Parasha Tzav

This Week's Parasha is called “Tzav” or "Command."


We continue this week with the Sacrifices.


The question that our Midrash Group stumbled upon last week, which we revisited this week, was the fact that there is No Sacrifice for "Intentional" Sin.   --  None.  What does this mean?
Have we not all committed Intentional Sin, Sin that is committed knowing full well that it was wrong? 


Did Moses not know that he was not supposed to strike the rock, the Sin that carried the consequence that he would not enter the Promised Land?


Did David not know that his behaviour with Bathsheba was breaking the commands of the Torah?  Thou Shalt not commit Adultery – Thou Shalt not Murder – Thou Shalt not Bare False Witness – Thou Shalt not Covet thy Neighbour’s Wife.


Did Peter not understand that by denying the LORD before men was Intentional Sin?  That's some SHORT TERM Memory...  Because Yeshua had just told him that this would happen only a few Hours earlier!  “Truly I tell you,” Yeshua answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” Matthew 26:34 


Peter even denied THAT!  Even prior to this, in Matthew 10 - Yeshua said, “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 10:33


By “Our” definition, these Sins were "Intentional," because Peter, like David and Moses, were not ignorant of The Law, or of what was Right and Wrong.  Nevertheless, they Sinned – Intentionally.
BUT - There was no sacrifice for Intentional sin.  -- Why?


We can take the Easy Road, and like Theology today, simply declare, "That was the Old Testament!"  However, the Truth is, is that God is the Same Today, and So is Sin.  We know that Yeshua caused the Blood Sacrifice for Sin to end, but this does not change the fact that there WAS no Sacrifice for "Intentional Sin," and so We are forced to ask, "How does this play out in the economy of Transgressions and Atonement?" 


Yes – It does matter, because there is a Deeper Spiritual Message within the Sacrifices, and this is the Message that God wanted us to understand, BY the Sacrifices. 


Does this mean that there was no atonement for intentional Sin, until Messiah?  This would mean that all who had committed Intentional Sin before Yeshua’s Death on the Cross, died in their guilt, and therefore were "Cut off from their People" -- Damned?  I'm sure that Theology has an opinion on this, but so do I.  Let’s look deeper into this matter. 


To say that there was no atonement for Intentional sin, would be like stating that "Intentional Sin" is the “unpardonable sin,” of which there is no forgiveness.  Let's come back to this in a moment.


First, let's look to the Foundation (The Scriptures - Aka: The Torah - Aka: "The Old Testament.") for Understanding.  I learn this everyday as I study the Scriptures.  Some words, ideas and concepts do not translate as easy as they should.  In the process of avoiding interpretation of Scripture, the Translators try to remain as close to the word for word conversion as possible.  This means that certain idioms are carried over, and it is our duty as readers, and interpreters of God's Word, to apply the required logic to understand what is being said.


For example, the word "Say" in Hebrew, as in "Say unto the Children of Israel," can be either "Omar" or "D'var."  They are both "Say," or "Speak," but have very different applications.  The word "Omar," is a more specific Order or a Command (Tzav), requiring specific adherence, whereas D'var is for the sake of education, with the intent of eventual acquired understanding.  Does this mean that D'var is a "Suggestion?"  No!  This word is not an appropriate translation, and therefore the word "Say," is used to describe the initiation of the conversation.  Meaning that D’var is only the beginning.  "Omar" is the Goal of "D'var."  A very different way of thinking, isn't it? 


This is why I continually declare, “We must be conformed to God's Word, and not the other way around.”  Of course I mean the Hebraic understanding, rather than what we think it means or SHOULD mean.


The word "Say," does not really carry the impact of the implied use of these words in Hebrew, and therefore it is up to us to discover the difference between the two meanings.  There is some work involved in Reading the Word of God.  It's not just a "Nice Story."


Therefore, when the Translators translate the word "Shagagah" to "Unintentional"  - They are applying a qualifier to the word "Chattah," (Sin).  They do not have a word to describe "Intentional Sin," simply because Intentional Sin - IS SIN - "Chattah".  That's exactly WHAT Sin is.  The word "Shagagah" is introduced to indicate the "unintentional" aspect of Sin.  The point is, "Shagagah" or not, Sin is still SIN! 


There is no Hebrew Word to qualify “Intentional Sin,” because there is no need. 
“Shagagah” is used to identify that God is acknowledging the possibility of ignorance.   This is simply an extra measure of Grace applied to the person who feels guilt for something that they did not intent to do, all the while, acknowledging that Sin is still Sin, intentional or not.  Therefore, God provides Grace, and the Transgressor remains within the Covenant, by administering the applicable sacrifice for the Shagagah (Unintentional) Transgression.


Our Midrash on this lead to this idea:  The Reason that Intentional Sin is not covered is because, when you Commit Sin, you are (As it stands according to Scripture) "Cut off from your People." (Leviticus 17:10)  Now, some may think that this term means - "Put to Death," or "Cast out of the Community," but you have to look at the term, "Gathered unto His People," (Genesis 25:8) to understand the reciprocate idiom.


Does anyone know what it means to be "Gathered unto your people?"  It means that when you pass on, "your people," are your Spiritual Family.  Therefore, if you are "Cut off" from your people, you will not be "Gathered unto them."  These are Hebraic Idioms which depict as we would say today, "Heaven or Hell."


Now, if by breaking a Law, you are "Cut Off" from your people, then therefore you are damned.  This is the simple consequence of Sin.  You’re out of Covenant, because you Broke Covenant.  This is the POINT of a Covenant!


But - Is that it?  The Final Judgement?  No...  There is repentance.  This is where "D'var" comes into play; "Education for the purpose of Instruction and eventual completeness."  There is no word in English that holds this meaning.  Again "Suggestion," does not cut it. 


If you sin, you are spiritually "Outside" the Camp – Outside the Covenant - Dead.  Therefore, you must renew your covenant with God, and start anew.  Even the Nazarites had to do this upon breaking oath.  "Start again."


There was no Ritual Sacrifice for repentance, because Sacrifice is for those within the Covenant.  If you leave the Covenant, you are at the mercy of God's Grace.  There are no guarantees for your safe return.  Should you die in your Sin, then comes the Shofet or "final" judgement. 


Therefore, once you are outside the Covenant, there is no Sacrifice.  You must first return into the Camp of the Covenant, and then the Sacrifices once again apply.  In the same manner that Messiah's Sacrifice for the Forgiveness of Sin is inapplicable to those outside the protection of The New Covenant.  You have to agree to Messiah’s Covenant in order for it to apply to you.  This is HOW a Covenant works!


However, if you are outside the Covenant, there is no applicable sacrifice for Sin, simply because you are no longer in the Covenant, until you return into the LORD's Grace.  By Repentance and "Emunah" (Actions of Repentance), Trusting that God is Faithful and Just to forgive us, we are now restored into the Covenant of Grace, and The Sacrifice is once again applicable to us, but WE MUST REPENT!


Confused?  This is the point.  We have become so ignorant of God's Word, in its Hebraic application, that we have superimposed our own ideas into it, and we have created the Confusion.  The LORD is not the author of Confusion.  I Corinthians 14:33


We are so far removed from God's Law, that we haven't taken the time to familiarize ourselves with the concepts.  Therefore, we are confused that when we Sin, we actually become outside the Covenant.  Are we welcome back in?  Of course, but we must first REPENT - "T'Shuva" - Return to the LORD, and upon our return and His acceptance of us, we are then allowed to follow the other protocols of the Covenant.


Which, in the time of the Aaronic Order, was the Sacrifice.  Today, it has to do with Pesach.  Although, we enact this concept during what we call Communion, Paul teaches us that we are not to take part in the Pesach (The LORD’s Supper) “Unworthy.”
27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Messiah eat and drink judgment on themselves.
30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.  I Corinthians 11:27-32


Now, this position should raise a lot of questions about how this applies to Hebrew Chapter 6, but this being a Drash, we do not have the time to address this, at this time.  Never the less, the Midrash Study will allot time to further explore this matter.


However, before I go: I just wanted to leave this with you.  If there was a Hebraic Understanding of “Intentional Sin,” it would be known as “Disregard for the D’var.”  This is a state of heart, and attitude that depicts the rejection of the very conviction provided by the Ruach HaKodesh.  This is the Sin, “The Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit,” that Yeshua speaks of. 


Rabbi Sha’ul (Paul) teaches us in Romans 11 that, “The LORD is severe with whom He is severe,” and who are we to be His Counsellor?  Only the LORD knows the inner workings of our Hearts, and therefore, Let Him be the Shofet (Final Judge).  


Like Pharaoh, who The LORD had made his heart “Chazak” (Strong), once his Will had become solid, and the tenderness of heart was no longer there, then there was no place for the Ruach to Work.  This is a point of no return, and as Yeshua taught, “for such there is no Forgiveness.”  There is no Conviction.  There is no Covenant.  There is no Sacrifice. 


The indication that you have not committed this "Intentional Sin," is that you still desire to repent (return).  It is only by the Ruach that we are given the desire to T’Shuva (Turn Back). 


This is why David Writes in Psalm 51:


1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion  blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict  and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 
6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.  
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the ones you have crushed rejoice. 
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 
15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 
17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 
18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar. 


David is not saying that,  "We don't need to Sacrifice, as The LORD had prescribed in His Torah," he is saying, "Once we understand that it is a matter of how our heart perceives the purpose of the Sacrifice, then, and only then, may we offer our Sacrifice."


This is Why Yeshua taught us:


23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.  Matthew 5:23-24


If you do not adhere to Messiah’s Teaching, your Sacrifice becomes “Pigul” (Non-Kosher - "Unacceptable" - Rejected) – Worthless.


Pesach is coming, therefore remember; as Yochanan the Immerser declared, “T’shuva (Repent) and Make Straight the Way of The LORD!”


May YHVH Bless you.