashem.
From this Scripture in Isaiah, some Rabbis believed that the Messiah, or Mashiach ben Yosef (The Suffering Servant) would be struck with Tzaraas. However, if this is the case, and as the structure of the verse states, “Surely our Tzaraas, He did bear…” He was not ‘stricken’ with Tzaraas per se, but we “esteemed” him stricken. It would appear, as the Scripture is written, that by our own “estimation,” that this was the case, but it does not say that he WAS, it simply states that this is how we PRECIEVED it.
This provoked me to further study this word, “Nagua.” I once again turned to my Ancient Hebrew word pictures for some deeper insight.
This is what I saw:Nagua – “The Life of the ‘Investigator’ is within what he sees.” He is plagued (afflicted) by what he sees. He is plagued, because he is only driven by what he sees. This is because; he has only learned to see with his eyes, and not with the Spirit. Therefore by our estimation, we esteemed Him “Nagua,” whereas WE were the ones not “seeing” the real picture.
Why are we always so motivated by what we see, or think we see? Our goals are driven by “Vision,” but what if our Vision is out of focus? What if we are simply Judging by the sight of our Eyes, and by the hearing of our Ears? What does the Word teach us about Our Messiah?
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; Isaiah 11:3
What does this mean?
We may interpret this to mean that “Justice is blind,” which is to say that, “Prejudice” does not affect His final Judgement. The real question is how CAN a Judge, judge without using his eyes and ears to hear the case, and see the evidence? There has to be something more to this meaning. What does it mean?
What does it mean, when we do the opposite of Moshiach?
In order to understand this Mystery, we must look deeper into the Hebrew.
I have found within my study process that by simply studying the Translation from the Hebrew, without going deeper into the Hebrew understanding itself, leaves room for great error. The Translators are not specific enough, perhaps with reason. There could be various reasons why, from the fact that the Word in English does not have a specific equivalent, and therefore it is left up to us to study.Perhaps for the purpose of the translation, and to deliver the gist of the message, the closest word has been chosen. Then again, there could be a more malicious reason, such as to hide something. If this were the case, I would hope that it was hidden for the purpose of encryption, rather than to intentionally mislead.
Regardless of the reason, the fact stands that the translations are just that, translations, and as I have discovered, we still need to study to show ourselves approved. If we truly want The Truth, then we must become intimate with His Word, by Midrash, or deeper investigation. This is caused by a hunger, of which the LORD Himself gives as a gift.
How did I come to this conclusion? Well, what does the Word of God say?10The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”
11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
In other words, they were not hidden from us, but rather they were hidden for us.
Therefore, as I looked deeper into the Hebrew context, I found the hidden clue.
Isaiah 11:3 reads:
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears;
But by knowing that the “Translation” only touches the surface, I knew that I had to dig into the intent of the Spirit of the Word – Here is how it reads when connecting to the Spirit of Hebrew thought and staying closer to the Word for Word translation:
The “Essence” of who He is, is found within the Reverence of YHVH. Not by what it “seems” or “appears” to the Eyes, does He (Spit) His decision of (Judgement), nor by the “sense” of His Ears.
It pretty much says the same thing, as the other translations, but key words are missing, and these “Key” words leave out the clue that connects the transitive nature to Yeshua’s teaching. Let me demonstrate:
Now, within Hebrew Grammar, the words do not slide together in the same sequence as they do in English, and therefore, if we were to simply read them in their Hebraic order, they would not fit in the construct of English Grammar. What makes this interesting is that in Hebrew, the last word of this sentence is " יוֹכִיחַ " “Yochia,”which means to Spit.
It can also mean “To make,” but neither is literally translated, but is lost within the translation to English Grammar.
“Spit and to Make”
Now, do these words mean anything to you?
This is why I see this as an encrypted clue and purposely left out in the translation:
Let us go to John Chapter 9.
And it reads:
9 As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Yeshua, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground (He did what? – He spit on the ground), made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go,” he told him,“wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
8 His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was.
Others said, “No, he only looks like him.”
But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”
10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked.
11 He replied, “The man they call Yeshua made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him.
“I don’t know,” he said.
13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Yeshua had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”
But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.
17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”
The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?”
20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Yeshua was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”
24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.”
25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”
27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?”
28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.”
30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
35 Yeshua heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.”
37 Yeshua said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
39 Yeshua said,[a] “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Yeshua said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.
Has anyone ever thought about this English word, “Thus?” What does “Thus” mean to you? Some see this to mean, “This” is what the LORD says: Hence the phrase, “Thus says the LORD of Hosts.” The Word in Hebrew is “Koh,” and can be translated as “Thus,” but in Hebrew it also means to “To Dim,” or “Make Dark.”
Now, when you understand the Hebrew context, you understand what Yeshua is saying to the Pharisees. When the prophet declares “Thus says the LORD of Hosts,” it is followed with the word “Omar,” which means “To Say.”
This would be better translated to, “Although darkness (blindness) has fallen, I will show you the way.” This has a much more profound intent, and fits into line with what Yeshua is describing in this Chapter of John.To put simply, this is a Hebraism that metaphorically connects the Night or Darkness with Blindness. All the while, the LORD of Host declares, “In spite of the darkness that I have made, I will give YOU the light (the knowledge).”
Let’s look at another clue:
The “Essence” of who He is, is found within the Reverence of YHVH. Not by what it “seems” or “appears” to the Eyes, does He (Spit) His decision of (Judgement), nor by the “sense” of His Ears. There is another Clue within the Structure of the Sentence. The first word is “וַהֲרִיחו“ ("Va-ha-ri-ho") a variance of "Ruach" - Meaning, “and the Spirit.”
Now, in the translation, this word is not even literally translated. This is why I used the term “Essence” within my version.
This is where we are learning something else that is simplified within the Brit Hadasha.
I’ll quote form 2 Corinthians, and Rav Sha’ul writes:4 Such confidence we have through Mashiach before HaShem. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from Elohim. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
The essence of Judgement is found in the Fear of the LORD, and not by what we think we see or hear. The letter, when viewed by the Ears and Eyes alone, will bring death – Murder, in fact -- Character Murder, and this is the essence of Gossip. This type of Judgement is called “Shofet,” or “Final.”
When we make (spit)“Shofet” and make a final judgement on a person’s character by what we see and hear, is this not what we are doing?
The Scriptures do tell us that we will know them by their fruit (spiritual fruit), but how are we to respond to this. If a person, by their actions and behaviour, which is to demonstrate their Emunah (Faith), displays things questionable, do we judge them based upon what WE see, or do we realize that there is a whole other dynamic working under the surface?Do we realize, like the translations that I have just addressed, that things are getting lost in the perception of what we understand? Perhaps that person does suffer from some issues, and we are simply making or spitting judgement without knowing all the spiritual facts?
Isn’t it funny that while a person is still alive, we gossip and bite back behind their back, but once that person passes on, all of a sudden, they become a Saint? What’s that all about? Perhaps it is at that point, we (The human side of us) realizes that that could be us, and then we begin to justify our Sins, by Grace. By reflecting Grace on the deceased, we are asking God to have mercy upon our own sin. All the while, while that person was still alive, they could do no right!
This is the sin of Gossip. This is also known as Character Murder. By speaking ill of someone, we in turn destroy that person’s name and reputation within the community. This is likened to murder.
The LORD commanded us to not only Love Him, but to Love our Neighbour as ourselves. This is to say, imagine what would happen if the words that you spoke of another were spoken of you, and based upon how the community accepted these words, this would be like killing your reputation –destroying your name and character within the Community. You may as well be dead.
Would anyone ever trust you again?
Does this mean that we must only speak good of people, even if their deeds are Evil?
Did Yeshua speak of the evil deeds of Men? Of course He did. The key is to understand the difference about unrepentant sin, and the gentle correction of a teacher, or wise man. This type of gentle correction is called “Dan.” It is the Judgement of correction, rather than “Shofet,” or “The Final Judgement.”|
Let’s look at Yeshua’s approach to correction.
First, He would rebuke the Sin. This gave the Sinner opportunity to recognise the Sin without direct accusation, and then repent. Then, second, if the Sinner, refused to repent, then He would remind them of the fact that we were in fact, “Sinners,” by pointing out more obvious issues. However, if they then rebuked Him, defending their so-called Righteousness, then He would draw His Sword and as Isaiah declared:
4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the land; and he shall smite the land with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. Isaiah 11:4
Once again, I will quote from Proverbs 9:8
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
We should not take rebuke as offensive, as long as its purpose is to inevitably restore our place with God. This is the essence of Dan.
Therefore, as we look to the Message of the Menorah, and the Words of Revelation 2 and 3, then we look at these words of Chastisement from our Loving LORD, who wants us to do better, as He is willing to help us be all that He has designed us to be.Now, before I conclude today, I wanted to draw your attention to one last point.
Read with me again from Leviticus 14:
33 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 34 When ye are come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession; 35 then he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying: 'There seemeth to me to be as it were a plague in the house.' 36 And the priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest go in to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean; and afterward the priest shall go in to see the house. 37 And he shall look on the plague, and, behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and the appearance thereof be lower than the wall; 38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days. 39And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house; 40 then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which the plague is, and cast them into an unclean place without the city. 41And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the mortar that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place. 42 And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house. 43 And if the plague come again, and break out in the house, after that the stones have been taken out, and after the house hath been scraped, and after it is plastered; 44 then the priest shall come in and look; and, behold, if the plague be spread in the house, it is a malignant leprosy in the house: it is unclean. 45And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.Now, as I read this, my mind travelled forward to Matthew Chapter 24.
Yeshua left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2“Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
Just prior to this, in Matthew 21, as Yeshua enters Jerusalem through the Eastern Gate, and is proclaim publically and officially as “Ha Mashiach,” He then proceeded to the Temple. As He reaches the Temple, and sees all that has become of “His Father’s House,” Yeshua reacts to this with anger.
“My Father’s House shall be called the House of Prayer!”
It was at this point that Yeshua declared Tzaraas upon the Temple, and therefore the reason that He made this proclamation in Matthew 24.
This was His declaring that the Tzaraas was malignant, and that the Temple needed to be destroyed, and as History tells us, it was some 40 years later. One other key point is that it is believed that Yeshua was 33 years old, when He spoke these words. I’ll let you think about those numbers, in reference back to the question of Tazria.
Chaverim, let’s take heed to what the LORD has declared among us, lest we become like our People of the Days of Old, and reject His chastisement. Let us make sure that we have not allowed the Tzaraas to enter into our Community. Let us not become so focused upon our Vision, or HOW we see or perceive what we think the LORD is doing, and just ask Him.
Most importantly, let us remember why we are here. We are here because we Love the LORD, and want to see His message declared, but we are also here, because we truly love one another, and want to share in each other’s fellowship.
If we do not, as the LORD promised, and as History has taught us, He will keep His Word, and this Ministry and our Candle Stick will be removed.Remember if there is a Hypocrite standing between You and God, that Hypocrite is closer to God than you are.
Let us pray:
