Parasha "Tzav" (Command)

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

PARASHAH: “Tzav” (command) 

  

LEVITICUS 6:8-8:36………. JEREMIAH 7:21-8:3………MARK 13:1-37

 

     Last week we studied Parasha “Vayikra” (and he called) and this week, we read Parashat “Tzav” (command).  We are studying the same offerings, yet the titles are different.  One is “Called” and this study falls under “command.”  What is the relationship here?  One way to look at this is that “offering up to Adonai” is a calling.  We are called to “offer up to Him” yet not all respond.  But for those who DO respond to the calling, there is a set way to offer up to HIM.

 

     HaShem is saying in a way; “You are called, but I know that not all you will respond, yet to those who DO respond, THIS is how it is done!  Remember that today, there are no more animal offerings/sacrifices, yet the offerings are symbolic in the way we relate to HaShem today, through prayer, mitzvoth, our personal relationship with Messiah Yeshua.    

     We continue to look at the “Korbanot Shel Mishkan” (the offerings of the Tabernacle) which are…  

 

     “The Burnt Offering” (Korban Olah), “The Grain Offering” (Minchah), “The Peace offering” (Zevah Shelamim), the “Sin Offering” (Korban Chatat), “The Trespass or guilt offering” (Korban Asham).  One thing about the burnt, sin, and guilt offerings, there had to be “Teshuvah” (repentance) or “a change of heart”.  A “Turning away from sin” like when Yeshua told the woman who was caught in the act of adultery; “Go and sin no more!” (by the way, I wonder why the crowd didn’t bring the man?) I mean, if the woman was caught in the “act” the man was there too! Yet he was not brought forth. 

  

     The burnt offerings symbolized the recognition of our sin nature and a willingness to give oneself to God.  The sin and trespass/guilt offerings symbolized the offeror’s recognition that “I have sinned” in a specific way, unintentionally, and forgiveness was sought.  If the trespass was some property damage or stolen, the person offering the animal has to first “compensate” the person offended, and “restitution” was in order.  Yet it was restitution plus 5 more of the items, plus a fine besides the offering.  Very strict. 

 

     It would be good if those tried and imprisoned for theft, would have to pay back the victim the value of said property doing labor in prison, and not be released until the compensation was complete. 

Or…the state would pay the victim, and the offender would have to pay back the state with said labor.  Good idea! Let’s vote on it! 

 

     The grain and peace offerings were to “give thanks to God” for blessings received or anticipated. 

Every time people go to the park and fire-up the BBQ grills and invite guests to eat hamburgers, hot-dogs, sausage, tostadas, grilled peppers, they are, in a way, lifting up a “peace offering”.  These offerings were not without fine flour, olive oil, salt, and Frankincense.  I guess a good outing in the park could not be complete without garlic bread brushed with a bit of olive oil and salt.  Salt in the bible symbolizes “incorruptibility” and what a better way to lay down to rest at night than to light an incense stick of Frankincense. 

 

     We can see Yeshua in all of these offerings.  The clean animals symbolize Yeshua as the “perfect sacrificed lamb of God” the grain offerings symbolize “Yeshua the Bread of Life” the peace offerings “Yeshua, the Prince of Peace” (Yeshua Sar Shalom).  The olive oil the “Ruach HaKodesh” (The Holy Spirit) and the Frankincense “Our prayers and supplications” which go “up” like burning incense. 

 

     In this Parashah we see “Ner Tamid” or “Esh Tamid” (the eternal flame or fire) the burnt offering roasted all night and the ashes that remained in the morning were removed to a clean place outside the camp.  The fire symbolizes purification, destruction, heat, light, and judgment of sin.  It can also symbolize our zeal and love for God and for the things of God, service to Adonai, I am sure you have heard the expression “being on fire for God!” The things we did yesterday are gone, and the things of today remain to be done.  We can consider the “ashes” the things of yesterday, and the things of today, are being done, and the things of tomorrow, “yet to be done” 

 

     YHVH takes into account ALL things done for His name’s sake, honor, and glory.  The ashes of “yesterday” can be our “future rewards” in Heaven in the world to come. 

 

     Chapter 8 in the highlight of the Torah.  The Torah (Genesis – Deuteronomy) has 304,805 Hebrew letters, 79,977 words, and 5845 verses.  Lev 8:15 is the “midpoint” with the word “Yesod” (foundation or base).  It talks about Aaron being anointed as high priest.  He is symbolically a “type of Messiah.”

 

“to anoint” is “m sh k” in Hebrew letters.  The word “Mishkan” (Tabernacle) also has those letters. The Mishkan was anointed for the place of worship.  In the high priest, we have the mediator between man and God, and now “Yeshua” is our “Cohen Gadol” (High Priest) 

 

     The blood of the animals used to anoint Aaron and his sons was sprinkled on the horns of the brazen altar and poured out at the “base” or “foundation” of the altar, pointing us to Yeshua who is the “Chief Corner-stone” or the “Foundation Stone” (Yeshua HaYesod) 

 

     It is also interesting to see that the first word in the Torah is “B’reisheet” (in the beginning) the middle word  is “Yesod” (foundation) and the last word in Deuteronomy is “Yisrael” giving us the message that “Yeshua is the Foundation of Israel” but where is “Yeshua” in Genesis?   If we take the last letters of the first three words of Genesis “B’reisheet Bara Elohim” we get the word “Emet” (truth) and one of Yeshua’s titles is “The Truth” the “Alef” “Mem” and “Tav”.  Yeshua said; “I AM the Way the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). 

 

     Aaron and his sons were anointed with blood on their right ear lobes, their right thumbs, and the big toe on their right feet.  This can symbolize our “hearing” (Shema) and putting into action what we hear from God’s Word, our “doing” through mitzvoth (good deeds, following the commandments) and “walking” according to HIS direction, walking a “Torah based lifestyle, or “Halacha” as some put it.  This was the ministry of Aaron and his sons, and also our ministry as well. 

  

JEREMIAH 7:21-8:3; 9:22,23 

  

     Adonai speaks to Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) telling Israel to repent and return to God, yet God told him that Israel would not listen to him.  So sad, that was the case.  Sacrifices were continued but without true repentance.  Kind of like the Mafia big bosses murdering and gunning down people, and then going to mass at church and confess before the priests (if they even did that). 

 

     Israel was taken into slavery to live in Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, only many years later did a remnant return to Israel.  We need to get back to God today through true repentance, from the heart and not just with words.  Adonai did not ask for sacrifices when he took his people out of Egypt, only obedience to his voice and words, yet Israel failed to obey.  The “Korbanot” were HIS way to point his people back to him through Yeshua, the “Emet” (Truth) and the foundation stone from the beginning.  (I know, seems like bad English to use "were" but "Korbanot" is plural, so "were"is correct) 

  

MARK 13:1-37 

  

     Yeshua tells his Talmidim about the future.  “The end is near,” he tells them.  Yet many will say; “Well, that was thousands of years ago, and the end is not in sight!”  

 

     We need to remember that our perspective of time is not the same perspective of Adonai’s time.  If one thousand years are like a day, then, in reality, time is of no matter to YHVH.  Yeshua is saying that “Many will come in my name”.  We see that it is true with many false Messiahs, false cults, false doctrines, “adding” to the Word of God saying, “Yeshua isn’t enough, you need…”  

 

     Many cults, denominations change God’s Word to fit their beliefs, mis-interpret original words.  When we listen to preachers and teachers, we must ask ourselves, “Is this what God’s Word is really saying?” does it support solid Bible doctrine, if it does not, then it is mere commentary, “man’s opinion, nothing more.  

 

     I believe that the best way to understand God’s word is to get back to the original language and culture to understand what the original writers were saying.  Yeshua is coming back, are you ready? We must live and prepare our lives as if Yeshua will return in the far future yet be ready if He returns tomorrow.  It is good to make plans, yet YHVH has the final say.  

 

Shalom... Rabbi Ben Avraham