July 12, 2014 Shabbat Bible Study
© 2014 Mark Pitrone and Fulfilling Torah Ministries
Shemoth 29:1-46 – YeshaYahu 61:1-6 – Tehellim 60 – 1 Kefa 2:1-25
Links for this week
http://www.yashanet.com/studies/romstudy/rom1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadik
Shemoth 29.1-9 – Every action done in the first ¾ of this chapter are Moshe’s to perform on his brother and nephews. Aharon and his sons could not perform ANY of this until the 7-day consecration period was over. Moshe was filling the priest’s office until now; indeed, he would until the tabernacle had been set up and the priest’s accoutrements had been made. That everything would be done by the 23rd day of the 12th month coming, and that Moshe would be coming down the mount on approximately the 90th day out of Egypt says that they had just over 8 months to accomplish all the work of building the furnishings and the curtains and boards of the tabernacle and make the priest’s garments in accordance with the pattern shown Moshe in the mount. I think that by the 1st day of the first month, Moshe is going to be plumb tuckered out. He’ll need the help! And he won’t be alone, either!
While Bezaleel would be specially filled with Ruach haKodesh to understand the plans and implement them, I don’t think that he would be only one working to build and fashion all this stuff. Bezaleel was the superintendent of the work, not the lone crew-member. To get ALL this work done in just over 8 months was going to be a team effort. Think about the sheer volume of work that would have to be put in. The acacia trees had to be found, felled and milled into boards of precisely the right size for each job and the leftovers fashioned into pegs or dowels to fasten them. If the gold, techeleth, purple, scarlet and linen threads were to be woven, the looms were going to need to be made, the spinning wheels were going to have to be made and then work overtime spinning the yarn to weave. The smelting areas were going to have to be designated and built up in which to melt and purify the gold and silver, as well as alloy the brass from copper and zinc. I think the prep work was going to take a number of months, everyone working 6 days a week and resting on Shabbat, even if the whole congregation (of 640K men and their wives and children) was involved. And I think it was.
While Bezaleel would be the regular go to guy for instructions and clarification, each person in the congregation was going to have to have his OWN anointing of Ruach haKodesh to do the work right, and that on the first go ‘round. There was no time to waste if Y’hovah was going to have them at Kadesh Barnea in time to send the spies into the land less than a year later. When they 1st broke camp it was the 20th day of the 2nd month of the 2nd year out of Egypt, I think exactly 360 days after the manna was first given on the 15th day of the 2nd month of the 1st year out of Egypt;
1 And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt (Exodus 16.1).
[Remember that Genesis 1.14 says there are heavenly signs to designate months (the renewed moon), days (sunset) and years (the effect of the sun on the earth’s vegetation in conjunction with the stars’ constellations). That there is no heavenly sign to designate a week or a Sabbath is clearly seen in Ex.16 AND in Gen.1.14-19.] The point is: I think the spies may have come back out of Canaan on Shavuoth of the 2nd year. There is no proof that I can find; I just THINK that. The timing is close, if not right on. If it IS right, perhaps the Korah/Dathan rebellion fell out on the anniversary of the golden calf, because anniversaries seem to be very important in scripture.
The offerings were to be made every day for 7 days to consecrate Aharon and his sons. Obviously, they could not make the offerings yet, so Moshe would offer these animals. All these animals were males of their kind. Females would be offered elsewhere and at other times, but here they had to be males – bulls and rams. And these offerings were one time, never to be repeated. These animals are making atonement for Aharon and his sons Elezar and Ithamar, according to the Schottenstein’s Chumash. Chumash says that Nadav and Avihu were not atoned for because they would bring the strange fire before Y’hovah unbidden – a personal sin of presumption. I don’t buy it. If that were true, why would Aharon be sanctified, when he was going to build and present an offering to the golden calf and cause the NATION to sin? I don’t think Y’hovah punishes before the fact. Nadav and Avihu were still free agents and could have NOT sinned as they did. I think this was a metaphor for Ya’acov and the 2 houses of Yehudah and Yoseph. 3 possibilities here; the rabbis could be wrong, I could be wrong or we could all be wrong. I lean to the 1st.
The amount of oil in the 3 different unleavened breads for waving is kind of interesting. Chumash says that the different levels of oil in the bread, from the loaves to the cakes to the wafers, are meant to signify that the priests are to remain sinless regardless their temporal wealth. I see the oil not as temporal wealth by spiritual, olive oil usually representing the Ruach haKodesh. Perhaps the 3 levels of oil represent different levels of Ruach in the people’s lives: simply anointed, filled with and filled AND mikvahed; Or possibly the 3 levels of approach to Y’hovah as represented in the tabernacle, outer court, Holy place and Kodesh Kadashim; or possibly as illustrated by Sha’ul in
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30),
the called, the justified and the glorified; or perhaps all of the above. That they were all accepted by Y’hovah is seen in them being brought before him in one basket and all used in the same offering that Y’hovah accepted.
In v.4, Aharon and his sons were all washed with water by Moshe at the door of the tabernacle, so they must already have had on the linen breeches. They could not wash themselves, but Moshe, representing Moshiach and the Melchizedek high priest who washes them clean. For them to wash themselves would signify a works righteousness. They are throughly unable to wash themselves and be clean enough to approach Y’hovah to make atonement for others. Paul refers to this verse in
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Moshiach also loved the kahal, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious kahal, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph.5.25-27)
In vv.5-7, Moshe clothes Aharon in the priest’s regular garments and the High Priest’s set-apart garments and anoints him with oil, pouring out the olive oil on his head so that it ran down his hair and beard and over all his clothing. And in vv.8-9 Moshe dressed Aharon’s sons and anointed them also to Y’hovah’s service. They could not clothe or anoint themselves to this service – only Moshe, representing Moshiach and Melchizedek, could.
1 For we know that if our earthly house of tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of Elohim, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing, Elohim, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. (2Cor.5.1-5)
The Aharonic priesthood is a perpetual priesthood, never to end until the heavens and the earth pass away, and therefore time itself passes away. In the New Creation there will be NO DEATH, so there will be neither sacrifice nor need of any. Q&C
Vv.10-21 – Aharon and his sons were all to lay hands on the bull to transfer their guilt to him so that he could make a substitutionary atonement for them, prefiguring Yeshua’s atonement. The blood of the bull was placed on the horns of the altar with Moshe’s fingers and then the rest of the bull’s blood poured out on the ground at the base of the altar. The fat from around the giblets and the giblets themselves were burnt on the brazen altar and the rest of the animal, including all the muscle, skin and dung, was taken without the camp to be burnt as a sin offering. The sin offering is necessary to cover any inadvertent sin or one the priest had to commit in order to fulfill a more important mitzvah. Offering the inwards of the bull signifies our offering our soul and spirit to the service of Y’hovah. The flesh, skin and dung being taken without the camp for destruction signify Yisrael putting off our sinful flesh.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in Y’hovah, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of Elohim through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Moshiach; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Yeshua: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after Elohim is created in righteousness and true holiness. (Eph.4.17-23)
Our soul and spirit are given in service to him; our fallen flesh cannot serve him.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Moshiach Yeshua, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Moshiach Yeshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, Elohim sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded death; but to be spiritually minded life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind enmity against Elohim: for it is not subject to the law of Elohim, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please Elohim. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of Elohim dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Moshiach, he is none of his. 10 And if Moshiach in you, the body dead because of sin; but the Spirit life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Yeshua from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Moshiach from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Rom.8.1-11)
Next came the rams, male sheep, to be used as burnt offerings. Burnt offerings are usually freewill offerings. Once again Aharon and his sons lay hands on 1st the ram at the time of the morning offering so he can be the substitute for them. The division of the ram so that all the inward parts could be washed with water signifies our inner cleansing, the water of the word getting into OUR inward parts and THROUGHLY cleansing us and making us ready to serve him
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Moshiach Yeshua. 16 All scripture given by inspiration of Elohim, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of Elohim may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2Tim.3.14-17)
The blood of the first ram is sprinkled about the altar and then the entire first ram is burnt for a burnt offering.
The 2nd ram in vv.19-21 was brought out and Aharon and the boys laid hands on him so he will be a substitute for them. This ram’s blood is used to anoint their right ears, their right thumbs and their right big toes. Chumash has a good comment on this action by Moshe on Aharon and the boys (pg. 216 note on v.20). So, the blood covers us in all we hear, in all we do and in everywhere we go, BEFORE we hear, do or go. The rest of the ram’s blood must be caught in a basin of some kind and placed on one of the horns of the altar, because what’s left Moshe mixed with oil and sprinkled on Aharon and his sons and their garments to sanctify them.
Vv.22-37 – After the blood of the 2nd ram is rubbed on Aharon and the boys and sprinkled on the altar, the parts to be waved before Y’hovah are separated out along with one of each type of loaf of the unleavened bread is placed on the Kohanim’s hands and waved before Y’hovah as a wave offering. The wave offering is lifted and waved to the cardinal points of the compass to signify that Y’hovah controls everything in all directions. The right shoulder of the 2nd ram is waved and heaved before Y’hovah and the wave offerings are burnt as a freewill offering to Y’hovah. Then the right breast is heaved before Y’hovah and this right breast and right shoulder are designated to be the Kohanim’s portion of all wave and heave offerings forever, because the Kohanim don’t have a land inheritance among b’nei Yisrael. This 2nd ram is the ram of consecration and this offering shall be made to consecrate every new Kohen Gadol. There is no need to offer the bull or the 1st ram when a successor is anointed and consecrated, but this 2nd ram will be offered, seethed and eaten completely in the night of the ceremony and any that is left until morning shall be burnt with fire, like the leftovers of the Pesach lamb. I assume they will be burnt at the morning offering. Only the kohanim were to eat the ram of consecration. Even other Israelites were considered strangers at this time. Vv.35-37 is a summary of the consecration of Aharon and his 4 sons.
Vv.38-46 – The morning and evening offerings were to be made every day without fail. I think it was at the morning offering that the leftovers that were not eaten and were NOT to be eaten later, like the Passover lamb and the ram of consecration were burnt. These leftovers were burnt in addition to the morning offering. That the morning and evening offerings were to be ‘continual’ doesn’t mean we were to keep an offering burning at all time, but that they would be offered twice daily and EVERY day, including Shabbats. The Kohanim did not get a day off for Shabbat. In fact, the Shabbat was the day the courses of priests changed over and there was so much to do that day that both the on-coming and off-going courses served on Shabbats. Vv.45-46 shows us that it is Y’hovah Elohenu’s will to dwell among us. We go to our yearly appointment with him to rehearse the new heaven and new earth when we celebrate the feast of Sukkoth/Tabernacles. Q&C
YeshaYahu 61.1-6 – From my notes on this section from May 31, 2014:
Is.61 is Mashiach speaking. The word translated ‘anointed’ is H 4886, mashach. If we add the right hand of Y’hovah as a middle syllable (the letter yod), we spell Mashiach. V.1 names 5 different ways Moshiach delivers; preaches good tidings to the meek, binds up the broken-hearted, gives sight to the blind (LXX & Lk.4.18), proclaims liberty (Torah) to captives, opens the prison of the bound by proclaiming the acceptable year of Y’hovah. All these are spiritual conditions and the remedies were done in spiritual metaphor by Moshiach Yeshua when he visited us. When he performed his miracles, he was USUALLY fulfilling one of these prophecies of Mashiach. I think the reason the 3rd condition he met was removed from the MT was to remove the thing that was unmistakably something that only Mashiach could do – give sight to those who are born blind; In Jn.9, we see;
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of Elohim, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. [Prushim divided]
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give Elohim the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
(The Jews, i.e.; the political leaders of the religion said,)29 We know that Elohim spake unto Moshe: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them [Mark edit – and the uneducated blind man taught the Jews], Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that Elohim heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of Elohim, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of Elohim, he could do nothing.
Talk about cut to the quick! Have you ever seen a ‘pro’ wrestling match and what they call a ‘pile-driver’? That’s what this guy just did to the Jews – the political leaders of the Hebrew religion. That phrase in Is.61.1 – recovery of sight to the blind – had to go, or their political positions would wither up and die. This was an unmistakable work of Y’hovah and his Mashiach.
V.2 contains a gap of roughly 2000 years. Yeshua proclaimed the acceptable year of Y’hovah, but not the day of the vengeance of Elohim. It is likely that had the leaders of the religion accepted him as Mashiach ben Yoseph, the day of Elohim’s vengeance would have come immediately following his resurrection as Mashiach ben David. What would the proclamation of the day of vengeance have done? We’re told in vv.2c-the end of the chapter what it will do, so I assume it would have been done had there been acceptance then. It will 1) comfort all who mourn and appoint unto us, 2) beauty for our dust and ashes; 3) the oil of Joy for our mourning, 4) a garment of Praise for our heavy spirits so that we might be called 5) Aylay haTzedek – elms of righteousness and 6) the planting in which Y’hovah glories. I say we and us because we will go through a time of great heaviness and mourning before we overcome through to Y’hovah’s Messianic Kingdom. Keep that in mind when the persecution comes. Endure it until the end of either your life or the time of Ya’acov’s Trouble, and you shall be an overcomer and a part of his Bride.
Those who overcome SHALL build the old wastes, raise up the old desolations, repair the waste cities and the desolations of MANY generations. Do you see why the people at the synagogue in Natzreth got angry when he quit in the middle of v.2? They wanted all the good stuff without any of the bad stuff, the delivery of the physical NOW, not the spiritual. They wanted what they could see with their eyes and touch with their hands, not just what they would merely know in their hearts and minds.
Vv.5-6 – Follows my notes from this section from May 24, 2014 (seen Isaiah 61 a lot lately):
Y’hovah is going to find a way to make us Priests and Ministers for his Kingdom. In Ezekiel 40-48, the sons of Zadok are the ones who offer the freewill offerings while the Levites serve in the Temple. Speculation Warning! Maybe the resurrected saints will be the ‘sons of Zadok’ in the Kingdom. In v.5, we see the stranger (H2114, zuhr, one who turns aside to lodge) feeding our flocks and the alien (H5236, nekar, foreign) plowing our fields and dressing our vines, perhaps to free us to perform Y’hovah’s service in v.6. When it says we will eat the ‘riches’ of the gentiles, I don’t think it has the aspect of oppression, but that they will (at least at first) gladly make their offerings to Y’hovah, which we, as his reconciled Kingdom of priests, and the Levites will freely eat. If true, we will be in our resurrected bodies in the Kingdom, we will not have wrong motives in accepting the offerings of the zuhr and the nekar. But since they (strangers and aliens) are in their fallen physical bodies, they may perceive it as oppression, and you can bet your bottom dollar that haSatan, after he is released from his chains during that last few months or year of the Kingdom, will be playing the oppression card to the hilt. It will probably be one tool he will use to foment the final Gog uMagog rebellion Q&C
Tehellim 59.1-5 – Who are our enemies; who are they who rise up against us; but bloody men who work iniquity? That word xlated iniquity in the KJV is aven in Hebrew, with a root meaning of emptiness or nothing – vanity. Our enemies follow nothing, which is a great definition of haSatan. They are anarchists in their personal lives, but when they rise up it is to oppress us, to assert power or jurisdiction over us, not because we’ve done anything wrong; quite the opposite, they come against us because we are following Y’hovah Yeshua. They are every bit the hypocrites they accuse us of being. What’s really funny (not ‘Ha-Ha’, but peculiar) is they haven’t the guts to face us like men, but lie in wait to take us by ambush or from behind. They do to us (or will shortly) as the Chaldeans did to Daniel, creating new laws to make us legal transgressors and then watching to take us in what we do in lawful service to Avinu.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. 5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his Elohim. 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any Elohim or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his Elohim, as he did aforetime. 11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his Elohim. 12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any Elohim or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. 13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. (Dan.6.4-13)
Laws are being passed all over the world to make it illegal to hold to the truths of Torah. The whole idea of ‘thought crimes’ or ‘hate crimes’ is covertly aimed at Torah-keepers by the PTB, who are influenced by the spiritual vanity and emptiness they follow. The purveyors of ‘tolerance’ will not tolerate us who witness to their lawlessness, not by our words so much as by our lives. When they see us living in obedience, it cuts them, metaphorically, to the quick; it aggravates them because we aren’t in bondage to sin, but set free by the perfect Torah of Liberty – a freedom they cannot take from us, even if they put us in prison and feed us to the lions, as did the satraps and presidents in Daniel’s days. What I really like about that incident in Daniel 6 is that Darius, the heathen king, applied Torah to those wicked men who brought a false witness against Daniel and gave them what they thought to give Daniel – even as Yeshua will do to those who do such to us in the days to come. As those who came against David were fellow Israelites, so will be the ones who come against us in the time of Ya’acov’s Trouble be self-proclaimed followers of ‘YESHUA’ or ‘Gaw-awd’. And Y’hovah will deal righteously with them – according to Torah.
Vv.6-17 – These who hate us eschew the light, doing their wicked deeds in the shadows or under cover of darkness. Like those wicked men in Daniel’s day, they work behind the scenes to set their traps and then wait for the righteous to step into the trap they set by doing nothing other than the righteousness they’ve always done. When the trap is sprung they call attention, like barking dogs, to the ‘fact’ that the righteous man broke the law that they wrote specifically to entrap him in his righteousness. If that doesn’t sound like the ‘news media’ today, I don’t know what does. That last word in v.7, hear, is xlated from the Hebrew word shama, which literally means, “to hear intelligently”. If we were to apply just a little thought to what passes for ‘news’, we’d see that it is all meant to distract people from what is truly important – it is darkness spread over the light of truth. I think of the story of Kaylee Anthony and all the hoopla surrounding it. Objectively speaking, what impact did that story have on society in general and why was it brought to the public’s attention? It was a sensational distraction from the very stuff I’ve been on about; creating laws specifically targeting people the PTB don’t like – socially, politically, religiously or spiritually ‘conservative’ people, by which I mean people who have an objective standard, like the Bible, the Constitution (or both), and such like. The PTB don’t have or want an objective standard by which to judge righteously. They are truly anarchists, substituting pure license for true liberty.
Y’hovah will have them in derision, which brings another psalm to mind:
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed 3 “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
The context of Psalm 59 is 1Sam.19, when Saul was out to kill David. When David talks in v.9 about ‘his strength’, he is referring to Sha’ul’s, as king of Israel. David knows that Sha’ul is powerful, and he will not raise his hand against Elohim’s anointed, so David is going to wait on Y’hovah’s strength as his defense. When our Sha’ul comes after us, we will need to do the same. There IS a difference between him and us, though; the Sha’ul coming after us will not be Y’hovah Elohenu’s anointed. Elohim will go before us (v.10) and let us see our enemies come to naught. David wasn’t looking for the death of his enemies; he just wanted to be left alone. But that wasn’t good enough for the PTB. Saul wanted David’s obedience, even when obeying Sha’ul would mean transgressing Torah. David would not do that, and at the same time would not harm the king in any way. But if Elohim would bring him down, that wouldn’t bother him even a little (vv.11-15). David would stay faithful to Y’hovah first because Y’hovah had been faithful to him through all his trials. Y’hovah had defended and delivered David and David would keep his Torah. Q&C
1Kefa2.1- – One of the most basic things we can do to understand scripture in its context is to remember this tried and true technique, “Whenever you see a ‘wherefore’ or a ‘therefore’, look to see what it’s there for.” Peter ended ch.1 with this:
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of Elohim, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the Word of Y’hovah endureth for ever. And this is the Word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Earlier (v.4-5) Peter said that there is an inheritance reserved in heaven (New Jerusalem) for us – the scattered strangers of Israel. That is an Hebraism speaking of 10-Israel. That was Kefa’s intended audience. He is writing to strengthen them for their walk in Torah (obeying the Truth, v.22) In vv.24-25; he quotes YeshaYahu 40.6-8 to show that Yeshua haMoshiach is the Word of Y’hovah, and that the Word of Y’hovah is Yeshua haMoshiach. This is contrary to what the church teaches, for they say that Torah is done away with in Jesus. Yeshua’s followers, whether Jewish or gentile, are Torah observant because they recognize that the Word of Y’hovah lives forever!
The opening verses of our passage today shows that the audience is a group of new believers, who need to have a foundation laid and a groundwork built on which to build a strong house (we spoke of the foundations last week). That foundation is the peshat of Torah. ‘Evil speakings’ is about gossip, lashon hara and hamotzi shem ra. Gossip is just telling other people’s business; sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. In the church it was ‘let me tell you about John so you know better how to pray for him’. If a person wants prayer over a matter in their lives, they will ask for it. Lashon hara ‘evil speech’ is another level of gossip, where you speak badly of a person, and usually what is said is untrue – your basic false witness. If you’re involved in this, Y’hovah will see that YOU suffer what you intended for the person you’re lying about. Ha motzi shem ra is technically true, but the facts are twisted to make the other person look bad or to besmirch their character. That would be like your major news media and government news releases about legal matters before or during a trial. The purpose of hamotzi shem ra is to influence public opinion about someone. Peter is agreeing not only with Torah, but with both Sha’ul and Ya’acov on this one. The evil speaking is a summary of the rest of v.1, “malice, guile, hypocrisies, and envies”. To get free of a wicked tongue, the believer needs to learn and do Torah.
The living stone that was disallowed is the very one David wrote about in Psalm 118.22
The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
The ‘head stone of the corner’ describes only one kind of stone – the capstone of a pyramid, for it sets at the head of the building and over all the cornerstones of it (4 corners, corresponding to the cardinal points of the compass and the ‘4 corners of the earth’, among other things). Yeshua is the stone with which the natural man wants nothing to do, and when the ‘builders’, or the sages and priests of Israel, devolved into the natural, as happened near the end of the kingdom of Yehuda and continues almost unabated until now (with a few remarkable exceptions considering the sheer length of time since then – 2800 years), they rejected or refused him. This is the same stone that Daniel spoke of in 2.34&45 that was cut out of the mountain without hands (by Y’hovah himself) and will smash the foundation of the world system in the end of days.
But we are not built on so unstable a foundation as the world system. Our foundation is the Bedrock of truth, the Torah and all revealed scripture and we are the lively stones, the active material in the household of faith, that are built up into a spiritual house, spiritual priests offering spiritual sacrifices, serving under our Melchizedek High Priest, Yeshua haMoshiach. Yeshua is also the ‘chief corner stone’, which denotes the main foundation stone that is the anchor for the whole building. That he is the ‘stone cut out of the mountain without hands (Dan.2.45),’ the ‘stone of stumbling and Rock of offense’ (Is.8.14), the ‘chief cornerstone (Eph.2.20, 1Pe.2.6),’ and the ‘stone the builders refused’ that has become the ‘head stone of the corner (Ps.118.22)’ is pretty remarkable. It is also remarkable that it is Kefa (stone) who draws all the metaphors of Moshiach together. Q&C
That reference to the chief corner stone, the anchor stone from which all the building’s measurements are drawn, also relates to the ark of the testimony in the Kodesh Kadashim, which is THE center of the earth
Thus saith Adonai Y’hovah; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her. (Ezekiel 5:5)
And many nations shall be joined to Y’hovah in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that Y’hovah Tzavaoth hath sent me unto thee. (Zechariah 2:11)
That is not just a spiritual reference, but a physical one, because a line drawn due north and south through the place where the ark rested in the Temple and both poles crosses more land area than any similar line drawn anywhere else in the earth. And the same is true of an east-west line crossing the north south line at the place where the ark rested. It is unremarkable to me that Y’hovah would put his Name and his Temple in the geographical center of the earth, or that this is the MOST CONQUERED PIECE OF REAL ESTATE ON EARTH, or that EVERYBODY wants it as the seat of government. I think it is the focal point of time and eternity, of spiritual and physical space and matter. And the quartet thinks they can divvy it up like they actually own it! What a bunch of maroons!
In v.9, Peter applies Ex.19.6 to the gentiles who believed on Moshiach Yeshua
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto b’nei Israel. (Exodus 19:6)
Belief goes beyond mental assent, and is proven by obedience to the Word and Truth of Y’hovah, whereby we show forth the praises of him who has called us out of the darkness of exile and into his marvelous light. As he applied Ex.19.6 to us in v.9, he also applies Hosea 2.23 to us in v.10
23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to not my people, Thou my people; and they shall say, Elohai. (Hos.2.23)
If the appellation ‘strangers’ in ch.1 didn’t prove that Peter knew his audience was all 12 scattered tribes of Israel, v. 11 should ice the cake. Strangers = scattered 10-Israel, while pilgrims = scattered 2-Israel. He encourages them to live according to Torah, and abstain from the lusts of the flesh, which it would be easy to slip into in the world. An honest conversation (v.12) = living what you preach before men. They may not like the fact that you don’t live in their way, but they will also see your lawful behavior and know that you are ‘good’ people; WHACKY, but ‘good’.
V.13 says to submit for Y’hovah’s sake. IOW, obey the laws of the land in which you live that do not violate Y’hovah’s Word. Beginning in v.19 he makes this application. IF you suffer wrongly due to acting in good conscience before Elohim, it is for your good. Honoring the king and obeying the master does not preclude disobeying that king in order to obey Y’hovah. In the Roman empire, governors or procurators were sent by Caesar to be his lieutenant and carry out his decrees, preferably with an equitable hand. If we do that is right in Y’hovah’s eyes will we not fulfill v.15, and make man’s ‘goodness’ look foolish? In Moshiach we have liberty to act within the confines of Torah, but we are not to do so maliciously, which I think means to not FLAUNT our liberty in other’s faces. In those days, the only non-Roman religion that did NOT have to worship Caesar was Judaism, because it predated the Empire. Believers within the synagogue system had a presence in Rome itself and did not have to bow to the Emperor. From Yashanet http://www.yashanet.com/studies/romstudy/rom1.htm :
By the time of Yeshua and Paul, the land of Israel (Judea and Samaria) had been part of the Roman Empire for several decades. The first emperor, Julius Caesar, granted rights to Jewish communities because their ancestral laws predated Rome. Jews had legal privileges as a collegia (defined by Roman law as religious & legal entities), giving them the right to assemble, have common meals and property, govern and tax themselves, and enforce their own discipline.
All of this authority was placed under the auspices of the Synagogue and its legal body, the Sanhedrin. The Jews were also given exemption from military service and emperor worship. They were the only non-pagan religious group in the Roman empire to have these rights. Under Roman law, no new religions were allowed and all other religious societies (other than Judaism) were forbidden by Caesar to have presence in the city of Rome. All of these factors led to much resentment and the formation of a social anti-Jewish sentiment among the population.
The majority of Roman citizens could not comprehend the “strangeness” of the Jews. Beyond that, proselytism was considered an un-Roman act. Jews were despised by the rest of the Roman people for their peculiar religious practices and failure to worship the gods of Rome — as every other conquered people was forced to do. The “citizen of the Pax Romana” was the antithesis of “a good Jew.” (from The Mystery of Romans, by Marc Nanos)
So the Netzari Yehudim were not to flaunt their liberty in Messiah, but to honor all who love the brotherhood, fear Elohim and honor the king who honored them with such liberty. Servants were to obey their masters
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: (Colossians 3:22)
even those who mistreated them, for even if they suffer at their master’s hands
Knowing that of Y’hovah ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve Y’hovah Moshiach. (Colossians 3:24)
If we patiently suffer wrong in service to Moshiach, there is commensurate reward from him who is ultimately the Master of all masters. Q&C
Vv.21-25 – “Follow his steps” means “Do what he did” (1Jn2.6). When reviled he did not return the criticism, he didn’t make threats, but committed himself to Avinu for his care, as we saw David do when Saul was after him. Moshiach bore OUR sins on the tree, so all the abuse he suffered was in our place and we are now dead to sin (Rom.6.2, 11) and alive to Tzedakah – righteousness (Rom.6.13). We are made tzadik by the imputation of tzedakah from Moshiach, who did no sin – he was completely tzadik, and as our tzadik he is able to suffer in our stead. From that source of all objective and fundamental truth – Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadik ;
According to the Hasidic Tanya (based on passages in Tanach and the Talmud, and the tradition in Kabbalah), the true title of tzadik denotes a spiritual psychological description of the soul. Its true meaning can only be applied to one who has completely sublimated their natural “animal”-“vital” soul inclinations into holiness, so that they experience only love and awe of Elohim, without material temptations. This select level elevates the “Intermediate” person (“Benoni”) into one who never sins in thought, speech or action.
What follows is from my note for the midrash of 11/6/2010 on Gen.37;
“{I think that Noach was the eighth Melech-Tzadik High Priest (2Pe.2.5 – he was actually 9 generations removed from Adam, not 7, so he was ‘the 8th preacher [grk. kayrux – king’s herald or mouthpiece, speaking with the King’s authority] of righteousness’, not the 8th ‘person’) and that he passed that office on to Shem (9th), who passed it on to Avraham (10th – ch.14) who passed it to Yacov (11th). [As with the Aharonic High Priesthood, the youngest man who COULD fulfill the office was anointed High Priest.] I think Yacov split the office in two, passing to Yehuda the royal office and to Ephraim the office of tzadik, the righteous. The office was reunited in Moshiach Yeshua [the 12th Melchitzadik – #12 = http://www.agapebiblestudy.com/documents/The%20Significance%20of%20Numbers%20in%20Scripture.htm governmental perfection], who came 2000 years ago as ben Yoseph (Ephraim), the tzadik, and who will return as ben David (Yehuda), the king. In Hebraic thought, a tzadik can intercede and suffer vicariously for his people. From Wikipedia on characteristics of a Tzadik:
In classic Jewish thought, there are various definitions of a tzadik. According to Maimonides (based on Tractate Yevamot of the Babylonian Talmud, 49b-50a): “One whose merit surpasses his iniquity is a tzadik.”[1] According to the Tanya (based on passages in Tanach and the Talmud), the true title of tzadik can only be applied to one who not only never sins, but also has eradicated any inclination to do so.
That describes Yeshua, Y’hovah Tsidkenu. Also from Wiki, on ‘Becoming a tzadik:
According to the definition of the Tanya (Ba’al Shem Tov’s ‘magnum opus’) that a Tzadik has no evil inclination, only a select few predestined to attain this level can attain it.
That describes noone except Yeshua, as Y’hovah in the flesh. Also from Wiki, quoting Menachem Schneerson, from Likutei Sichot, Vol.2, pp 510-511:
In 1951 the seventh Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson said a similar statement [11] regarding the practice by Hasidim to have a Rebbe act as an intermediary with Elohim on their behalf. He explained, “The Rebbe is completely connected with his Hasidim, not like two separate things that connect, rather they become completely one. And the Rebbe is not an intermediary which separates, rather he is one that connects. Therefore by a Hassid, he with the Rebbe with Elohim are all one … Therefore one cannot ask a question about an intermediary, since this is the Essence of Elohim Himself clothed in a body.” [end of the quote from Wiki]
Understand that if one is a rebbe, he is an intermediary between Y’hovah and his people, and essentially Elohim in the flesh. If someone wants you to be his rebbe and you accept the position, or if you consider yourself a rebbe, you are not in good standing with Y’hovah Yeshua,
For there is one Elohim, and one mediator between Elohim and men, the man Moshiach Yeshua; (I Timothy 2:5)
Yeshua was and is THE Rebbe, THE Tzadik, and the Sanhedrin knew it – it was evident in his life and lifestyle. Did Caiaphas know Yeshua was the tzadik rebbe when he said it was expedient for ONE to die for his people than for the whole people to perish?
47 ¶ Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55 ¶ And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him. (Yochanan 11.47-57)
Or was it a Ruach inspired slip of the tongue? Maybe yes, but IF he knew, he was even more wicked than I previously thought. Maybe no, for if he knew, why would he allow all the fulfillment of prophecies that were foreshadowed in the offerings to occur? Perhaps he was blind to them – after all he himself was no tzadik and mightn’t be privy to the mysteries of Y’hovah, the sod of Torah. Had he known, haSatan would also have known
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery,the hidden [sod], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealedunto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things [sod] of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1Cor.2.6-13
and may not have worked to crucify him.} end of quote from 11/2/2013 Midrash.
‘Sheep gone astray, who have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls’, reminds me of Paul’s word to the Ephesians;
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Moshiach Yeshua unto good works, which Elohim hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye, in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Moshiach, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world: 13 But now in Moshiach Yeshua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Moshiach. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, the law of commandments in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto Elohim in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. (Eph.2.11-17)
Here I thought Peter and Paul were on the outs! The church seems to think so. But Peter keeps agreeing with Paul. Go figure! Q&C
End of Shabbat Bible Study
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