Mishpatim (judgments) what are they?

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

PARASHA: “Mishpatim” (Judgments)    EXODUS 21:1-24:18    “Bringing to light the meaning of some difficult mitzvoth” 

So, what are so called "judgments?"  Example, a judge will give a "judgment" after hearing a case involving a criminal, and after hearing the verdict of the jury.  He or she will examine what the law dictates, and then, apply the law to the case involving said criminal.  When we talk in Biblical terms.  Adonai gave Moshe 613 commandments in order that His people might live their lives in accordance to those commandments, thus, being a "Holy Nation" (Am Kadosh) a "set apart" nation.  When problems arose in the camp, Moses and other leaders would hear the case, and apply the certain commandments to the problem at hand, and then, apply a verdict.   

As believers, do we have the right to apply "judgements?"  Yes, we do, however, we do NOT have the right to "condemn!"  Case at hand, a brother in the congregation smokes like a chimney, the pastor might say;  "Brother, it is not good to smoke cigarettes, you are doing damage to your lungs, and heart.  You really need to stop, the scripture says that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and you should not defile it, and you ARE defiling it by smoking.  That would be a "judgment".   NOT:   Yo bro, you continue to smoke, God's goin send you straight to hell!  (that's Condemnation).  

A fellow student once asked a visiting preacher;  "Sir, can a Christian smoke and still go to heaven?" to which the preacher answered;  "Yes sir, he can, and a lot quicker too!" 

     This parashah involves the giving of a variety of commandments, that Elohim gave to Moshe to give/write down, and teach to “b'nei Israel” the first has to do with slaves, and the treatment of slaves. The system of slavery in Israel back in Biblical times was very much different than the cruel slavery of Africans here in the United States, starting from the 1600s, into colonial days, up until the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.   

     Unfortunately, the slave owners used the bible as a “reason” to own slaves, as they said, “The Bible permits slavery!”  Yes, but only in extreme circumstances when one could not pay one's debts. And the person was only a slave for 7 years, in year 7, the master had to release the slave, give the slave gifts of oil, wine, wheat, so he or she could start a life over again.  The slave could not be abused, like slaves were whipped and abused under American slavery.  But if the slave wished to remain with the master, the master could make a hole in the slave's ear and put in a ring, indicating that the slave was slave for life, (being the choice of the slave) but “life” was up to 50 years, until the year of “Jubilee” if the slave chose to be with his or her master for “life” and the year, let's say was “40” then, “Life” was 10 years more, and then the slave would be released.  
 
     It is interesting to read that the scripture says in Exodus 21:6 “Then his master will bring him before Elohim, and shall bring him to the door or the doorpost and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl” 

     The word, Elohim, can not only mean “God” but also, “Those who represent God” perhaps Levites, officials of the Tabernacle, the temple, city, etc.  The word “Master” is a form of “Adonai” in this part, it is spelled; “Adonav” (his master).  The doorpost was the official place of doing business, like at the county clerk’s office.  So, the person who loved his master made his love for him official, before “Adonav” (His master) before “Elohim” (God himself and before those who represent Him.  

     If the slave was hurt in any way, say the master hit the slave and knocked a tooth out, or put an eye out, the slave was to be released immediately, and with compensation.  Not so in America during the years of slavery. 

    Rav Shaul/Paul the Apostle, talks about being “bond slaves” to Messiah Yeshua, and that is our state.  Would we want to be “released” from following HIM? Would we want to be under a “different master?” There are only two that claim our lives; Yeshua or HaSatan? We were “bought with a price” the price of blood, and we were released from Satan's bondage, to follow and subject ourselves to a new master, “Adonai” which means; “my master” We are “servants” to the Most High God. The Hebrew word for “Slave” and “servant” is the same in Hebrew; “Eved” slaves/servants were not considered “objects of purchase” or “property” they were considered “human beings” just like we are considered in the eyes of YHVH his “servants’ “children” “adopted sons and daughters”.  Do not sons and daughters serve their parents? 

     ”An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe; (21:24....) if you read on, we see that it doesn't mean, “if you knock out my tooth, I have a right to knock your tooth out too” or “if you blind me in on eye, I have the right to put out your eye” or in modern terminology, “If you break my stereo, I have the right to go into your house and smash your stereo” how, I ask you, does that solve the problem? It doesn't, it just creates more problems.  If we look at this situation in light of scripture, it is saying in other words; “just compensation for hurt or damage received” 

     How would that work? If I broke your arm accidentally or on purpose, I would be responsible for taking you to the doctor and paying the medical bill, and even, paying you “lost wages” if you couldn't work.  It doesn't mean that the other guy could break “my arm too”.  If you broke my stereo, then I would expect you to either pay to have it fixed, or buy me another one of equal value, If  you are making me dinner and burn the meal, then, you take me out to eat!  (arm for arm, stereo for stereo, etc.) 

     We continue to read about many rules, commandments, judgments, that make very good sense, even today, yet many of these judgments are not practiced today, everyone is off to the lawyers for a lawsuit.  My opinion is that if the legal system today, was set up to reflect the Biblical standards of criminal justice in accordance to God's Word, there would be a lot less crime.  The criminals would think twice before committing crimes. 

 An example would be the following; A man goes to prison for stealing a car, he sells it, spends the money, so the prisoner has to work in prison and the money he would make would be sent to the victim to compensate the loss.  His sentence would end only when the sum is completed.  Or...the court system would pay the victim the money lost in the theft, and the thief would have to work to pay back the court.  This type of punishment would reflect more the Torah standard of criminal justice. 

     We come now to Exodus 23:19. “You shall bring the first-fruits of thy land unto the House of YHVH, thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk” One commandment does not even reflect the other.  It would be like saying, “turn out the lights when you leave the house, hey, don't forget to check the mailbox for mail”. What has one got to do with the other? 

 G-d is saying is saying here to bring your tithe to the House of YHVH but then goes on to a different subject.  Would this; “seething a kid in its mother's milk” be taken literally? In order to break this commandment, one would have to take a kid goat, butcher it, cut up the meat, then take the mother goat, milk her, then boil the meat in the mother's milk.  Who would go to the trouble to do all that? Today, when people make stew, the meat is usually boiled/seethed in water with condiments, not in milk. But if we look at this commandment in a Derashic sense, (the moral and spiritual sense) we could get this understanding;   

     It may be all about the separation of life and death, of the clean from unclean (Tamei from tahor) good from bad.  In “Basar v'chalav” (meat and milk) we can see that the word “Chalav”(milk)  spelled in Hebrew is “Chet, Lamed, Beit  (ch+l+v) yet the word “fat” is also spelled (ch+l+v) yet pronounced “Chelev” They are related, “milk” is a form of “fat”, and the fat of an animal was offered up on the altar to YHVH, as a “sweet savor” a “pleasant smell” unto YHVH, this was part of the worship service. 

 We worship G-d with our full “heart” and the word “Ch+l+v” contains the letters “lamed” and “beit” (l+v) (Lev) which means “heart” Milk symbolizes “life” a baby is nurtured by its mother's milk to live, to have life.  Yet the flesh (Basar) symbolizes death, as a believer, to be in the “flesh” is the opposite to being “in the spirit, full of life”.  Once the animal is cut up, if not used, the flesh sits and rots, flies come around, and it becomes “Tamei” (unclean) when we are in the “flesh” we are in a way of speaking, “unclean” spiritually, until we confess our sins, and become as “milk” (full of life) again, walking in the spirit, and, like the fat of a clean animal, being a “sweet savor unto YHVH” . 

This just one way one can look at this prohibition of boiling a kid in its mother's milk. (watch “Basar v' Chalav/Meat and Milk” on YouTube “Kehilah Melech Yisrael”) 

     ”if you meet an enemy's ox or his ass going astray, you will bring it back to him again” (Ex 23:4) This is one way to make your enemy, your friend, make peace with him.  Would not this be for today as well, of course it would!   “Do not oppress the stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt” other bibles say “foreigner” the USA used to welcome all immigrants, now many are being oppressed, being deported, being cheated in wages, we must turn this around and start helping those who come to this country to seek a better life, thus turning a curse into a blessing.  If you read from chap 21 to 24, look carefully at the commandments/judgments, you will see that most make perfect sense even unto our modern days.  God's Word is right on the money! 

Ben Avraham...Shabbat Shalom

Here's Ms. Kitty, just looking pretty, almost ready to bring forth her own little kitties

[Anne2]

On 1/29/2022 at 1:13 PM, Jacob Ben Avraham said:

 

   the USA used to welcome all immigrants, now many are being oppressed, being deported, being cheated in wages, we must turn this around and start helping those who come to this country to seek a better life, thus turning a curse into a blessing.  If you read from chap 21 to 24, look carefully at the commandments/judgments, you will see that most make perfect sense even unto our modern days.  God's Word is right on the money! 

Ben Avraham...Shabbat Shalom

 

Didn't the Usa always deport illegal immigrants? Was this not in many cases to make sure our own house was provided for, before we took in others? Taking in more than you can afford  can and will deprive your own household of its need. I believe this is why immigration is regulated. But I liked your criminal justice comments.

Edited February 12, 2022 by Anne2

[missmuffet]

The law of God given to Moses is a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that the Israelites' behavior reflected their status as God’s chosen people. It encompasses moral behavior, their position as a godly example to other nations, and systematic procedures for acknowledging God’s holiness and mankind’s sinfulness. In an attempt to better understand the purpose of these laws, Jews and Christians categorize them. This has led to the distinction between moral law, ceremonial law, and judicial law.

Moral Law
The moral laws, or mishpatim, relate to justice and judgment and are often translated as "ordinances." Mishpatim are said to be based on God’s holy nature. As such, the ordinances are holy, just, and unchanging. Their purpose is to promote the welfare of those who obey. The value of the laws is considered obvious by reason and common sense. The moral law encompasses regulations on justice, respect, and sexual conduct, and includes the Ten Commandments. It also includes penalties for failure to obey the ordinances. Moral law does not point people to Christ; it merely illuminates the fallen state of all mankind.

Modern Protestants are divided over the applicability of mishpatim in the church age. Some believe that Jesus’ assertion that the law will remain in effect until the earth passes away (Matthew 5:18) means that believers are still bound to it. Others, however, understand that Jesus fulfilled this requirement (Matthew 5:17), and that we are instead under the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2), which is thought to be "love God and love others" (Matthew 22:36-40). Although many of the moral laws in the Old Testament give excellent examples as to how to love God and love others, and freedom from the law is not license to sin (Romans 6:15), we are not specifically bound by mishpatim.

Ceremonial Law
The ceremonial laws are called hukkim or chuqqah in Hebrew, which literally means “custom of the nation”; the words are often translated as “statutes.” These laws seem to focus the adherent’s attention on God. They include instructions on regaining right standing with God (e.g., sacrifices and other ceremonies regarding “uncleanness”), remembrances of God’s work in Israel (e.g., feasts and festivals), specific regulations meant to distinguish Israelites from their pagan neighbors (e.g., dietary and clothing restrictions), and signs that point to the coming Messiah (e.g., the Sabbath, circumcision, Passover, and the redemption of the firstborn). Some Jews believe that the ceremonial law is not fixed. They hold that, as societies evolve, so do God’s expectations of how His followers should relate to Him. This view is not indicated in the Bible.

Christians are not bound by ceremonial law. Since the church is not the nation of Israel, memorial festivals, such as the Feast of Weeks and Passover, do not apply. Galatians 3:23-25 explains that since Jesus has come, Christians are not required to sacrifice or circumcise. There is still debate in Protestant churches over the applicability of the Sabbath. Some say that its inclusion in the Ten Commandments gives it the weight of moral law. Others quote Colossians 2:16-17 and Romans 14:5 to explain that Jesus has fulfilled the Sabbath and become our Sabbath rest. As Romans 14:5 says, "Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." The applicability of the Old Testament law in the life of a Christian has always related to its usefulness in loving God and others. If someone feels observing the Sabbath aids him in this, he is free to observe it.

Judicial/Civil Law
The Westminster Confession adds the category of judicial or civil law. These laws were specifically given for the culture and place of the Israelites and encompass all of the moral law except the Ten Commandments. This includes everything from murder to restitution for a man gored by an ox and the responsibility of the man who dug a pit to rescue his neighbor’s trapped donkey (Exodus 21:12-36). Since the Jews saw no difference between their God-ordained morality and their cultural responsibilities, this category is used by Christians far more than by Jewish scholars.

The division of the Jewish law into different categories is a human construct designed to better understand the nature of God and define which laws church-age Christians are still required to follow. Many believe the ceremonial law is not applicable, but we are bound by the Ten Commandments. All the law is useful for instruction (2 Timothy 3:16), and nothing in the Bible indicates that God intended a distinction of categories. Christians are not under the law (Romans 10:4). Jesus fulfilled the law, thus abolishing the difference between Jew and Gentile "so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross…" (Ephesians 2:15-16).

https://www.gotquestions.org/ceremonial-law.html

Edited February 12, 2022 by missmuffet