Bechukotai - Reading #5

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #5 - Leviticus 27:16-21

My Thoughts:

More on dedicating land to Hashem and its value. Currently, we don’t have the Year of Jubilee, nor do we have a priesthood. I believe the important concept here is dedicating something to Hashem. When our grandchildren were born we “spiritually” dedicated them to Hashem. We asked if Hashem would please watch over and guide them all the days of their lives. It was important to us. You may think about “dedicating” your children and/or grandchildren to Hashem if you haven’t already done so. After all, He created them and gave them on “loan” to us.

Challenge:

What do you dedicate to Hashem? Have you given Him your marriage? Your children/grandchildren? Your house and all you own? Your life? Just because we don’t live in Temple times (yet) it doesn’t seem like we should not do the things the best way we are able. This is with all the commandments. Dedication, Sabbaths, dietary laws, helping neighbors and the poor, etc. We are to give back to Hashem all that we can and we are to do all we can do follow His instructions. My challenge to you today is that you review your life in relation to Torah and repair what needs to be fixed. Do more. Love more. Amen.

Reading #5 - Leviticus 27:16–21

16 “‘If a man dedicates to Hashem part of the field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. The sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. 17 If he dedicates his field from the Year of Jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand. 18 But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain to the Year of Jubilee; and an abatement shall be made from your valuation. 19 If he who dedicated the field will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall remain his. 20 If he will not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more; 21 but the field, when it goes out in the Jubilee, shall be holy to Hashem, as a devoted field. It shall be owned by the priests.

Bechukotai - Reading #4

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #4 - Leviticus 27:1–15

My Thoughts:

I’m not so sure what verse 14 is saying. Maybe people would actually donate their houses to the priests? Or they would want their homes dedicated. Or maybe both. “‘When a man dedicates his house to be holy to Hashem, then the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad.” The point is the person wants his home to be holy. Do we want our homes to be holy? Do we dedicate our homes to Hashem? It might be something to think about. Wouldn’t you just love it if your home was so holy that when people entered they immediately felt the presence of Hashem and His peace. That people could be healed and set free. Maybe take your spouse or friend and make a plan to have a special time to pray and devote your house to Hashem. It’s really His anyway.

Challenge:

We learn today when we bring any animals, houses and even people before Hashem – we go to the priest. The priest has the authority (in Temple times) to accept or reject the gifts/offerings. The priests were selected by Hashem and in an orderly way. People must have had a huge trust in the authority of the priests. It makes me wonder what we have that is comparable today? We have rabbis and pastors but do we really respect their authority? Should we? I think if we are certain the rabbi/pastor is authentically spiritual and that they are trying their best to serve Hashem (and have proven through experience their understanding of Scripture) – we would respect and honor their decisions and influence. Pray today about your pastor or rabbi. Ask Hashem to show what level of respect and honor you should give them. Listen and obey. 

Reading #4 - Leviticus 27:1–15

27:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When a man consecrates a person to Hashem in a vow, according to your valuation, 3 your valuation of a male from twenty years old to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. 4 If she is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. 5 If the person is from five years old to twenty years old, then your valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels. 6 If the person is from a month old to five years old, then your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 If the person is from sixty years old and upward; if he is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. 8 But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall assign a value to him. The priest shall assign a value according to his ability to pay.

9 “‘If it is an animal of which men offer an offering to Hashem, all that any man gives of such to Hashem becomes holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. If he shall at all exchange animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy. 11 If it is any unclean animal, of which they do not offer as an offering to Hashem, then he shall set the animal before the priest; 12 and the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad. As the priest evaluates it, so it shall be. 13 But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to its valuation.

14 “‘When a man dedicates his house to be holy to Hashem, then the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad. As the priest evaluates it, so it shall stand. 15 If he who dedicates it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his.

Bechukotai - Reading #3

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #3 - Leviticus 26:10–46

My Thoughts:

In today’s reading we learn about the wrath of Elohim. If His people are not obedient His punishment is severe. Remember the Israelites have not yet entered the Land. He is preparing them to think about all the consequences there will be if they are not obedient in the new Land and follow the sin of the natives! And yet this is also prophetic, because this is exactly what does happen in the Land and the people are disbursed and taken out of the nation. But, in His love and mercy He wants to warn them. This is what can happen – so don’t let it! And it applies for today. Simply said, if we obey we are blessed. If we disobey, the blessings are taken away. What life do you want?

Challenge:

Verses 40 to 45 bring hope. Hashem says if we repent and turn our hearts back to Him, then He won’t break His covenant with us. He may allow us to suffer a while, but in the end He will hold up His promises. That is a very faithful Elohim. Let us remember that. Let us remember that there are consequences for what we do that is not of G-d. But, in the end He will remember us. Ask Hashem for forgiveness today, turn away from your sin and follow Him. Accept your consequences, yet know He will never leave or forsake you. Amen!

Reading #2 - Leviticus 26:10-46

26:10 You shall eat old supplies long kept, and you shall move out the old because of the new. 11 I will set My tent among you, and My soul won’t abhor you. 12 I will walk among you, and will be your Adonai, and you will be My people. 13 I am Hashem your Adonai, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you walk upright.

14 “‘But if you will not listen to Me, and will not do all these commandments, 15 and if you shall reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances, so that you will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you: I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away. You will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you, and you will be struck before your enemies. Those who hate you will rule over you; and you will flee when no one pursues you.

18 “‘If you in spite of these things will not listen to Me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your sky like iron, and your soil like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain; for your land won’t yield its increase, neither will the trees of the land yield their fruit.

21 “‘If you walk contrary to Me, and won’t listen to Me, then I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins. 22 I will send the wild animals among you, which will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you few in number. Your roads will become desolate.

23 “‘If by these things you won’t be turned back to Me, but will walk contrary to Me, 24 then I will also walk contrary to you; and I will strike you, even I, seven times for your sins. 25 I will bring a sword upon you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant. You will be gathered together within your cities, and I will send the pestilence among you. You will be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight. You shall eat, and not be satisfied.

27 “‘If you in spite of this won’t listen to Me, but walk contrary to Me, 28 then I will walk contrary to you in wrath. I will also chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 You will eat the flesh of your sons, and you will eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and cast your dead bodies upon the bodies of your idols; and My soul will abhor you. 31 I will lay your cities waste, and will bring your sanctuaries to desolation. I will not take delight in the sweet fragrance of your offerings. 32 I will bring the land into desolation, and your enemies who dwell in it will be astonished at it. 33 I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you. Your land will be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. 34 Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies’ land. Even then the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, even the rest which it didn’t have in your Sabbaths when you lived on it.

36 “‘As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf will put them to flight; and they shall flee, as one flees from the sword. They will fall when no one pursues. 37 They will stumble over one another, as it were before the sword, when no one pursues. You will have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 You will perish among the nations. The land of your enemies will eat you up. 39 Those of you who are left will pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers they shall pine away with them.

40 “‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against Me; and also that because they walked contrary to Me, 41 I also walked contrary to them, and brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled, and they then accept the punishment of their iniquity, 42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham; and I will remember the land. 43 The land also will be left by them, and will enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them; and they will accept the punishment of their iniquity because they rejected My ordinances, and their soul abhorred My statutes. 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly and to break My covenant with them; for I am Hashem their Adonai. 45 But I will for their sake remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their Elohim. I am Hashem.’”

46 These are the statutes, ordinances, and laws, which Hashem made between Him and the children of Israel in Mount Sinai by Moses.

Bechukotai - Reading #2

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #2 - Leviticus 26:6–9

My Thoughts:

This is an incredible portion. Hashem is promising extreme protection for His people in the land. He will go before them and take care of wild animals and destructive people. He will give them a special power to defeat the enemy. It’s like He is making them super heroes. Taking out evil in the land. And He is the leader! The “Hashem of armies”! How blessed they were and how blessed we are to serve such a caring and protective Elohim!

Challenge:

In verse 9 we read that Hashem will have “respect” for His people and make them fruitful. I believe He does this in bad times and in good times. When we are obedient and disobedient. Yes, there are consequences for when we disobey Torah and sin. But, He gives us good instructions on how to repair this. Repent, teshuvah and make reparations. He is full of mercy and grace. Maybe the “respect” comes when we try with all our heart to follow, worship and obey Him. Maybe He understands our “shortcomings” and we know He is an Elohim of second chances. Get your second chance today. Repent and beg for forgiveness from Hashem and from those you have hurt. Start over today. You can do it!

Reading #2 - Leviticus 26:6–9

26:6 “‘I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and no one will make you afraid. I will remove evil animals out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.

9 “‘I will have respect for you, make you fruitful, multiply you, and will establish My covenant with you.”

Bechukotai - Reading #1

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Reading #1 - Leviticus 26:3–5

My Thoughts:

I have a friend who does metal detecting. Her and her husband go everywhere. They have found some very valuable jewelry, like wedding/engagement rings. The thing is they don’t attempt to find the owners, they keep what they find. Finders keepers, right? I was really interested in doing this, but then I read Torah and felt guilty about keeping anything that I found. In all reality, if you found a ring on the beach it would be impossible to find the owner. But, maybe not. Maybe you could report it to the park and maybe the people who lost it had filed a notice with the park. My point is – maybe we need to be careful about what we find and what we keep. Let’s try to find the owners first!

Challenge:

Specifically today Hashem is talking about things lost and then the person who found it lies. He teaches about restoration and reparation. We aren’t really taught about these things in our society. But, if we were taught, imagine how different society would be. Maybe people would not be quick to lie or steal. Maybe even the crime rate would go down if there was personal restitution required. You and I know how hard it is to make something right when we have wronged someone. It can be painful. That is my challenge to you today. If you have done something wrong like this – even if you feel innocent – go to the person and make it right. It will help to repair relationships and the world.

Reading #1 - Leviticus 6:3-5

6:3 "...or has found that which was lost, and lied about it, and swearing to a lie—in any of these things that a man sins in his actions— 4 then it shall be, if he has sinned, and is guilty, he shall restore that which he took by robbery, or the thing which he has gotten by oppression, or the deposit which was committed to him, or the lost thing which he found, 5 or any thing about which he has sworn falsely: he shall restore it in full, and shall add a fifth part more to it. He shall return it to him to whom it belongs in the day of his being found guilty.

Bechukotai - Week #12

Bechukotai - In my statutes בְּחֻקֹּתַי

Torah Portion: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34

Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14

Apostolic Writings: Matthew 16:20-28

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 26:3–5

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 26:6–9

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 26:10–46

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 27:1–15

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 27:16–21

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 27:22–28

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 27:29–34

Emor - Reading #7

Emor Say — אֱמוֹר

Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23

Haftarah - Ezekiel 44:15-31

Apostolic Writings - Matthew 26:59-66

Reading #7 - Leviticus 24:1–23

My Thoughts:

Today we read the story of the men who cursed and blasphemed His Name. This is very serious. And the penalty from Hashem was they were to be stoned to death. Why? My thoughts are that Hashem wants His people truly to be holy. And if someone is not and also blaspheming Hashem, it only brings division and confusion among the people. That’s what sin does. It affects everyone. They were getting ready to go into Israel, the promised land. They were given a set of rules to keep things in order and to stay close to Hashem. This behavior did not promote unity, nor respect for our Elohim. The penalty seems strong. Today when people do this they just walk out without punishment. And the world is getting darker and darker. When the Mashiach comes He will bring Hashem’s Light and the world will change. And people will gladly follow the Torah. I can’t wait for this to happen. You?

Challenge:

In verse 20 we read, “ It shall be done to him as he has injured someone.” I believe Hashem orders this because it would make someone think twice about punching someone in the face and causing damage. A lot of Hashem’s laws let you know that there are severe consequences for doing wrong. Today we don’t get punished for many sins (except murder, etc). Yet we know the affects our sins have on others and the world can be very detrimental! Examine your life and repent of any sins. Make a strong commitment to Hashem that you will not do them again. Repay or make reparation for whatever you are able. Help repair our relationships and our world. Do it today.

Reading #7 - Leviticus 24:1–23

24:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. 3 Outside of the veil of the Testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Hashem continually. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4 He shall keep in order the lamps on the pure gold lamp stand before Hashem continually.

5 “You shall take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes of it: two tenths of an ephah shall be in one cake. 6 You shall set them in two rows, six on a row, on the pure gold table before Hashem. 7 You shall put pure frankincense on each row, that it may be to the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire to Hashem. 8 Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before Hashem continually. It is an everlasting covenant on the behalf of the children of Israel. 9 It shall be for Aaron and his sons. They shall eat it in a holy place; for it is most holy to him of the offerings of Hashem made by fire by a perpetual statute.”

10 The son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel; and the son of the Israelite woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp. 11 The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name, and cursed; and they brought him to Moses. His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. 12 They put him in custody until Hashem’s will should be declared to them. 13 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 14 “Bring him who cursed out of the camp; and let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. 15 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Whoever curses his Elohim shall bear his sin. 16 He who blasphemes Hashem’s name, he shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him. The foreigner as well as the native-born shall be put to death when he blasphemes the Name.

17 “‘He who strikes any man mortally shall surely be put to death. 18 He who strikes an animal mortally shall make it good, life for life. 19 If anyone injures his neighbor, it shall be done to him as he has done: 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. It shall be done to him as he has injured someone. 21 He who kills an animal shall make it good; and he who kills a man shall be put to death. 22 You shall have one kind of law for the foreigner as well as the native-born; for I am Hashem your Adonai.’”

23 Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and they brought him who had cursed out of the camp, and stoned him with stones. The children of Israel did as Hashem commanded Moses.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

These verses in Ezekiel are for the world to come, possibly the Messianic Era. It describes the duties of the priests which is very close to the descriptions in the Torah. That is because in the future, when the Temple is rebuilt – and it will be rebuilt – the Torah Temple rules will be followed and enforced. We are not done with sacrifices or priestly rule. Just read the Prophets.

Challenge:

In verse 23 we learn that the priests will take on a teaching role. They will instruct the people about holiness, clean and unclean. Don’t you think that would be a good idea to start learning that now? In preparation for the Temple and to follow what we can in our lives today. For example the dietary laws. Torah says they are forever. And they will be taught again in the future. It is imperative and I believe a sin if we do not distinguish between clean and unclean foods. If we think we can indulge in any meats or shellfish, etc. we are making a terrible mistake. That’s why it is good to follow Hashem and His Torah. Every day. Study, learn and obey. Start today.

Haftarah - Ezekiel 44:15-31

15 “‘“But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me. They shall stand before Me to offer to me the fat and the blood,” says Hashem Adonai. 16 “They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to minister to Me, and they shall keep My instruction.

17 “‘“It will be that, when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments. No wool shall come on them while they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within. 18 They shall have linen turbans on their heads, and shall have linen trousers on their waists. They shall not clothe themselves with anything that makes them sweat. 19 When they go out into the outer court, even into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they minister, and lay them in the holy rooms. They shall put on other garments, that they not sanctify the people with their garments.

20 “‘“They shall not shave their heads, or allow their locks to grow long. They shall only cut off the hair of their heads. 21 None of the priests shall drink wine when they enter into the inner court. 22 They shall not take for their wives a widow, or her who is put away; but they shall take virgins of the offspring of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest. 23 They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

24 “‘“In a controversy they shall stand to judge. They shall judge it according to my ordinances. They shall keep my laws and my statutes in all my appointed feasts. They shall make my Sabbaths holy.

25 “‘“They shall go in to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister who has had no husband, they may defile themselves. 26 After he is cleansed, they shall reckon to him seven days. 27 In the day that he goes into the sanctuary, into the inner court, to minister in the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering,” says Hashem Adonai.

28 “‘They shall have an inheritance. I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession. 29 They shall eat the meal offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; and every devoted thing in Israel shall be theirs. 30 The first of all the first fruits of every thing, and every offering of everything, of all your offerings, shall be for the priest. You shall also give to the priests the first of your dough, to cause a blessing to rest on your house. 31 The priests shall not eat of anything that dies of itself, or is torn, whether it is bird or animal.

Apostolic Writings

My Thoughts:

I suppose you could say that the chief priest and elders believed that Yeshua was blaspheming Hashem. And as we read in today’s Torah portion the penalty for this is death. If they had read Torah and studied Scriptures they would have known He was the prophesied Mashiach. They would have followed and sat at His feet, instead of condemning Him. That is why it is important to know the whole Word of Hashem and His prophets. And why now we must study to know what Hashem really says about the coming Mashiach and His role. We don’t want Yeshua to come back and we don’t recognize Him. If so, we will lose out – eternally.

Challenge:

In verse 64 Yeshua says that we see Him coming on the clouds of the sky. Many people have pondered this verse. Some think He comes halfway, grabs some of the “church” and returns to heaven. I don’t see any Scripture to support this. Others believe He will come (as prophesied) and gather His people to Jerusalem where He will rule and reign in the Temple. That’s what I believe. And we see that in the many verses of Ezekiel and other prophets. Be sure you study all of this and go to Hashem with your questions. We must be ready when the Mashiach comes and know what Scripture says. Not man — Scripture! Amen.

Apostolic Writings - Matthew 26:59-66

59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Yeshua, that they might put Him to death, 60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of Elohim, and to build it in three days.’”

62 The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?” 63 But Yeshua stayed silent. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living Elohim that you tell us whether you are the Mashiach, the Son of Adonai.”

64 Yeshua said to him, “You have said so. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”

65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy. 66 What do you think?”

They answered, “He is worthy of death!”