parashah 26 sh'mini

8/18/2019 Parashah 26 Sh'Mini

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Parashah 26: Sh'mini (Eighth)

Parashah 26: Sh'mini (Eighth) - Leviticus 9:1 through 11:47.

Haftarah (Writings and Prophets): 2 Samuel: 6:1 - 7:17.

B'rit Hadasha (New Testament): Mark 7:1-23; Acts 5:1-11; 10:1-35; 2 Cor.6:14 - 7:1; Galatians 2:11-16; 1 Peter 1:14-16.

Summary & Overview

TORAH

o Leviticus 9:1 | Aaron's Priesthood Inaugurated

o Leviticus 10:1 | Nadab and Abihu

o Leviticus 11:1 | Clean and Unclean Foods

o Leviticus 11:24 | Unclean Animals

Last week we looked at the Sacrificial System and why it is so complicated.Within the detail of the Sacrificial System, we discovered the Restoration Planof YHVH’s Creation that is conducted by the Work of Messiah during His Firstand Second Comings. We also saw that we are in a fallen state and that we arepart of this Restoration Process to remove the curse that came upon man. Thisweek we will start with the Commandments that form part of the RestorationProcess that needs to happen within each one of us, and every Commandmentplays a part in this process. The first sin that was committed had to do with whatwe eat, and this Torah Portion deals with just that. We start with theCommandments Regarding Clean and Unclean animals that is relevant to theSacrifices conducted within the Tabernacle. Remember, only clean animalswere brought into the Tabernacle for the Sacrifices.

Requirements for the Priesthood and the Congregation

This Torah Portion starts with the Inauguration ofthe Priesthood that will facilitate and teach theCommandments to the people. In today’s terms, itwould be appointing the Leadership in the Churchwho will teach and lead YHVH’s people.

This Torah Portion starts with Moses instructing

Aaron to offer up a Sin Offering (calf) and a BurntOffering (ram) unto YHVH, to make atonement forthe Priesthood. After that he offered two Sin

Offerings (Calf and Lamb), two Peace Offerings (Bullock and Ram) and a MealOffering on behalf of the Children of Israel. Then YHVH will appear to theCongregation in the form of His Glory in the midst of His people. Let us applywhat we learned last week to see the “building blocks” required for thePresence of YHVH to be in our midst.

The Leaders of the Congregation needs an Olah or Burnt offering thatsymbolises them to be covered in a “Torah Scroll skin” (as we learned last

week). This means that they must know the Torah and make the Torah visiblethrough their actions, living out the principles and Commandments of YHVH.


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They also required a Sin Offering that is needed to “cover their sin”. Thissymbolises that the Leaders within the Congregation must live lives ofrepentance before YHVH, pursuing Holiness so that they will not be seen ashypocrites, preaching one thing and doing another, causing people to stumble.

The Members of the Congregation need two Sin

offerings that indicate their willingness to live Holylives before YHVH, always repent when they sin.They also required two Peace offerings and oneMeal offering that symbolises the regular gatheringof the Congregation, eating together and discussingHis Word as well as relying on YHVH’s Holy Spirit toreveal Truth to remove false teachings and doctrinesfrom their midst (read last week’s study for detail).The assembly is a discussion and interaction of all

members, not just one person who always teaches and everybody keepingquiet and listen. The Teacher needs to facilitate, but the Congregation needs to

interact and are part of the conversation and share what they have studied andshare truth they have received. The reason for this is to ensure that theCongregation can learn and grow together and share the same foundation ofthe Truth and all be on the same page regarding the Word. If someone is notpart of a group and study on their own, they can go off in a tangent not havingthe balanced truth that is presented and discussed by fellow Believers. TheSacrifices required for the people emphasises the importance of the regulargathering of Believers so that they can learn together and be in unity or Echad,one with YHVH and one with each other and be part of YHVH’s RestorationProcess regarding Relationships. Then and only then will YHVH’s Glory appearin their midst and their lives.

Lev 9:23-24 And Moses and Aaron went into thetabernacle of the congregation, and came out,and blessed the people: and the glory of YHVHappeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a

fire out from before YHVH, and consumed uponthe altar the burnt offering and the fat: whichwhen all the people saw, they shouted, and fell ontheir faces.

YHVH’s glory appeared in the form of fire that came down from heaven andconsumed the Burnt Offering on the Altar. The people saw this and fell on their

faces.

Q - What does this relate to and how will we see His Glory in our time?

The Glory came in the form of fire upon the Olah or Burnt offering. What wehave learned from this Offering, is that is associated with Noah’s Ark thatbrought salvation in a time of Judgement. It is also associated with the sacrificeof Isaac that represented the Messiah as the Saviour. Putting all of this togethershows us that the Glory of YHVH will come in the form of Fire, during a time ofJudgement, then we will see the Messiah as the Saviour at His Second Coming.When we see this, we all will fall on our faces.


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These are two examples within this Parashah show you how you can apply thesymbolism regarding the Sacrifices in order to reveal hidden truth to us that isrelevant today. Who would have through that the passage in Lev 9 will revealhow an Assembly should look and function and reveal the Second Coming ofMessiah and what His Glory will look like.

Strange Fire Offerings

Lev 10:1-2 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of themhis censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offeredstrange fire before YHVH, which he commanded them not. 2 So fire cameout from the presence of YHVH and consumed them, and they died beforeYHVH.

The two sons of Aaron died during the task ofconducting an offering unto YHVH. They were bothfrom the Priesthood, serving in the Tabernacle of

YHVH and is similar to Leaders facilitating YHVH’sWord and Worship to His people.

Q – What does this teach us regarding Leadership andservice unto YHVH today?

Nadab means generous; it comes from a root wordthat means “to incite, to impel, willingly and tovolunteer ” . This word is first used in Gen 25:2 whereIsrael brought gifts willingly to aid with the construction

of the Tabernacle. This is a good thing but if that offering supports a placewhere they will bring “strange fire”, then it is not so good. Nadab is a picture of

Leaders in Congregations who preach messages that will make people give“willingly” and volunteering themselves to partake in the “construction” of theChurch. Does this sound like prosperity teachings today? What makes is wrongis the “strange fire” aspect where a Tabernacle or Congregation is built tofacilitate the “sacrifices” or offerings the Leaders will bring in the form of“strange fire”, unto YHVH. Their teachings deceive the people and theseLeaders (Nadib) cause them to partake in these strange “offerings” that isabdominal to YHVH.

Abihu means “he is my father ” and is made up of two words “av” that meansfather and “huw” that is a pronoun that means “himself”. This reveals to us that

Leaders that appoint themselves and call themselves “father” are the ones thatare prone to bringing “strange offerings” or service unto YHVH. “Huw” from Abihu is first used in Scripture in Gen 2:11 where it talks about the river Pisonwhere there is gold. This reveals Leaders like Abihu, why they want to beleaders. Both these type of leaders have wrong motives why they lead YHVH’speople, and they both ended up being consumed by YHVH’s “glory”(judgement).

Q – Have you seen any Churches like this in our day?

There are many Mega Churches all over the world today that preach a messageof Prosperity, misleading people to give freely so that they can get rich.

Churches like this facilitate meetings where there are “strange fire” servicesoffered up to YHVH. They think these practices are the Glory of YHVH but doesYHVH approve and is it really from Him?


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The Meal and Peace-Offerings - How to Eat

Last week we saw the importance of the Meal & Peace Offerings and how theseOfferings restores the peace and the Truth in the midst of a Congregation. TheMeal Offering is connected to food and what we eat is linked to the first sin inthe Garden of Eden. This section of the Torah Portion elaborates a bit more on

the requirements of the “Meal Offering” or what we are supposed to eat so thatyou do not bring the same curse upon your life as Adam and Eve did. TheCommandments regarding food is part of the Meal Offering Restoration andpart of reversing the curse brought upon humanity because of what Adam andEve ate. There are a lot of confusion regarding eating clean food (food, asdescribed in the Word of YHVH) and Believers think that Jesus freed us fromthe dietary restrictions found in the Torah because they believe the Law is doneaway with. The problem with this is that the “Law” or Torah forms part of theRestoration Process of YHVH’s fallen Creation. If you abolish it, then you willnot be restored. It is often the mistranslation or wrong interpretation that leadpeople to believe these things, but we will now look at the popular verses in theNew Testament that “proof” that you can eat anything to see if this is so.

Scriptures that are used as arguments to justify eating “unclean”animals and popular statements made supporting this view.

“…It is not what goes into your mouth that makes you unclean…”

Mat 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but thatwhich comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

People use this verse to proof that you can eat anything you like because it is

only your words that make you unclean, not food. Reading the context tells uswhat they did to cause this offence.

Mat 15:2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? Forthey do not wash their hands when they eat bread.

The context of this verse is found where Y’shua spoke these words to thePharisees after His Disciples have been accused of defiling themselves eatingwithout washing their hands, breaking the tradition of the Elders (Pharisees).The Pharisees taught that if you eat without washing your hands first, then thefood (clean as defined in Scripture) is now unclean.

Q - But it is a good thing to wash your hands anyway, what was the real issuehere?

The issue is not what is clean or unclean defined by Scripture; the issue is whatcame out of the mouths of the Elders that made them unclean, teaching theirtraditions instead of YHVH’s Word. These Traditions are also known as the OralTorah, or better known today as the Talmud. The Rabbi’s believe that theTalmud carry just as much authority as the Torah because it is Oral Laws thatwere written down and should be obeyed the same as YHVH’sCommandments. This is not good because they added to the Torah. Within theTalmud, you will find the “Tradition of the Elders” called the Takanot.


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Takanot – “The washing of the hands” Takanot is theterm describing the Pharisaic Laws created by them, andhanded down as Laws the people had to obey to be righteous.The Pharisees believe that they have the authority to changeYHVH’s Law (just like the Pope) by adding or taking away from

it. They did it back then and they still do it today and is known asthe “Tradition of the Elders”. YHVH said in His Word that you arecursed if you add of taking away from His Word.

The “Washing of the Hands” is a “ Takanot” that the Phariseesinvented and you will not find it in Scripture. To obey the “hand washingritual” you had to have a special jug which you pour over your left handwhile resting a blessing, and then over your right hand, resting the blessing.You had to do this three times before you could eat otherwise your food willbe “unclean”. The blessing they had to recite is as follows: “Blessed are you Adonai, King of the Universe, Who gave us the Commandments, and Whocommanded us to wash the hands”. Note: YHVH did not command us to do

this, but within this prayer, they say He did.

Y’shua did not say that you can eat whatever you want and you have to “read itinto” this verse as most people do. People are ignorant of what the Phariseestaught and what the “traditions of the elders” are and jump to conclusionsregarding Y’shua’s statements.

Here is another example where Y’shua spoke out against the “Traditions of theElders” or “Oral Laws” of the Pharisees where they added to YHVH’s Torah:

Mat 15:3 But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgressthe Commandment of YHVH by YOUR TRADITION?

By doing “manmade commandments”, they transgressed and broke YHVH’sCommandments, and He forbids it to add or take away from His Word.

Deu 4:2 You shall not add to the Word which I command you, neithershall you take away from it, so that you may keep the commands of YHVHyour Elohim which I command you.

Think about it, Y’shua never spoke against the Torah or the Commandments ofHis Father, He always spoke against the traditions and commandments of man,the traditions of the elders and the laws they added that caused a burden onYHVH’s people. So, did Y’shua abolish the Commandments in Matt 5:11

regarding “Clean and Unclean” food? No, clearly not!


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“…Eating “clean food” is a doctrine of demons…”

1Ti 4:1-5 But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some shalldepart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits andteachings of demons, (2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, beingseared in their own conscience, (3) forbidding to marry,

saying to abstain from foods which Elohim has created tobe received with thanksgiving by those who believe andknow the truth. (4) For every creation of Elohim isgood, and nothing to be refused if it is received withthanksgiving. (5) For it is sanctified by the Word of Elohim and

prayer.

This scripture starts by classifying false teachings and lies inspired bymisleading spirits and demons; NOT TO MARRY and TO ABSTAIN FORMFOOD Elohim created as food. The Torah never teaches not to marry. Marriageis a covenant relationship between a man and a woman that is commanded in

Scripture and makes this clearly a doctrine that came from demons.

There is another false teaching or “doctrine of demons” regarding food mentioned here, and that is teaching people to abstain from certain foods whichYHVH created and declared as food within His Torah. People misuses thisverse to say that if you refrain from pork and shellfish, you are following adoctrine of demons. This is clearly not what this verse says, and we will lookwhat Paul actually meant when he said this.

First of all, YHVH specified what food is in His Torah, in this Parashah in Lev11. He specifically said that pigs are not to be eaten and is not created orclassified as food. They are scavengers that clean the land, the same asshellfish. You can pray over your vacuum cleaner as much as you like, it will notbe sanctified as food. This is clearly the wrong interpretation of this verse thatactually implies that YHVH changed His mind regarding food and allow peopleto call His Torah the “doctrine of demons”, that is very brave and disgusting.

2 Tim 3:16 Every Scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable forteaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

When Paul wrote this, the New Testament did not exist and he was referring tothe TaNaK, the Torah, the Prophets and the Psalms and Mal 3:6-7 states thatYHVH never changes. You must be aware of these concepts not to make

foolish statements defining YHVH Character and His Word.YHVH defined “clean and unclean” animals beforeMoses’ time when He told Noah in Gen 7:2 and Gen7:8 to gather two pairs of unclean animals and sevenpairs of clean animals to take into the Ark.

Q - Why do you think He specified seven pairs ofclean animals?

Because it was to be consumed by man as food andused for sacrifices. Later in Gen 9:3 YHVH states

that we can eat all animals and every green plant. Reading this in isolation canbe used to prove that we can eat all animals and creeping things. In the contextof Gen 7, where YHVH specified what clean and unclean was, as well as the


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fact that every green plant cannot be eaten because some plants arepoisonous, proves that this verse only refers to animals that are defined asfood. Unclean animals were never used as food or for sacrifices because it isan abomination unto YHVH to eat uncleanly or to bring an unclean animal intothe Temple for a sacrifice. You are the “Temple” of YHVH with His Spiritindwelling you and you should not bring unclean animals into His Temple.

What was Paul referred to here as the “teaching of demons” is the doctrine of“not to marry” and the doctrine of “not to eat certain foods (clean animals)”. Rom14:21 Paul teaches not to eat meat if it causes your brother to stumble. Thereis nothing wrong with being a vegetarian but do not make it a Commandmentand said it is from YHVH. He will never contradict His Word, and Paul’steachings should always be read within context so that you do not stumble andtwist Paul’s words.

2 Pet 3:15-16 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience meanssalvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom

that God gave him. 16

He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking inthem of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard tounderstand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do theother Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Lastly, verse 5 confirms that all creatures mentioned as food are set apart byElohim’s Word (Torah – Lev 11) and prayer, not OR prayer. It is not the one orthe other but both. We pray and thank YHVH for the food, not praying over foodto make it “clean”.

“…Let no one judge you in food or in drink…”

Col 2:16-17 Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of thenew moon, or of the sabbaths. (17) For these area shadow of things to come, but the body is of

Messiah.

This verse can be used to prove both views:

The Law is abol ished – “ …let no one judge me in food or in drink, I can eat what I like, pig, prawns calamari etc.…or in respect of a feast, orof the new moon, or the Sabbaths, I do not have

to do them any more so don’t judge me, For these are a shadow of things tocome, but the body is of Messiah, they all are shadows and Christ hasreplaced them because He is the real thing…”.

The Torah stil l stands – let no one judge you….but the body of Messiah.Only the people inside the body of Messiah may judge (direct) meregarding food or feasts or the Sabbath because the people outside thebody do know the Scripture and do not understand these things.

If I believe the Feasts, the Sabbaths, new moon and the food laws still stand, Ican use this verse to defend my faith. “…let no one judge me in food, drink,

Feasts, new moons and Sabbaths…”, or you can use this verse to abolish theFeasts, the Sabbaths, the new moon observation and the food laws and labelthem as “shadows” that disappeared when Jesus came.


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Yes they are a shadow of these things, but you cannot take away the shadowbecause they all point to Messiah, all these shadows will become real in theNew Heaven and New Earth where we will observe them with Messiah, just likethey observed the Sabbath in the Garden of Eden.

Lastly, the translators have printed certain words in italics; these are words they

inserted that is not in the original text to make it easier to read in the Englishlanguage. In this verse, it is the word “is” that is inserted by the translators and ifyou remove it, changes the interpretation of this verse.

Col 2:16-17 Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or inrespect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbaths. (17) For theseare a shadow of things to come, but the body of Messiah.

The term “judge” is sometimes misunderstood, and people tend to forget thatSolomon was a Judge that judged the people of Israel. To judge means to director teach people in YHVH’s ways, not bash them and tell them off like we thinknowadays. This confirms that only the “Body of Messiah” can judge (teach anddirect) you regarding these things because they do them and understand them.

…All food are declared clean where God showed Peter all animals in a

vision and told him to kill and eat…

Act_10:19-28 On the next day, as these went on theroad, and drawing near the city, Peter went up on thehousetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 And he becamevery hungry and desired to eat. But while they madeready, an ecstasy fell on him. 11 And he saw the heaven

opened and a certain vessel like a sheet coming down tohim, being bound at the four corners and let down to theearth; 12 in which were all the four-footed animals of theearth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds ofthe heaven. 13 And a voice came to him, saying, Rise,

Peter! Kill and eat! 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for Ihave never eaten anything that is common or unclean. 15 And the voicespoke to him again the second time, What God has made clean, you do notcall common. 16 This happened three times, and the vessel was received upagain into the heaven. 17 And while Peter doubted within himself what thevision which he had seen might be, even behold, the men who were sent

from Cornelius had asked for Simon's house and stood on the porch. 18 And they called and asked if Simon whose last name is Peter was stayingthere. 19 And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him,

Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Therefore arise and go downand go with them without doubting, for I have sent them. 21 And goingdown to the men, those sent to him from Cornelius, Peter said, Behold, I amthe one you are seeking. For what reason have you come? 22 And theysaid, Cornelius the centurion, a just man and one who fears God, and one ofgood report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by aholy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear words from you.23 Then he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day Peter went

away with them, and certain brothers from Joppa went with him. 24 Andthe next day they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius was waiting forthem, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.


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25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feetand worshiped. 26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up! I also am aman myself. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many whohad come together. 28 And he said to them, You know that it is an unlawfulthing for a man, a Jew to keep company with or to come near to one ofanother nation. But God has shown me not to call any man common or

unclean.

This chapter in Scripture is the evidence that is mostly used to proof and justifythe eating of “unclean” animals. This evidence is based on the vision YHWHgave Peter. In this vision, YHVH showed Peter clean and unclean uncleananimals together and told him; “kill and eat”.

Guidelines regarding Doctrines: A Doctrine can only be confirmed byScripture with two or more witnesses. This means that you have to find more

than one verse that says the same thing to define it as truth. Secondly,Scripture cannot contradict Scripture, and everything needs to harmonise

throughout Scripture, from the Torah right through to Revelation. Thispassage, if misinterpreted wrongly, contradicts Lev 11.

If you find any contradictions, the translation or interpretation is wrong. Anycontradiction will only bring confusion and starts another Denomination. Thirdly,YHVH does not change, anything that changes throughout Scripture that cannotbe explained or fit His Restoration Plan, cannot be accepted because itcontradicts the passage in Mal 3:6 that says that YHVH does not change.Lastly, the grey areas; this is where something stands on its own in Scripture oris a very broad concept that is open to interpretation. These “grey areas” cannotbecome Doctrines just for that fact. If it is not a clear Commandment found inmore that one place in the Scripture, then it is not eligible to become a Doctrine.

What we can and cannot eat is found more than once in Scripture and isexplicitly listed as a Commandment from YHVH. If you bring in another Doctrinethat contradicts a Commandments of YHVH, then you are teaching people tobreak YHVH’s Commandments and will be called “least” in the Kingdom. Y’shuaexplaining this concept in the Book of Matthew:

Matt 5:19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of thesecommandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least inthe kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall becalled great in the kingdom of heaven.

What does it mean? As we read further on from Acts 10:17, you will see thatPeter thought about this vision, what it possibly could mean. This verse is

normally missed and thus causing the confusion. Visions are sometimesfigurative and should not be taken literally. YHVH used the example of“eating unclean” to get Peter’s attention because YHVH told him to“break the Commandments” He gave in Torah?. What is YHVHrevealing here because He will never go against His Word? Verse 28states that it was “unlawful” or against the law for a Jew to come near

or keep company with Gentiles or people from other nations.This in itself is not a Commandment, but yet again a Takanot or

teaching from the Elders, who made up laws contrary to

YHVH’s Torah and YHVH told Peter to break their commandment, not His.


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Peter knew that what he saw in the vision was not to be taken literal and hewondered what the interpretation of this vision might be. While thinking aboutthis three men appeared before him, three non-Jews.

Q – If Peter had not received the Vision, would he have opened up to them andlodged them?

No, it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with Gentiles, let alone invitethem into your home and dine with them. The Hebrew mind probably linked thenumber three with the number of times the vision was repeated with the numberof Gentiles at his door. He also would have made the connection of “kill and eat”with lodging and eating with the Gentiles (unclean animals).

Peter only understood the Vision after he was confronted with the Gentiles andacted on the vision by inviting them in. Please note that he lodged them and thisimplies that he prepared food and probably at with them (kill and eat) beforemeeting Cornelius the following day.

Kill and eat: The word "eat" is used metaphorically in Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 3:1;Rev. 10:9. In John 6:53-58, "eating and drinking" means believing in Messiah.This is nothing different for YHVH to use the term “eat” metaphorically, in thiscase, to eat together or fellowship together. The symbolism of the uncleananimals represents Gentiles because Gentiles were seen to be “unclean” andwere not permitted to mix with Gentiles. YHVH called the Gentiles clean and fitto also receive salvation, just like the Jews. This “Mystery of the Food” becamethe “Mystery of the Gospel” that Paul taught in his letters.

The context of this passage has to be bent to confirm the justification to eatunclean animals as stated in Leviticus. This new Doctrine is not founded on

concrete evidence that you can eat what you want. You do not have to interpretPeter’s Vision, YHVH gave him the interpretation, just read up to verse 28, andeverything will be revealed.

“…The “weak brother” only eat vegetables…”

Rom 14:1-2 And receive him who is weak in the faith, but not to judgments of your thoughts. (2) For indeed one believes in eating all things; butbeing weak, another eats vegetables.

Some interpret this passage that those who eat all

things are secure in their faith and if you follow thefood laws, not eating “unclean” things, you are weakin your faith.

Q – How do you proof that you are strong in faith?

To prove that you are strong in your faith by eating all things including uncleanfood makes people in the world the strongest because they do not care whatthey put in their mouths. No, this cannot be the measure of faith, it is ridiculous.This disproves the logic of interpretation this passage in this way. Faith can onlybe measured according to YHVH’s Word, and you are strong in faith if you arefaithful in the Truth.

Q - So, who is the “weak brother then?


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There are three possibilities determining the weak brother:

1. New Believers coming from a Genti le background: The weak brother mighthave been new believers in Messiah who did not understand everything yet andwho were still in the process of learning regarding the ways of YHVH. Some ofthese Gentile cultures did not eat meat at all and were vegetarian. When they

assembled they share food and eating together caused problems and disputesbecause of these different views regarding food. They were “weak” in theirunderstanding of the Torah that allowed certain meats. The people who were“strong” in faith had a better understanding of the Torah and ate “all things” allowed in Lev 11. This caused offence to the new people who believe to bevegetarian and were classified as “weak” brothers and sisters in Messiah.

2. New Believers from a Jewish background: These issues happen whenBelievers from a Gentile background, bring clean meat (according to Torah) intothe Assembly, but the meat did not meet the Jewish Kosher requirementsaccording to traditions. This happened in Paul’s time as well when clean meat

are not “kosher” according to Rabbinical customs and declared “unclean” byBelievers with Jewish heritage. This caused the Jewish Believers in Messiah,abstained from meat altogether (eat vegetables only) because the meat is“unclean” or not Kosher because of its source. When Believers assembled, theyate together, and this issue caused disputes that Paul had to address, thuscalling the Jewish Brothers in Messiah weak in faith.

3. Believers who did not fast “correctly” and fasted on “certain days” Paulalso make mention of “certain days” as well as “to eat or not to eat”, if you readdown to verse 6, connecting it to the “weak in faith” context.

Rom 14:5-6 One indeed esteems a day above another day, and another

esteems every day alike. Let each one be fully assured in his own mind.(6) He who regards the day regards it to YHVH, and he not regardingthe day, does not regard it to YHVH. He who eats, eats to YHVH, for hegives Elohim thanks; and he who does not eat, does not eat to YHVH, andgives Elohim thanks.

To eat unto YHVH we understand, but not to eat unto YHVH is related toabstaining from food as in a fast. You can fast all food or only fast meat, eatingvegetables during this time of fasting. The weak in faith could have been thosewho did not fast “correctly” or did not fast on “certain days” as tradition dictated.We see people regarded one day above another and this could relate to fastdays that was custom within Jewish traditions, for example, to fast twice aweek.

Luk 18:12 ‘I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’

Some Believers of Jewish background held to this custom to fast twice a weekon certain days, as stipulated by the Pharisees, others did not regard theirteachings and “ate of all things” on these days of fasting. Others who kept thefast might have only abstained from meats, eating vegetables on their fast day.Those who were “weak”, ate vegetables and those who are strong in faith (notthe following tradition), ate from all the food that was present.


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The comment about “weak faith” is made by Paul who was trying toresolve issues and disputes because of cultural differences withinthe Congregation. These disputes came about due to lack ofunderstanding of the Word or “grey areas” in interpreting the

Word. If we are faced with these issues and cultural differences,we need to learn to love and tolerate one another for the sake ofunity within the Congregation.

This passage in Romans 14 is a perfect example of how oneScripture can be interpreted in four different ways and this making

it not feasible in using to define the Doctrine regarding food.

Q – What was Paul’s views on faith and keeping the Torah?

Rom 3:31 Do we then nullify the Torah through the Faith? Let it not be!On the contrary, (through faith) we establish the Torah.

Rom 7:12-13 So that the Torah truly is Holy, and the Command Holy,and righteous, and good. (13) Therefore, has that which is good (Torahand Commandments) become death to me? Let it not be!

Rom 7:22 For I delight in the Torah of Elohim according to the inwardman, Footnote: 1Ps. 119:16.

Clean and Unclean in the Torah.

This passage in Deut 14 is the second witness to what Lev 11 states andtherefore can be used to define the Doctrine regarding Clean and Unclean

food.

Deu_14:3-21 “Do not eat whateveris abominable. (4) “These are theliving creatures which you do eat:ox, sheep, and goat, (5) deer, andgazelle, and roebuck, and wild goat,and mountain goat, and antelope,and mountain sheep. (6) “And everybeast that has a split hoof divided intwo, chewing the cud, among the

beasts, you do eat. (7) “But of thosechewing the cud or those having asplit hoof completely divided, you donot eat, such as these: the camel, andthe hare, and the rabbit, for theychew the cud but do not have a splithoof, they are unclean for you. (8)“And the pig is unclean for you,because it has a split hoof, but doesnot chew the cud. You do not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses.(9) “These you do eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and

scales you do eat. (10) “And whatever does not have fins and scales youdo not eat, it is unclean for you. (11) “Any clean bird you do eat,


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(12) but these you do not eat: the eagle, and the vulture, and the blackvulture, (13) and the red kite, and the falcon, and the buzzard after theirkinds, (14) and every raven after its kind, (15) and the ostrich, and thenighthawk, and the seagull, and the hawk after their kinds, (16) the littleowl, and the great owl, and the white owl, (17) and the pelican, and thecarrion vulture, and the fisher owl, (18) and the stork, and the heron

after its kind, and the hoopoe and the bat. (19) “And every creepinginsect that flies is unclean for you; they are not eaten. (20) “Any cleanbird you do eat. (21) “Do not eat whatever dies of itself. Give it to thestranger who is within your gates, to eat it, or sell it to a foreigner. Foryou are a set-apart people to YHVH your Elohim. Do not cook a younggoat in its mother’s milk. ( do not follow pagan tradition)

In the last verse, we see that YHVH forbids us to eat goat cooked in its mother’smilk. This was a pagan tradition, and YHVH do not want us to follow thetraditions of the Pagan Cultures, and one of them is to eat whatever we want.YHVH created enough to eat from, and we should not fall into the same trapEve did when Satan told her that she could eat from the things YHVH forbidthem to eat from and become like YHVH. Eating what you want makes you in asense like YHVH where you have the power over your life and do not need tosubmit under anybody’s authority. This is true for YHVH but definitely not truefor us.

Clean and Unclean in the Last Days.

Let’s now look at what the Scripture says about clean and unclean animals incontext with the end times and the last generation; these passages are for

those awaiting the Second Coming of Messiah. Isa_66:15-18 15 For, behold, YHWH will come with fire, and with Hischariots like a tempest, to refresh His anger with fury, and His rebukewith flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by His sword YHWH will execute

judgment with all flesh; and the slain of YHWH will be many.17 Those who sanctify themselves, and purify themselves to go into thegardens, behind one tree in the middle, eating swine's (hog or pig) flesh,and the hateful thing, and the mouse, will be cut off together, saysYHWH. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts; it comes to gatherall the nations and the tongues, and they will come and see My glory.

Isa 65:3-6 the people who provoke Me continually to My face, whoslaughter in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick; (4) who sitamong the graves, and spend the night in secret places, who eat flesh of

pigs, and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots, (5) who say, ‘Keep toyourself, do not come near me, for I am holy to you!’ These are smoke in

My nostrils, a fire that burns all day. ( 6) “See, it is written before Me: Iam not silent, but shall repay, and I shall repay into their bosom,


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These two passages talk about Y’shua’sSecond Coming where He will come to judgethe world and yet again brings up the topic ofa Garden, food and what not to eat. YHVHidentifies these people as His followers and

in Isa 66 see them sanctifying themselvesand in Isa 65 defines them as people whocalls themselves Holy about other people.

The issue YHVH have with these people isthat they follow Him but refuse to submit toHis Word and thus rebel against the truthespecially the Commandments regarding

food. This makes it very difficult for YHVH to Restore these people if they refuseto follow His Process of Restoration that involves His Commandments,especially the one regarding food.

The same sin that caused humanity to fall in the Garden will be the sin that willbe judged during the Second Coming of Messiah. This sin is not what you eat,but rather the rebellion against His Word that stipulates what to eat and whatnot to eat. This makes the topic of “Clean and Unclean Food” a pretty serioustopic and Believers in Messiah should not be ignorant of this or brush it off asunimportant. If you say you follow YHVH and love Him, you will learn His Waysand follow it so that you can be removed from the things that are “cursed” thatwill be judged during the End Time Events. This will ensure that you will berestored back to the Garden of Eden and live with YHVH in His Presence in theNew Jerusalem.

parashah 26 sh'mini

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