This Week’s Parasha is called Emor, or “Say.” This Parasha deals with the specifics of conduct for the Kohen, and Kohen Gadol.
Moses was to direct the Priests and the High Priest on what was and was not Kosher for them, and so the Parasha is called “Emor” as in “Say” or “Instruct” the Kohenim in the Way in which they should go.
The directive for the Priests is Kadosh. Therefore I entitled this Week’s Message, “Kadosh L’cha” or “Holy unto You.”
As any study begins, this one began with a question:
What does it mean to be “Kadosh L’cha,” – “Set apart for Him?”
Rav Kefa teaches us in 1 Peter 1:15-16
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Have you ever tried to be Holy, as He is Holy? Has anyone here today been successful in this endeavour … To be, “Holy, as the LORD?”
This is the question, isn’t it: Could anyone be as “Holy” as God?
It’s funny how our language, and how we think within that language, has an effect upon our thoughts, and Theology.
Do we even understand what it means to be Holy?
The term, in English, has come to mean “Sinless,” “Dedicated,” “Unblemished” or “Pure.” Is this what Kadosh actually means in Hebrew? As many of you know, Kadosh simply means to be “Set Apart.” This is how we should perceive the Hebraic notion of “Kadosh,” or “Holy.”
The longer that we hold onto these Greco/Anglo understandings of our Language, the longer it will take for us to begin to understand the original intent of Biblical Teachings.
No, I’m not saying that you need to speak Hebrew in order to understand the Bible. What I am saying is that Hebrew is more than just another language; it is a way of Thinking. Therefore, when certain words are Translated, they are not really Translated. The closest word is chosen to identify the concept, however if the language that the idea is being translated into, has pagan influence on the structure of the thought, based upon this people’s theological perception, then those ideas are also mixed into the Translation. This is a fact. This cannot be avoided. This is why I always declare, “We must be conformed to God’s Word, rather than interpret it to fit our perception.” Amen?
The Hebrew word, “Kadosh” is meant to imply “Everything in its rightful place.” This is why, as you will notice, within Scripture, that the LORD is constantly commanding for us NOT to mix the Holy with the Common, NOT to blend the Holy with the profane. Keep everything in its rightful place.
Tell me now, by a raise of hands, who among us has not though about why certain bodily functions can make us “Ritually Unclean?” Does this sound “Fair?” Why would some necessary actives, like caring for the Dead, render us “defiled?” Does this make sense to us, or do we think that this is simply based upon some ancient Mid-East Hocus Pocus?
We have to admit that there are certain aspects of the Scriptures that make us go, “Why,” even if it is that ever so quiet voice of reason, in the back of our heads, gingerly questioning “The Word of God.”
Don’t EVER be afraid to question God’s Word. In fact, the very reason it exists is for us to question it, and examine it. Your desire to understand its mysteries is the very foundation of our dependant relationship on HaShem! It is our Hunger and Thirst for His Righteousness that Blesses the LORD.
Go ahead, question it, but ask Him! Ask Him to reveal the Truth, through His Word. Don’t be afraid, He can handle it. He is the best Teacher.
“But Daniel, what if I get it wrong? What if I think I understand something, when, in fact, I don’t? What if I’m called a ‘Heretic’ if I think this or that?” There’s a lot of “What ifs there.” Ironically, these are also good questions, but the Bible has answers for all these questions as well. Now, go and Study. Go, find your answers, they are waiting there in the depths of His Word. As you do, you will find that He is right beside you, looking over your shoulder, smiling, waiting to reveal a part of Himself, just for you.
Sometimes, this is the only way that some of us can learn. I could not sit through a Bible School class, learning from a Book, I know, I tried! Midrash was the only thing that worked for me, I needed to be a part of the investigation, but we are all different.
We are all different, and we learn at different paces. We come from different backgrounds. We are affected by different stimuli. There is no one size fits all when it comes to education, nor is there only one walk for everyone who walks with the LORD. He takes us each by the hand, and teaches in the best way for us.
Most of the time, if not all the time, the reason a student fails, is because of the Teacher. Even for those students that are unreachable, the Teacher is the one that takes responsibility for this. The Teacher’s job is to find a way into the mind, so that that mind can understand.
That is the miracle of God’s personal relationship with us, and His style of Teaching. With the LORD, it can be one size fits all, because of His Ruach HaKodesh (His Holy Spirit), He can teach us all at our own level, if we are willing to learn.
Has anyone ever taught you why we have 4 Gospels?
Has anyone ever bothered to ask why? Couldn’t we have compiled everything into one Gospel and called it something like, “Mathrukohn?”
I was taught once that 4 Gospels were chosen, as 4 witnesses, 4 different accounts of the same story, from 4 different perspectives, to show that although there are some variances within the story, they all pretty much affirm that these events actually took place.
However, I was also taught later, another reason, and that is that each of the 4 Gospels is addressing 4 different classes, or groupings within Israel’s mix.
For example: Matthew’s focus is on lineage and pedigree, indicating that he is speaking to the upper, noble class, of Israel. Right after, Mark, the bare bones Gospel, focuses on the common man’s connection to Agriculture and the Land. Luke, initially a Righteous Gentile, who converted to become a Jew, addresses his letters to Theophilus, who most scholars speculate to be another Gentile coming to Faith. Luke addresses the Philosophical or “Greco” minds of Israel. Finally we have the Mystic John, whose words are filled with mystery and symbolism, the deep, Midrashic writer of the Gospels. John’s writings from the Gospel to Revelation take us deep into the heart of the Prophets, connecting the Aleph to the Tav.
Just like the 4 Questions, asked at the Pesach Seder, by 4 very different children. We, His Talmudim today, have opportunity to be addressed in a class that best suits the way that He created us, and the way that we are able to learn. This is Grace. The Torah has been explained to each category of Israelite, “Gentile Believer” included, within these 4 Questions, these 4 Gospels.
This is HOW we should understand Grace. Grace is what God provides, when He is unable to get through into our Thick Heads. However, even Grace has its limits.
Therefore, don’t worry about “Getting it Wrong.”
Even the Best of us can’t seem to get it Right. Does that mean that we do not even need to try? God forbid… He is going to teach us, and Grace will provide where we fall short … AND we will fall short. This is why we depend on His Ruach HaKodesh to guide us, and we depend upon each other for fellowship, and Midrash, so that we can help sharpen each other, as Iron sharpens Iron.
Sometimes we can feel so overwhelmed and bewildered. There is just SO MUCH to learn! Every time I think I understand something, I only discover that this was just the beginning of a whole other set of things to learn. Thank God for this.
Could you imagine ever reaching a place in your studies, that you are done, that’s it, You Actually know it all. The End. Just imagine that void. What would you do with yourself? No – Thank the LORD that there is just not enough time in Life to know it all. It is the pursuit of knowing Him that keeps us humble, and keeps us striving for that higher calling. With the LORD, there is no End. He is Eternal! Baruch HaShem!
You know; if you ever feel like you are just not getting it, don’t let that discourage you. In fact, I look to Yeshua’s Talmudim, when I am feeling frustrated with understanding something, and ironically, I am encouraged. I am encouraged by how thick these guys were. They had opportunity to WALK right with Him, and they didn’t get it. I thank the LORD for His Spirit that teaches us, because look at them before they received "The Comforter" that Yeshua had promised them. Wow!
Check this out:
Yeshua said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.”
What do you think that He meant by this?
At first His Talmudim thought that He meant that they forgot to buy bread.
I remember reading this, as a younger man, and laughing to myself, like I was watching an episode of the 3 Stooges or something.
“We forgot to buy bread. Whose turn was it to buy bread? Matthew, you were supposed to buy bread, and now we have no bread. I got the bread last time. Tell Judah to go buy bread, he’s got the money. Judah, go get the bread… Matzo, Challah, Bagels, whatever, just get some bread already!!!”
Now, as “Loving” a LORD as we know our Mashiach is, He didn’t hold back in calling it like it is…
Let me give you some examples of His reaction to these "to be," Teachers of our Faith:
“Are you still so dull?” Matthew 15:16
“You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand?” Matthew 16:8-9
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Matthew 16:23
“Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?” John 14:9
-THICK-
He is speaking to His very own. These were the men that literally walked with Him. These are the ones that He chose. These were His beloved, and yet He spoke to them in this manner. Was this tone lacking in love?
No – for goodness sake, Go to Israel! This is the nature of a Sabra. A Sabra is actually an Israeli cactus. It is also the name of an Israeli who was born in the Land. This name was adopted, because these Israeli cactus are typically hard and prickly on the outside, but when you cut them open, they are soft and sweet in the middle – The Cactus that is... But so are the Israeli People, metaphorically. They make for a good Afikoman – "Dessert" – Again, I’m referring to the cactus.
I found that when I went to Israel, that I had to get some tough skin pretty fast. They are not like us easy going, always apologizing for everything, “Excuse me” saying, “How’s it going eh?” -- Canadians. Israelis answer their phones with, “Ma?” as in “What?” – “Why are you calling me?” – “Get to your point, I don’t have time for small talk.” That’s just the Hello!
Therefore, a tongue lashing is common within our culture, especially when someone appears to be not getting it, when they are capable. The most important point here is, “When they ARE capable.”
I get angry at my children sometimes, when they do foolish things, and I am clear to point it out when it happens, but I always back up my rebuke with reinforcing the fact that “They know better,” and that “They are capable of doing better.”
This is not calling someone stupid, or belittling their esteem. This is reaffirming their intelligence, all the while, questioning their ability to reason, and to do that which is right. I’m not in the business of “Do and Don’ts,” without explanation. I teach my children to ask why or how they ended up at these crossroads. Think – Reason. What lead you to this point? Sound a bit harsh? Maybe, to a Canadian.
My point is that Yeshua wasn’t a Tea toting gentleman, or a pretentious scholar, He behaved as an Israeli of His day, and told it like it is. Did people get their feelings hurt when He spoke?
Let’s have a look what the Word of God says:
7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:8 “‘These people honour me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.9 They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules. ’[c] ”
10 Yeshua called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
12 Then the Talmudim came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?”
13 He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. 14 Leave them; they are blind guides.[d] If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”
Matthew 15:7-14
Now THAT’s a Sabra!
But this leads me back to “The Leaven of the Pharisees.” What is the Leaven of the Pharisees?
Now, according to the verse, it states:
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
What is this doctrine?
Was He simply addressing the specific teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees, Halachic Law, (You know that “Jewish Stuff”) or was He addressing the Spirit of their doctrine?
To get a better understanding of the Master’s point, we must look at what provoked this comment, because obviously His Talmudim were clueless at the time that He had stated it.
What happened just before He uttered these timeless, and thought provoking words?
Well, let’s look at the context. At the end of Matthew Chapter 15, we see that 4000 People were fed with some few loaves and fishes, and then at the beginning of Chapter 16, we read:
“The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Yeshua and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.” Matthew 16:1
Then in verses 8-12 we read:
8 Aware of their discussion( regarding the literal interpretation of the bread), Yeshua asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
This demonstrates where the problem with the Pharisees and Sadducees stemmed from. It was not that they did not know The Word of God, and that they were simply hung up on “That Jewish Stuff,” the fact is that they just didn’t “Get it,” and unfortunately neither did Yeshua’s Talmudim.
They wanted a sign, but even if they did see it, they would still not have believed. They would have found a way, like Pharaoh, to explain it away. The problem was all in the attitude. Who was willing to listen, who was willing to understand?
This is why He asks them:
“Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?” Matthew 9:5
This is why He states:
“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Matthew 23:24
They were more focused on the little details and missing the bigger picture!
Although His own Talmudim didn’t get it, there was a difference.
I call this the David/Saul factor.
I was asked once, why was David called, “A man after God’s own heart,” considering all the Sin that he had committed?
This comes from 1 Samuel 13:
13 And Samuel said to Saul: 'Thou hast done foolishly; thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which He commanded thee; for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue; the LORD hath sought him a man after His own heart, and the LORD hath appointed him to be prince over His people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
As Humans, as People, we are so focused upon the Fleshly outworking of the orders, that we forget to become “intimate,” with the instructions. We lose our way of acting like good Stewards of the LORD, and take over the project, all the while we forget to personalize the mandate.
The fact is that we should treat His mandate, as though it WAS our own. The difference is that we should remain tuned in for further and complete instruction, rather than superimposing our plan on top of God’s Plan, or taking the attitude, “We got it from here.”
Saul, simply lead, as an Earthly King would, no different than the Kings of the Goyim. Saul was focused upon Earthly Power, and the skill of diplomacy and negotiation. This type of Leadership, was far from God’s Heart.
The LORD told us within His instruction:
1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: I am the LORD your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do; and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes. 4 Mine ordinances shall ye do, and My statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
And then, after all the specific instructions, He states:
24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things; for in all these the nations are defiled, which I cast out from before you. 25 And the land was defiled, therefore I did visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land vomited out her inhabitants. 26 Ye therefore shall keep My statutes and Mine ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born, nor the stranger that sojourneth among you—27 for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and the land is defiled-- 28 that the land vomit not you out also, when ye defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. 29 For whosoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep My charge, that ye do not any of these abominable customs, which were done before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God. {P}
The difference is that David, in spite of himself, saw the vision of HaShem. Did David “Get it Right?” We know that He didn’t, but neither did Saul! They both were Sinful Kings. Then why was Saul cast away, and David restored?
Let’s look at how David responded, when dealing with his own Sin. Turn with me, if you wish to 2 Samuel Chapter 12:
1 And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him: 'There were two men in one city: the one rich, and the other poor. 2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and reared; and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.
4 And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him.' 5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan: 'As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this deserveth to die; 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.' {S} 7 And Nathan said to David: 'Thou art the man. {S} Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel: I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
8 and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that were too little, then would I add unto thee so much more.
9 Wherefore hast thou despised the word of the LORD, to do that which is evil in My sight? Uriah the Hittite thou hast smitten with the sword, and his wife thou hast taken to be thy wife, and him thou hast slain with the sword of the children of Ammon. 10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from thy house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. {S} 11 Thus saith the LORD: Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For thou didst it secretly; but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.' {S} 13 And David said unto Nathan: 'I have sinned against the LORD.' {S} And Nathan said unto David: 'The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Why was David’s Sin forgiven, and not Saul’s? David not only decreed a Righteous judgement, based upon the Torah, he also accepted that judgement for himself. David knew, that even as King, he was not above God’s Law. He lead by example, even in how to deal with Sin.
We have all sinned, and come short of God’s Glory. David demonstrated that even as a King, he must remain humbled before God’s Judgements, and accept the consequences of his actions.
This is why David wrote:
11 Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
12 Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.
13 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.14 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.15 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee.16 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; {N}
so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.17 O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.18 For Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; {N}
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:11-19
12 Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me.
13 Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy holy spirit from me.14 Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and let a willing spirit uphold me.15 Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall return unto Thee.16 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; {N}
so shall my tongue sing aloud of Thy righteousness.17 O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.18 For Thou delightest not in sacrifice, else would I give it; Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering.19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; {N}
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:11-19
This was like the difference between Judas and Peter. Both had betrayed Him. One knew to repent, and ask to be forgiven. One did not truly know the heart of the LORD.
David knew the LORD. David had a relationship with the LORD. David knew the heart of the LORD, and that it was His desire to forgive him, but that Sin needed to be dealt with, and it was. Although broken hearted, as was Aaron at the loss of his sons, David returned to office, humbled, as a King, and continued to rein forgiven, as did Aaron as the Kohen Gadol. Once anointed with the Mashiach Oil, you are no longer your own, but you represent the Most High, King or Priest. Therefore, David returned to his office, and Aaron did not recess from his.
This is what made Aaron Kadosh. Although he was a man, who had just faced the death of his sons, right before his eyes, which as a father, he would have felt responsible, but even in the midst of his own personal issues, he remained in office, so that Israel would not be destroyed.
I was taught once that the definition of a professional is someone who can do their job, even if they are facing life’s most trying moments. All I can say is that in a situation like that, the LORD would have had to prepare Aaron’s Heart, and made him Kadosh unto Himself. This was not the strength of a man, but the influence of HaShem upon him.
Sometimes it’s easy to appear to be a professional, by going to work, and knowing the process so well that you don’t even have to think about it, and although you are going through a lot, you are still able to do your job, but is this really what a professional is? I don’t think so. That’s just detached and going through the motions. Perhaps this is what we’ve been experiencing here at Haverim. Perhaps, we have just been acting professional, and doing what we know to do, but was our heart in it?
I know that the knee jerk reaction to a situation is to steer hard to avoid a collision, but sometimes over compensation at the wheel, could place you into greater danger, by losing control of the vehicle. It is important that we change things up here, at Haverim. It has been discussed for a long time, and finally we have taken measures to do so. However, let us be careful that we are not simply changing the radio station, but it’s still playing the same song.
Meaning that, as I stated earlier that we all learn at different levels or by different methods. We are all individuals being taught by the same Spirit. The point is that we must all do our part, and be in the rightful place that the LORD has assigned us to. We are all in this together, and the LORD is trying to remind us that we must exercise our gifts and strengths and support one another, rather than disassemble and tare each other down.
Perhaps this is what Kadosh L’cha is: As each member of the body is set in their rightful place, the body is able to function as it is supposed to. When we are as Paul puts it:
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Messiah. I Corinthians 12:12
And he continues:
13 For we were all baptized by[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Messiah, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Which Paul proceeds into the next Chapter explaining that this is “Love,” and defines it for us.
There is our clue. Rabbi Sha’ul explains in verse 12 that Messiah is One Body. If Messiah is Echad (One), and HaShem YHVH is Echad (Unified), and this Echad is what makes Him Kadosh, then when we are Echad with each other, and with Him, then we have become Echad, and Kadosh as He is Kadosh. Everything is working within its Rightful place. He has made us Kadosh L’cha – Holy Unto Him.
Let us Pray:
