“FORESHADOWINGS OF MESSIAH”

TORAH PORTION: BAMIDBAR 17:16-BAMIDBAR 18:32

PARASHAH: KORACH

Shalom everyone. Please let us first turn to Acts 17 for it is written, “But as soon as night fell, the brothers sent Sha’ul and Sila off to Berea. As soon as they arrived, they went to the synagogue. Now the people here were of nobler character than the ones in Thessalonica; they eagerly welcomed the message, checking the Tanakh every day to see if the things Sha’ul was saying were true. Many of them came to trust, as did a number of prominent Greek women and not a few Greek men. (Acts 17:11-12). This is good to understand to be like the people of Berea that studied everything out of their own accord. It is important to do this and understand this.

Question: Who was selected to be the priesthood?

Excellent, Aharon and his sons.

Question: How was he chosen?

Excellent, as it is written: ADONAI said to Moshe, “Speak to the people of Isra’el, and take from them staffs, one for each ancestral tribe from each leader of a tribe, twelve staffs. Write each man’s name on his staff; and write Aharon’s name on the staff of Levi, for each tribe’s leader is to have one staff. Put them in the tent of meeting in front of the testimony, where I meet with you. The staff of the man I am going to choose will sprout buds — in this way I will put a stop to the complaints the people of Isra’el keep making against you.” Moshe spoke to the people of Isra’el, and all their leaders gave him staffs, one for each leader, according to their ancestral tribes, twelve staffs. Aharon’s staff was among their staffs. Moshe put the staffs before ADONAI in the tent of the testimony. The next day Moshe went into the tent of the testimony, and there he saw that Aharon’s staff for the house of Levi had budded — it had sprouted not only buds but flowers and ripe almonds as well. Moshe brought out all the staffs from before ADONAI to all the people of Isra’el, and they looked, and each man took back his staff. (Bamidbar 17:16-24 CJB)

Question, who knows what happened to the rod of Aharon?

As it is written, “ ADONAI said to Moshe, “Return Aharon’s staff to its place in front of the testimony. It is to be kept there as a sign to the rebels, so that they will stop grumbling against me and thus not die.” Moshe did this; he did as ADONAI had ordered him. (Bamidbar 17:25-26 CJB)

Where in the B’rit Chadashah is it mentioned?

As it is written, “Now the first covenant had both regulations for worship and a Holy Place here on earth. A tent was set up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place; in it were the menorah, the table and the Bread of the Presence. Behind the second parokhet was a tent called the Holiest Place, which had the golden for burning incense and the Ark of the Covenant, entirely covered with gold. In the Ark were the gold jar containing the man, Aharon’s rod that sprouted and the stone Tablets of the Covenant; and above it were the k’ruvim representing the Sh’khinah, casting their shadow on the lid of the Ark — but now is not the time to discuss these things in detail. (Hebrews 9:1-5 CJB)

Question: Who was selected to help and assist the Cohanim?

Excellent, the Levi’im

Question: What were the Levi’im considered to be for the Cohanim? Correct, a gift.

Question: What are the offerings to be given to the Cohanim in this portion?

Sin offering Guilt offering Grain offering Wave offerings

Good, let’s talk about the : ADONAI said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el: ‘If anyone sins inadvertently against any of the mitzvot of ADONAI concerning things which should not be done, if he does any one of them, then, if it is the anointed cohen who sinned and thus brought guilt on the people, he is to offer ADONAI a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he committed. He must bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before ADONAI, lay his hand on the bull’s head and slaughter the bull in the presence of ADONAI. The anointed cohen is to take some of the bull’s blood and bring it to the tent of meeting. The cohen is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of the blood seven times in the presence of ADONAI in front of the curtain of the sanctuary. The cohen is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar for fragrant incense before ADONAI there in the tent of meeting. All the remaining blood of the bull he is to pour out at the base of the altar for burnt offerings, which is at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to remove from the bull for the sin offering all of its fat — the fat covering the inner organs, all the fat above the inner organs, the two kidneys, the fat on them near the flanks, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys as it is removed from an ox sacrificed as a peace offering; and the cohen is to make these parts go up in smoke on the altar for burnt offerings. But the bull’s hide and all its flesh, with its head, the lower parts of its legs, its inner organs and dung — in other words, the entire bull — he is to bring outside the camp to a clean place, where the ashes are emptied out. There he is to burn it on wood with fire; there, where the ashes are emptied out, it is to be burned up. “‘If the entire community of Isra’el inadvertently makes a mistake, with the assembly being unaware of the matter, and they do something against any of the mitzvot of ADONAI concerning things which should not be done, they are guilty. When the sin they have committed becomes known, then the assembly is to offer a young bull as a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting. The leaders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head and slaughter the bull in the presence of ADONAI. The anointed cohen is to bring some of the bull’s blood to the tent of meeting. The cohen is to dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times in the presence of ADONAI in front of the curtain. He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar before ADONAI, there in the tent of meeting. All the remaining blood he is to pour out at the base of the altar for burnt offerings, which is at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to remove all its fat and make it go up in smoke on the altar. This is what he is to do with the bull — he must do the same with this bull as he does with the one for the sin offering. Thus the cohen will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven. He is to bring the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull; it is the sin offering for the assembly. “‘When a leader sins and inadvertently does something against any of the mitzvot of ADONAI concerning things which should not be done, he is guilty. If the sin which he committed becomes known to him, he is to bring as his offering a male goat without defect, lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it in the place where they slaughter the in the presence of ADONAI ; it is a sin offering. The cohen is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. Its remaining blood he is to pour out at the base of the altar for burnt offerings. All its fat he is to make go up in smoke on the altar, like the fat of the sacrifice for peace offerings; thus the cohen will make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he will be forgiven. “‘If an individual among the people commits a sin inadvertently, doing something against any of the mitzvot of ADONAI concerning things which should not be done, he is guilty. If the sin he committed becomes known to him, he is to bring as his offering a female goat without defect for the sin he committed, lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter the sin offering in the place of burnt offerings. The cohen is to take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. All its remaining blood he is to pour out at the base of the altar. All its fat he is to remove, as the fat is removed from the sacrifice for peace offerings; and the cohen is to make it go up in smoke on the altar as a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. Thus the cohen will make atonement for him, and he will be forgiven. “‘If he brings a lamb as his sin offering, he is to bring a female without defect, lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it as a sin offering in the place where they slaughter burnt offerings. The cohen is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. All its remaining blood he is to pour out at the base of the altar. All its fat he is to remove, as the fat of a lamb is removed from the sacrifice for peace offerings; and the cohen is to make it go up in smoke on the altar on top of the offerings for ADONAI made by fire. Thus the cohen will make atonement for him in regard to the sin he committed, and he will be forgiven. (Vayikra 4:1-35 CJB)

Question, was this offering for intentional or unintentional sin? How is this relevant to our Messiah?

Was there a sin offering for intentional sin?

No, Bamidbar 15:30-31 states that anyone that commits an intentional/high handed sin is to be cut off from the people. This isn’t to say that there aren’t examples of people Adonai has forgiven for their intentional sin. Only Adonai can do that. King David when confronted by the prophet Natan was forgiven of his sin however he still lost his son. Yisrael was forgiven for their sin of putting Adonai to the test, and yet from 20 years old and onward they were not to enter the promised land for 40 years. Sin still has consequences.

This is how it is relevant to our Messiah. Yes, even the sages of our people understood the concept that the death of the righteous could atone for sin. Bavli Tractate Berachot 62b, Sotah 14a, Yoma 42a, and Midrash Shemot Rabbah 35 to name a few places attest to this concept.

As it is written, “Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, "Be reconciled to God! God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God's righteousness." (2nd Corinthians 5:20-21 CJB) Now let’s talk about the guilt offering: ADONAI said to Moshe, “If anyone acts improperly and inadvertently sins in regard to the holy things of ADONAI, he is to bring as his guilt offering for ADONAI a ram without defect from the flock or its equivalent in silver shekels (using the sanctuary shekel as the standard), according to your appraisal of its value; it is a guilt offering. In addition, he is to make restitution for whatever he did wrong in regard to the holy thing; moreover, he is to add to that one-fifth and give it to the cohen. Then the cohen will make atonement with the ram of the guilt offering, and he will be forgiven. “If someone sins by doing something against any of the mitzvot of ADONAI concerning things which should not be done, he is guilty, even if he is unaware of it; and he bears the consequences of his wrongdoing. He must bring a ram without defect from the flock, or its equivalent according to your appraisal, to the cohen for a guilt offering; the cohen will make atonement concerning the error which he committed, even though he was unaware of it; and he will be forgiven. It is a guilt offering — he is certainly guilty before ADONAI.” (Vayikra 5:14-19 CJB)

As it is also written, “This is the law for the guilt offering: it is especially holy. They are to slaughter the guilt offering in the place where they slaughter the burnt offering, and its blood is to be splashed against all sides of the altar. He is to offer all its fat — the fat tail, the fat covering the inner organs, the two kidneys, the fat on them near the flanks, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. The cohen will make them go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire to ADONAI; it is a guilt offering. Every male from a family of cohanim may eat it; it is to be eaten in a holy place; it is especially holy. The guilt offering is like the sin offering; the same law governs them — it will belong to the cohen who uses it to make atonement (Vayikra 7:1-7 CJB)

How is this related to the Messiah?

Who understands that the passage from Yeshayahu 53 is about the Messiah? Some would contend that it is about Yisrael. That is one viewpoint by our people. Another viewpoint by our people according to the sages throughout history is that this passage is about the Messiah. Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 98a, Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 98b, Midrash Konen 2, Secrets of Shimon bar Yochai, Zohar 2:212, even Midrash Ruth Rabbah. Many places such as these attest that this passage is about the Messiah according to the interpretation of our people throughout the centuries. If one reads the passage in its entirety it makes sense that it is speaking of an individual, not a nation. One should read the passage in its entirety. Here is the passage.

Who believes our report? To whom is the arm of ADONAI revealed? 2 For before him he grew up like a young plant, like a root out of dry ground. He was not well-formed or especially handsome; we saw him, but his appearance did not attract us. 3 People despised and avoided him, a man of pains, well acquainted with illness. Like someone from whom people turn their faces, he was despised; we did not value him.

4 In fact, it was our diseases he bore, our pains from which he suffered; yet we regarded him as punished, stricken and afflicted by God. 5 But he was wounded because of our crimes, crushed because of our sins; the disciplining that makes us whole fell on him, and by his bruises* we are healed.

6 We all, like , went astray; we turned, each one, to his own way; yet ADONAI laid on him the guilt of all of us.

7 Though mistreated, he was submissive — he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered, like a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 After forcible arrest and sentencing, he was taken away; and none of his generation protested his being cut off from the land of the living for the crimes of my people, who deserved the punishment themselves. 9 He was given a grave among the wicked; in his death he was with a rich man.

Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, 10 yet it pleased ADONAI to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring; and he will prolong his days; and at his hand ADONAI’s desire will be accomplished. 11 After this ordeal, he will see satisfaction. “By his knowing [pain and sacrifice], my righteous servant makes many righteous; it is for their sins that he suffers. 12 Therefore I will assign him a share with the great, he will divide the spoil with the mighty, for having exposed himself to death and being counted among the sinners, while actually bearing the sin of many and interceding for the offenders.” (Yeshayahu 53:1-12)

For this teaching we will specifically reread Yeshayahu 53:10

It is written, “ Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, yet it pleased ADONAI to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring; and he will prolong his days; and at his hand ADONAI’s desire will be accomplished.” (Yeshayahu 53:10 CJB)

NASB would agree with this rendering also. The question is why? The word in Hebrew for when the word guilt offering is used is the Hebrew word asham. The same word for guilt offering found in the Torah. The JPS 1917 edition cites the wording, “To see if his soul would offer itself in restitution”. A more updated version of the JPS which is used on the Jewish writings website known as Sefaria cites the wording as, “But the Lord chose to crush him by disease, That, is if he made himself an offering for guilt…”

Yeshua is our sin offering and our guilt offering.

Now let’s talk about the grain offering: “Anyone who brings a grain offering to ADONAI is to make his offering of fine flour; he is to pour olive oil on it and put frankincense on it. He is to bring it to the sons of Aharon, the Cohanim. The Cohen is to take a handful of fine flour from it, together with its olive oil and all its frankincense, and make this reminder portion go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for Adonai. But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aharon and his sons; it is an especially holy part of the offerings for Adonai by fire. When you bring a grain offering which has been baked in the oven, it is to consist of either unleavened cakes made by fine flour mixed with olive oil or matzah spread with olive oil. If your grain offering is cooked on a griddle, it is to consist of unleavened fine flour mixed with olive oil; you are to break it in pieces and pour olive oil on it- it is a grain offering. If your grain offering is cooked in a pot, it is to consist of fine flour with olive oil. (Vayikra 2:1-10 CJB)

Question: what do you think shouldn’t be used in this grain offering?

As it continues, “You are to bring the grain offering prepared in any of these ways to ADONAI; it is to be presented to the Cohen, and he is to bring it to the altar. The Cohen is to remove the remainder portion of the grain offering and make it go up in smoke on the altar as an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for Adonai. But the rest of the grain offering will belong to Aharon and his sons; it is an especially holy part of the offerings made for Adonai made by fire. No grain offering that you bring to Adonai is to be made with leaven, because you are not to cause any leaven or honey to go up in smoke as an offering made by fire to Adonai. As an offering of you may bring these to Adonai, but they are not to be brought up onto the altar to make a fragrant aroma. You are to season every grain offering of yours with salt- do not omit from your grain the salt of the covenant with your God but offer salt with your offerings. If you bring a grain offering of first fruits to Adonai, you are to bring as the grain offering from your first fruits kernels of grain from fresh ears, dry-roasted with fire. Put olive oil on it, and lay frankincense; it is a grain offering. The cohen is to cause the reminder portion of it, its grits and olive oil, with its frankincense, to go up in smoke; it is an offering made by fire for Adonai (Vayikra 2:11-16 CJB)

What was a grain offering not to have?

Correct, no leaven. The Hebrew word in Vayikra is chametz. Chametz, was known to cause this leavening of the bread. It was synonymous. It would make it rise.

Is there an offering that could have leaven/chametz in it? Yes, if it was peace offering in the context of a thanksgiving offering. “ This is the law for sacrificing peace offerings offered to ADONAI: If a person offers it for giving thanks, he is to offer it with the thanksgiving sacrifice of unleavened cakes mixed with olive oil, matzah spread with olive oil, and cakes made of fine flour mixed with olive oil and fried. With cakes of leavened bread, he is to present his offering together with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for giving thanks (Vayikra 7:11-13) These are two distinct offerings. What is the warning of things related to leaven/chametz in the Jewish writings known as the B’rit Chadashah?

Yeshua warned, “The talmidim, in crossing to the other side of the lake, had forgotten to bring any bread. So, when Yeshua said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against the hametz of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim,” they thought he said it because they hadn’t brought bread. 8 But Yeshua, aware of this, said, “Such little trust you have! Why are you talking with each other about not having bread? Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you filled? Or the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many baskets you filled? How can you possibly think I was talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the hametz of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim!” Then they understood — they were to guard themselves not from yeast for bread but from the teaching of the P’rushim and Tz’dukim. (Matityahu 16:6-12)

Rav Shaul warns, “It is actually being reported that there is sexual sin among you, and it is sexual sin of a kind that is condemned even by pagans — a man is living with his stepmother! And you stay proud? Shouldn’t you rather have felt some sadness that would have led you to remove from your company the man who has done this thing? For I myself, even though I am absent physically, am with you spiritually; and I have already judged the man who has done this as if I were present. In the name of the Lord Yeshua, when you are assembled, with me present spiritually and the power of our Lord Yeshua among us, hand over such a person to the Adversary for his old nature to be destroyed, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord. Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know the saying, “It takes only a little hametz to leaven a whole batch of dough?” Get rid of the old hametz, so that you can be a new batch of dough, because you are unleavened. For our Pesach lamb, the Messiah, has been sacrificed. So let us celebrate the Seder not with leftover hametz, the hametz of wickedness and evil, but with the matzah of purity and truth. In my earlier letter I wrote you not to associate with people who engage in sexual immorality. I didn’t mean the sexually immoral people outside your community, or the greedy, or the thieves or the idol-worshippers — for then you would have to leave the world altogether! No, what I wrote you was not to associate with anyone who is supposedly a brother but who also engages in sexual immorality, is greedy, worships idols, is abusive, gets drunk or steals. With such a person you shouldn’t even eat! For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Isn’t it those who are part of the community that you should be judging? God will judge those who are outside. Just expel the evildoer from you. (1st Corinthians 5:1-13 CJB)

It was considered with something to reference with sin, something unacceptable.

Who is the bread of Life? Is this individual who is the bread of life found to have any hametz, sin, something unacceptable?

Where is the Bread of Life born? Please read Michah 5:1-2. It speaks of one who will be born in Beit Lechem, who’s origins from everlasting.

Now let’s talk about the : ADONAI said to Moshe, “Say to the people of Isra’el, ‘A person who offers his sacrifice of peace offerings to ADONAI is to bring part of his sacrifice of peace offerings as his offering for ADONAI. He is to bring with his own hands the offerings for ADONAI made by fire — he is to bring the breast with its fat. The breast is to be waved as a wave offering before ADONAI. The cohen is to make the fat go up in smoke on the altar, but the breast will belong to Aharon and his descendants. You are to give the right thigh from your sacrifices of peace offerings to the cohen as a contribution. The descendant of Aharon who offers the blood of the peace offerings is to have the right thigh as his share. For the breast that has been waved and the thigh that has been contributed I have taken from the people of Isra’el out of their sacrifices of peace offerings and given them to Aharon the cohen and to his descendants as their share forever from the people of Isra’el.’” (Vayikra 7:28-34 CJB)

As it is also written, “Next Aharon's sons were brought, and Moshe put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet; then Moshe splashed the blood on all sides of the altar. He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat covering the inner organs, the covering of the liver, the two kidneys with their fat, and the right thigh. From the basket of matzah that was before ADONAI he took one piece of matzah, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh. Then he put it all in Aharon's hands and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before ADONAI. (Vayikra 8:24-27)

As it is also written, “Then the people’s offering was presented. He took the goat of the sin offering, which was for the people, slaughtered it and offered it for sin, like the earlier sin offering. The burnt offering was presented, and he offered it in the prescribed manner. The grain offering was presented; he took a handful of it and made it go up in smoke on the altar, in addition to the morning’s burnt offering. He slaughtered the ox and the ram, the people’s sacrifice as peace offerings; Aharon’s sons brought him the blood, which he splashed against all sides of the altar, and the fat of the ox and of the ram — the fat tail, the fat which covers the inner organs, the kidneys and the covering of the liver. They put the fat on the breasts, and he made the fat go up in smoke on the altar. The breasts and right thigh Aharon waved as a wave offering before ADONAI, as Moshe had ordered. (Vayikra 9:15-21)

As it is also written, “"'These are the designated times of ADONAI, the holy convocations you are to proclaim at their designated times "'In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between sundown and complete darkness, comes Pesach for ADONAI. On the fifteenth day of the same month is the festival of matzah; for seven days you are to eat matzah. On the first day you are to have a holy convocation; don't do any kind of ordinary work. Bring an offering made by fire to ADONAI for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work.'" ADONAI said to Moshe, "Tell the people of Isra'el, 'After you enter the land, I am giving you and harvest its ripe crops, you are to bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the cohen. He is to wave the sheaf before ADONAI, so that you will be accepted; the cohen is to wave it on the day after the . (Vayikra 23:4-11 CJB)

Is the Messiah recognized as the first fruits?

As it is written, “But the fact is that the Messiah has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a man, also the resurrection of the dead has come through a man. For just as in connection with Adam all die, so in connection with the Messiah all will be made alive. But each in his own order: the Messiah is the first fruits; then those who belong to the Messiah, at the time of his coming (1st Corinthians 15:20-23 CJB)

Please list me two other types of offerings:

Excellent, burnt offering and peace offering!! Baruch Hashem.

Here is what the Torah says about he burnt offering, “ADONAI called to Moshe and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, "Speak to the people of Isra'el; say to them, 'When any of you brings an offering to ADONAI, you may bring your animal offering either from the herd or from the flock. If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male without defect. He is to bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, so that it can be accepted by ADONAI. He is to lay his hand upon the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him. He is to slaughter the young bull before ADONAI ; and the sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to present the blood. They are to splash the blood against all sides of the altar, which is by the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to skin the burnt offering and cut it in pieces. The descendants of Aharon the cohen are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. The sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to arrange the pieces, the head and the fat on the wood which is on the fire on the altar. He is to wash the entrails and lower parts of the legs with water, and the cohen is to cause all of it to go up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering; it is an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. 'If his offering is from the flock, whether from the sheep or from the goats, for a burnt offering, he must offer a male without defect. He is to slaughter it on the north side of the altar before ADONAI; and the sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to splash its blood against all sides of the altar. He is to cut it into pieces, and the cohen is to arrange them with the head and fat on the wood which is on the fire on the altar. He is to wash the entrails and lower parts of the legs with water; and the cohen is to offer it all and make it go up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering; it is an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. "'If his offering to ADONAI is a burnt offering of birds, he must offer a dove or a young pigeon. The cohen is to bring it to the altar, snap off its head and make it go up in smoke on the altar; its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar. He is to remove the food pouch and its feathers from its neck and discard it on the pile of ashes just east of the altar. He is to pull it open with a wing on each side, but without tearing it in half. The cohen is to make it go up in smoke on the altar, on the wood which is on the fire, as a burnt offering; it is an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI. (Vayikra 1:1-17 CJB)

Here is what the Torah says about the peace offerings, “If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings, then, if he offers before ADONAI an animal from the herd, then, no matter whether it is male or female, it must be without defect. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting; and the sons of Aharon, the cohanim, are to splash the blood against all sides of the altar. He is to present the sacrifice of the peace offerings as an offering made by fire to ADONAI; it is to consist of the fat covering the inner organs, all the fat above the inner organs, the two kidneys, the fat on them near the flanks, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. Aharon’s sons will make it go up in smoke on the altar on top of the burnt offering which is on the wood on the fire; it is an offering made by fire, a fragrant aroma for ADONAI.” ‘If his offering for a sacrifice of peace offerings to ADONAI is from the flock, then, when he offers it, no matter whether it is male or female, it must be without defect. 7 If he brings a lamb for his offering, then he is to present it before ADONAI. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aharon are to splash its blood against all sides of the altar. From the sacrifices made as peace offerings, he is to present ADONAI with an offering made by fire; it is to consist of its fat, the entire fat tail, which he will remove close to the lower backbone, the fat covering the inner organs, all the fat above the inner organs, the two kidneys, the fat on them near the flanks, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. The cohen will make it go up in smoke on the altar; it is food, an offering made by fire to ADONAI. “‘If his offering is a goat, then he is to present it before ADONAI. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aharon are to splash its blood against all sides of the altar. 14 He is to present from it his offering, an offering made by fire to ADONAI ; it is to consist of the fat covering the inner organs, all the fat above the inner organs, the two kidneys, the fat on them near the flanks, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. The cohen will make them go up in smoke on the altar; it is food, an offering made by fire to be a fragrant aroma; all the fat belongs to ADONAI. It is to be a permanent regulation through all your generations wherever you live that you will eat neither fat nor blood. (Vayikra 3:1-17 CJB)

Could the Messiah be seen with these offerings?

It is written, “ So imitate God, as his dear children; and live a life of love, just as also the Messiah loved us, indeed, on our behalf gave himself up as an offering, as a slaughtered sacrifice to God with a pleasing fragrance (Ephesians 5:2 CJB)

We will see offerings return once more in the future under the physical reign of Messiah. Zecharyah 14, Yirmiyahu 33, Yeshayahu 66, Yechezkel 37-44 to name a few places.

We will cover all these offerings more in detail in the future.

Okay, now let’s talk about the first things. The of all things were given to whom?

Correct, the Cohanim.

What were some examples of firsts to be given to the Cohanim? 1.) First produce that turns ripe in the land 2.) Everything that comes first out of the womb. *The firstborn of ox, sheep, or goat. Were they to be redeemed or not?

The answer is in the Torah.

Therefore you are to observe this regulation at its proper time, year after year. When ADONAI brings you into the land of the Kena‘ani, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, you are to set apart for ADONAI everything that is first from the womb. Every firstborn male animal will belong to ADONAI. Every firstborn from a donkey, you are to redeem with a lamb; but if you choose not to redeem it, you must break its neck. But from people, you are to redeem every firstborn son. When, at some future time, your son asks you, ‘What is this?’ then say to him, ‘With a strong hand ADONAI brought us out of Egypt, out of the abode of slavery. When Pharaoh was unwilling to let us go, ADONAI killed all the firstborn males in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of humans and the firstborn of animals. This is why I sacrifice to ADONAI any male that is first from the womb of an animal, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ (Shemot 13:10-13)

This redemption process is known as . It is the redemption process of the firstborn son. This has been done ledor ve’dor. Shemot 13 explains it is the sons. Bamidbar 18 explains the cost of this redemption.

This isn’t to say there wasn’t another foreshadowing of redemption of all of Yisrael on a grander scale. Please turn to Shemot 30 as it is written, “Everyone subject to the census is to pay as an offering to ADONAI half a shekel [one-fifth of an ounce of silver]- by the standard of the sanctuary shekel (a shekel equals twenty gerahs). Everyone over twenty years of age who is subject to the census is to give this offering to ADONAI - the rich is not to give more or the poor less than the half- shekel when giving ADONAI's offering to atone for your lives. You are to take the atonement money from the people of Isra'el and use it for the service in the tent of meeting, so that it will be a reminder of the people of Isra'el before ADONAI to atone for your lives." (Shemot 30:13-16 CJB) This atonement for our souls? Can this be viewed as a foreshadowing of Messiah the who redeemed us? Let us start with the Torah, “ For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for yourselves; for it is the blood that makes atonement because of the life.' (Vayikra 17:11 CJB)

What does the Jewish Antiquity known as the B’rit Chadashah say? It says this, “ Praised be ADONAI, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who in the Messiah has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heaven. In the Messiah he chose us in love before the creation of the universe to be holy and without defect in his presence. He determined in advance that through Yeshua the Messiah we would be his sons — in keeping with his pleasure and purpose — 6 so that we would bring him praise commensurate with the glory of the grace he gave us through the Beloved One. In union with him, through the shedding of his blood, we are set free — our sins are forgiven; this accords with the wealth of the grace he has lavished on us. In all his wisdom and insight he has made known to us his secret plan, which by his own will he designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah and will put into effect when the time is ripe — his plan to place everything in heaven and on earth under the Messiah’s headship. (Ephesians 1:2- 10)

As it is also written, “My children, I am writing you these things so that you won’t sin. But if anyone does sin, we have Yeshua the Messiah, the Tzaddik, who pleads our cause with the Father. Also, he is the kapparah for our sins — and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.” (Yochanan Aleph chapter 2:1-2 CJB) Other translations render this as propitiation where kapparah is inserted. The question to know is kapparah which we know is a word to also indicate atone/atonement an appropriate translation here? Yes. The Greek word used here is hilasmos. The Greek word here is the same used in the Greek . Passages from the TaNaKh in Greek that use this word that are relevant for atonement would be Vayikra 25:9, Bamidbar 5:8, and Amos 8:14. Most English translations render the word “sin” in Amos 8:14 but if you see the Greek and LXX, an interlinear will have it as atonement. If you go to most translations you see it is translated in English as atonement in regards to the other passages such as Vayikra 25:9 and Bamidbar 5:8. The Greek Septuagint is an acceptable form and usage of the TaNaKh. The sages were okay with this Greek translation as evidence of their writings found in Talmud Bavli Tractate Megillah 9. Jewish historians Josephus and Clement recorded the usage of the Septuagint in the diaspora in ancient times. The B’rit Chadasha by most scholars assert that the B’rit Chadashah was likely written in Greek followed by other languages such as Aramaic. This isn’t to say that some of the books may have been originally written in Hebrew. Some historians contend that Matityahu and Ya’akov were written in Hebrew. The point is this. Yeshua the Messiah through His blood provides the atonement for our sins and has redeemed us. Baruch Hashem! Question, while physically on Earth was Yeshua redeemed?

The answer is in Luke as it is written, “ On the eighth day, when it was time for his b’rit-milah, he was given the name Yeshua, which is what the angel had called him before his conception. When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to ADONAI (as it is written in the Torah of ADONAI, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to ADONAI” and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Torah of ADONAI. (Luke 2:21-24)

Question, where would we find this Torah passage about this instruction fulfilled?

As it is written, “ ADONAI said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el: ‘If a woman conceives and gives birth to a boy, she will be unclean for seven days with the same uncleanness as in niddah, when she is having her menstrual period. On the eighth day, the baby’s foreskin is to be circumcised. She is to wait an additional thirty-three days to be purified from her blood; she is not to touch any holy thing or come into the sanctuary until the time of her purification is over. 5 But if she gives birth to a girl, she will be unclean for two weeks, as in her niddah; and she is to wait another sixty-six days to be purified from her blood. “‘When the days of her purification are over, whether for a son or for a daughter, she is to bring a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or dove for a sin offering to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to the cohen. He will offer it before ADONAI and make atonement for her; thus she will be purified from her discharge of blood. Such is the law for a woman who gives birth, whether to a boy or to a girl. If she can’t afford a lamb, she is to take two doves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; the cohen will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”(Vayikra 12:1-8)

The Torah was followed. Something to point out remember Hebrew words are dynamic and often can mean multiple things. Just as the word here means sin it also can mean purify. The sin offering has also been known as a purification offering. This same offering is given for someone cleansed of tzaraat’ and after also within the context of a nazir vow. So, the priest stood on behalf of Adonai for the person and redeems them. Who is cohen hagadol that stands on behalf of us to Adonai and has redeemed us? Correct, Yeshua. The Messiah, the Redeemer.

As it is written, “ Therefore, if it had been possible to reach the goal through the system of cohanim derived from Levi (since in connection with it, the people were given the Torah), what need would there have been for another, different kind of cohen, the one spoken of as to be compared with Malki-Tzedek and not to be compared with Aharon? For if the system of cohanim is transformed, there must of necessity occur a transformation of Torah. The one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar; for everyone knows that our Lord arose out of Y'hudah, and that Moshe said nothing about this tribe when he spoke about cohanim. It becomes even clearer if a "different kind of cohen," one like Malki-Tzedek, arises, one who became a cohen not by virtue of a rule in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life. For it is stated, "You are a cohen FOREVER, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek." Thus, on the one hand, the earlier rule is set aside because of its weakness and inefficacy (for the Torah did not bring anything to the goal); and, on the other hand, a hope of something better is introduced, through which we are drawing near to God. What is more, God swore an oath. For no oath was sworn in connection with those who become cohanim now; but Yeshua became a cohen by the oath which God swore when he said to him, "ADONAI has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a cohen forever.'" Also this shows how much better is the covenant of which Yeshua has become guarantor. Moreover, the present cohanim are many in number, because they are prevented by death from continuing in office. But because he lives forever, his position as cohen does not pass on to someone else; and consequently, he is totally able to deliver those who approach God through him; since he is alive forever and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf. This is the kind of cohen gadol that meets our need - holy, without evil, without stain, set apart from sinners and raised higher than the heavens; one who does not have the daily necessity, like the other cohanim g'dolim, of offering up sacrifices first for their own sins and only then for those of the people; because he offered one sacrifice, once and for all, by offering up himself. For the Torah appoints as cohanim g'dolim men who have weakness; but the text which speaks about the swearing of the oath, a text written later than the Torah, appoints a Son who has been brought to the goal forever. (Messianic /Hebrews 7:11-28)

The reference of being a cohen forever is found in the TaNaKh. As it is written, “

A psalm of David: (1) ADONAI says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 ADONAI will send your powerful scepter out from Tziyon, so that you will rule over your enemies around you. 3 On the day your forces mobilize, your people willingly offer themselves in holy splendors from the womb of the dawn; the dew of your youth is yours. 4 ADONAI has sworn it, and he will never retract — “You are a cohen forever, to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.” 5 Adonai at your right hand will shatter kings on the day of his anger. 6 He will pass judgment among the nations, filling it with dead bodies; he will shatter heads throughout an extensive territory. 7 He will drink from a stream as he goes on his way; therefore he will hold his head high. (TEHILLIM 110:1-7)

Malk-Tzedek was the king of Shalem and a known priest of El Elyon that Avraham gave a tenth of his stuff to. That is found in Bereishit 14.

Yes throughout the centuries our people perceived this passage, Tehillim 110, to be about the Mashiach. Yalkut Shimoni and Midrash Bamidbar 18 are a couple places attest this passage is about the Messiah. There are many more.

Now let’s talk about the covenant of salt.

Who is this covenant of salt tied to?

Correct, as it is in our Torah portion this week, the Cohanim! As it is written, “All the contributions of holy things which the people of Israel offer to Adonai I have given to you, your sons, and your daughters with you; this is a perpetual law, an eternal covenant of salt before ADONAI for you and your descendants with you!” (Bamidbar 18:19 CJB)

Who else is this covenant of salt tied to? It is written, “Don’t you know that Adonai, the God of Israel, gave rulership over Israel to David forever, to him and his descendants, by a covenant of salt (which is unbreakable?) (Divrey Hayamim bet chapter 13:5)

So the kingship and the priesthood are tied to an eternal covenant of salt. Salt as we know often is understood as something durable, continually useable. Who do we know that represents both king and priest?

Correct! Yeshua. Now what did Yeshua say to his talmidim that applies to this day? “You are salt for the land. But if salt becomes tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except being thrown at people to trample on” (Matityahu 5:13 CJB)

Who else have been made into a kingdom of Cohanim? Correct, Yisrael. As it is written, “Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you will be a kingdom of Cohanim for me, a nation set apart” (Shemot 19:6 CJB)

This doesn’t take away the distinct priesthood that are the Cohanim, the sons of Aharon for they are to be a priesthood forever (Shemot 29, Shemot 40). This builds. As it is written in Kohelet 3:14, “What God has done will remain forever”. As it is reinforced in the B’rit Chadashah, “for God’s free gifts and calling are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29 CJB). The sons of Aharon, are an eternal priesthood. Just as the sons of Aharon are the priesthood to Yisrael so Yisrael is supposed to be a nation of Cohanim, set apart from all other nations. Yisrael is God’s people.

Those who come to faith that Yeshua is Messiah, who live according to the covenant of Elohey Yisrael are certainly no longer foreigners, but they are part of God’s people.

As it is written, “ Therefore, remember your former state: you by birth — called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised — at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra’el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God’s promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. But now, you who were once far off have been brought near through the shedding of the Messiah’s blood. For he himself is our shalom — he has made us both one and has broken down the m’chitzah which divided us by destroying in his own body the enmity occasioned by the Torah, with its commands set forth in the form of ordinances. He did this in order to create in union with himself from the two groups a single new humanity and thus make shalom, and in order to reconcile to God both in a single body by being executed on a stake as a criminal and thus in himself killing that enmity. Also, when he came, he announced as Good News shalom to you far off and shalom to those nearby, news that through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s family. You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yeshua the Messiah himself. In union with him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God! (Ephesians 2:11-22 CJB)

If there is any doubt that the people of Adonai whether they are Jewish or came from the nations have become a kingdom of Cohanim please read the following passage,

“As you come to him, the living stone, rejected by people but chosen by God and precious to him, you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be cohanim set apart for God to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to him through Yeshua the Messiah. This is why the Tanakh says (Yeshayahu 28:16), “Look! I am laying in Tziyon a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and whoever rests his trust on it will certainly not be humiliated.”( In the Hebrew it is more along the sense of not make haste, but in the Greek writing it is more alluded to as not be put to shame/not be humiliated) Now to you who keep trusting, he is precious. But to those who are not trusting, (Tehillim 118:22) “The very stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”;[c] also he is (Yeshayahu 8:14) a stone that will make people stumble, a rock over which they will trip.[d] They are stumbling at the Word, disobeying it — as had been planned. But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim,[f] a holy nation, a people for God to possess![h] Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; before, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (Kefa Aleph chapter 2: 4-10)

Question, who is this stone that the TaNaKh references?

Correct it is the Messiah. Yes the sages of our people understood that this “stone” is the Messiah. Talmud Bavli Sanhedrin 38 attests this as does Rashi attest this stone is Messiah. Even Rambam asks in his writings known as Laws of Kings and Wars 11 regarding Yeshua of Natzaret and the movement that Yeshua established, even Rambam asked has there ever been such an impediment as this? By the writings of our own people, Yeshua has proven another prophecy to be true, a stone that causes others to stumble, one who impedes.

Remember and to just reiterate. Adonai’s gifts and callings are irrevocable. What God has done will remain forever. Yisrael is still the apple of His eye. The sons of Aharon are an eternal priesthood. It will be the sons of Tzadok that will resume the offerings in the Temple and the Levi’im will assist once more. The sons of Aharon are still to teach Torah (Vayikra 10, Mal’achi 2) as are the Levi’im to teach Torah beside them (Devarim 33), safe guard knowledge (Malachi 2), and make judgements and rulings (Devarim 17, Yechezkel 44). Yisrael is still His people. Just as the sons of Aharon are the priesthood for all of Yisrael eternally (Shemot 29, Shemot 40). So, Yisrael is a priesthood for the nations to declare His praise. The Jewish people are still His people, the natural branch. The grafted in branch must be careful not to consider itself replaced. Romans 11 warns this. The truth is that Hashem has brought those from the nations and expanded Yisrael, not replaced, but expanded so that others from the nations are now part of God’s people. The people of Elohey Yisrael have one standard, Torah. Disciples of Yeshua who have who have come to faith in Yeshua are to be like Yeshua. Yeshua was a Torah observant, Shabbat keeping, kosher eating, tzitzit wearing, synagogue attending, TaNaKh reading and quoting Israeli Jewish Rabbi. Yeshua taught that a disciple when fully trained will be like their rabbi (Luke 6). Yeshua instructed His Jewish disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matityahu 28). Yeshua’s standard which is Torah should the standard for every disciple of Yeshua as every disciple of Yeshua regardless of cultural background is now part of God’s people. Baruch Hashem for the Messiah Yeshua who has made this possible. One family. Baruch Hashem!

Okay, now let’s talk about tithing/tenths:

Who do the tithes/tenths actually go to?

Correct, it goes to the Levi’im.

As it is written, ““ ADONAI said to Moshe, “Tell the L’vi’im, ‘When you take from the people of Isra’el the tenth of the produce which I have given you from them as your inheritance, you are to set aside from it a gift for ADONAI, one tenth of the tenth. The gift you set aside will be accounted to you as if it were grain from the threshing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat. In this way you will set aside a gift for ADONAI from all your tenths that you receive from the people of Isra’el, and from these tenths you are to give to Aharon the cohen the gift set aside for ADONAI. From everything given to you, you are to set aside all that is due ADONAI, the best part of it, its holy portion.’ (Bamidbar 18:25-29 CJB)

Other translations render the word “tenths” from the CJB into tithe. The Hebrew word is ma’aser.

How much was this tithe?

Correct, a tenth.

A tenth of what? What does the Torah say?

“ But if it is an unclean animal, he may redeem it at the price at which you value it and add one-fifth; or if he does not redeem it, it is to be sold at the price at which you value it. However, nothing consecrated unconditionally which a person may consecrate to ADONAI out of all he owns — person, animal or field he possesses — is to be sold or redeemed; because everything consecrated unconditionally is especially holy to ADONAI. No person who has been sentenced to die, and thus unconditionally consecrated, can be redeemed; he must be put to death. “‘All the tenth given from the land, whether from planted seed or fruit from trees, belongs to ADONAI; it is holy to ADONAI. If someone wants to redeem any of his tenth, he must add to it one-fifth. “‘All the tenth from the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the shepherd’s crook, the tenth one will be holy to ADONAI. The owner is not to inquire whether the animal is good or bad, and he cannot exchange it; if he does exchange it, both it and the one he substituted for it will be holy; it cannot be redeemed.’” These are the mitzvot which ADONAI gave to Moshe for the people of Isra’el on Mount Sinai. (Vayikra 27:27-34 CJB)

*Again just to reiterate other translations render the word that is “tenth” render it as tithe. What is the Hebrew word? Ma’aser.

Let’s look at another passage, “ Every year you must take one tenth of everything your seed produces in the field, and eat it in the presence of ADONAI your God. In the place where he chooses to have his name live you will eat the tenth of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your cattle and sheep, so that you will learn to fear ADONAI your God always. But if the distance is too great for you, so that you are unable to transport it, because the place where ADONAI chooses to put his name is too far away from you; then, when ADONAI your God prospers you, you are to convert it into money, take the money with you, go to the place which ADONAI your God will choose, and exchange the money for anything you want — cattle, sheep, wine, other intoxicating liquor, or anything you please — and you are to eat there in the presence of ADONAI your God, and enjoy yourselves, you and your household. “But don’t neglect the Levi staying with you, because he has no share or inheritance like yours. At the end of every three years you are to take all the tenths of your produce from that year and store it in your towns. Then the Levi, because he has no share or inheritance like yours, along with the foreigner, the orphan and the widow living in your towns, will come, eat and be satisfied — so that ADONAI your God will bless you in everything your hands produce. (Devarim 14:22-29 CJB)

Remember this alluded to in a previous passage, “ But when you cross the Yarden and live in the land ADONAI your God is having you inherit, and he gives you rest from all your surrounding enemies, so that you are living in safety; (ii) 11 then you will bring all that I am ordering you to the place ADONAI your God chooses to have his name live — your burnt offerings, sacrifices, tenths, the offering from your hand, and all your best possessions that you dedicate to ADONAI; 12 and you will rejoice in the presence of ADONAI your God — you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves and the Levi staying with you, inasmuch as he has no share or inheritance with you. “Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings just anywhere you see, 14 but do it in the place ADONAI will choose in one of your tribal territories; there is where you are to offer your burnt offerings and do everything I order you to do. However, you may slaughter and eat meat wherever you live and whenever you want, in keeping with the degree to which ADONAI your God has blessed you. The unclean and the clean may eat it, as if it were gazelle or deer. But don’t eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. (Devarim 12: 10-16) We know the Temple is where Adonai chooses to accept His offerings. As it is written, “. Thus Shlomo finished the house of ADONAI and the royal palace. Everything that Shlomo had set his heart on making in the house of ADONAI and in his own palace he accomplished successfully. ADONAI appeared to Shlomo by night and said to him, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice. (Divrey Hayamim Bet chapter 7:11-12)

Again this is reiterated in Yeshayahu: “And the foreigners who join themselves to ADONAI to serve him, to love the name of ADONAI, and to be his workers, all who keep Shabbat and do not profane it, and hold fast to my covenant, I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Adonai ELOHIM says, he who gathers Israel’s exiles: “There are yet others I will gather, besides those gathered already.” (Yeshayahu 58:6-8 CJB).

Question, what city did Adonai choose to have his name?

Yes, Yerushalayim. As it is written in, “Then the king turned around and blessed the whole community of Isra’el. The whole community of Isra’el stood as he said, “Blessed be ADONAI, the God of Isra’el, who spoke to my father David with his mouth and fulfilled his promise with his hand. He said, ‘Since the day I brought my people out of Egypt, I chose no city from any of the tribes of Isra’el to build a house, so that my name might be there; nor did I choose anyone to be the leader of my people Isra’el. But now I have chosen Yerushalayim, so that my name can be there; and I have chosen David to be over my people Isra’el.’ It was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of ADONAI the God of Isra’el; but ADONAI said to David my father, ‘Although it was in your heart to build a house for my name, and you did well that it was in your heart, nevertheless you will not build the house. Rather, you will father a son, and it will be he who will build the house for my name.’ Now ADONAI has fulfilled this spoken word of his; for I have succeeded my father and sit on the throne of Isra’el, as ADONAI promised; and I have built the house for the name of ADONAI the God of Isra’el. And there I have placed the ark containing the covenant of ADONAI, which he made with the people of Isra’el.” (Divray Hayamim Bet chapter 6:3-11)

An important passage to understand, “Can a person rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In tenths and voluntary contributions. A curse is on you, on your whole nation, because you rob me. Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. “See if I won’t open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs. For your sakes I will forbid the devourer to destroy the yield from your soil; and your vine will not lose its fruit before harvest-time,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. “All nations will call you happy, for you will be a land of delights,” says ADONAI-Tzva’ot. (Mal’achi 3:8-12 CJB)

Question, where is the location of this store house? Where did these tithes from the land go?

As it is written, “ The rest of the people, the cohanim, the L’vi’im, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Torah of God, along with their wives, sons and daughters, everyone capable of knowing and understanding, joined their kinsmen and their leaders in swearing an oath, accompanied by a curse [in case of noncompliance], as follows: “We will live by God’s Torah, given by Moshe the servant of God, and will perform and obey all the mitzvot, rulings and laws of ADONAI our Lord. “We will not give our daughters as wives to the peoples of the land or take their daughters as wives for our sons. “If the peoples of the lands bring merchandise or food to sell on Shabbat, we will not buy from them on Shabbat or on a holy day. “We will forego [planting and harvesting our fields] during the seventh year and collecting debts then. “We will impose on ourselves a yearly tax of one-third of a shekel [one-seventh of an ounce of silver] for the service of the house of our God, for the , for the regular grain offering, for the regular burnt offering, for [the offerings] on Shabbat, on , at the designated times and at other holy times, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Isra’el, and for all the work connected with the house of our God. “We, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and the people, will cast lots in connection with the wood offering, so that it will be brought to the house of our God according to our fathers’ clans, at specified times, year by year, and then be burned on the altar of ADONAI our God, as prescribed in the Torah. “Every year we will bring the first fruits of our land and the first fruits of all fruit from every kind of tree to the house of ADONAI. 37 (36) “We will also bring the firstborn of our sons and of our livestock, as prescribed in the Torah, and the firstborn of our herds and flocks, to the house of our God, to the cohanim ministering in the house of our God. “We will bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every kind of tree, wine and olive oil to the cohanim in the storerooms of the house of our God, along with the tenths from our land for the L’vi’im; since they, the L’vi’im, take the tenths in all the cities where we farm. The cohen the descendant of Aharon is to be with the L’vi’im when the L’vi’im take tenths. The L’vi’im will bring the tenth of the tenth to the house of our God, to the storerooms for supplies. For the people of Isra’el and the descendants of Levi are to bring the contribution of grain, wine and olive oil to the rooms where the equipment for the sanctuary, the ministering cohanim, the gatekeepers and the singers are. We will not abandon the house of our God. (Nechemyah 10:30-40 )

Correct, it’s the Temple. Yeshua when he was cleaning His Father’s house established this as a fact. In reference to the Temple say it is written (Yeshayahu 56:7), “my house shall be a house of prayer for all nations” but you are (allusion to Yirmiyahu 7:11) “making it to a den of thieves”!. It is recorded in Mark 11.

Again to reiterate as it is also written, “ In the Temple grounds he found those who were selling cattle , sheep and pigeons, and others who were sitting at the table exchanging money. He made a whip from cords and drove them all out of the Temple grounds, the sheep and cattle as well. He knocked over the money changers’ tables, scattering their coins; and to the pigeon sellers he said, Get these things out of here. How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market?” (His talmidim later recalled that the TaNaKh says*allusion to Tehillim 69:9(10)*, ‘ zeal for your house will devour me”. This occurrence can be found in Yochanan 2.

Now, we understand the biblical physical tithe. What is an important concept of tithing?

Correct, it is to take care of needs. Please distinguish the practical concept of tithing from the actual physical biblical tithe.

Needs should be met. A unique example of this is found in Ma’asim as it is written, “All the many believers were one in heart and soul, and no one claimed any of his possessions for himself, but everyone shared everything he had. With great power the emissaries continued testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and they were all held in high regard. No one among them was poor, since those who owned lands or houses sold them and turned over the proceeds to the emissaries to distribute to each according to his own need. Thus Yosef, whom the emissaries called Bar-Nabba (Which means the exhorter), a Levi and a native of Cyprus, sold a field which belonged to him and brought to the money to the emissaries”. (Ma’asim/Acts 4:32-37 CJB)

Communities should take care of each other, provide for each other, etc. As it is also written, “Bear one another’s burdens-in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds” (Galatians 6:2 CJB). The disciples of Yeshua should take care of each other’s needs above It is right and good and just to do.

Afterall what Adonai identifies as true religious observance would be as it is written, “ The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this; to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated in the world”. (Ya’akov 1:27 CJB)

If it is a true biblical tithe though it would go to the Levi’im from the land in Yisrael into the storehouse found in the Temple. To go to anyone else without the Levi’im as part of it and to not give from the actual land in Yisrael is to simply invalidate it as an actual biblical tithe. It is a gift, it is a donation which are also wonderful, but not a true biblical tithe. This isn’t to say a gift or a donation isn’t of value. It is absolutely of value for in love by bearing one another’s burdens with meeting needs it upholds the Torah which is to love God and to love people.

Question, are those who are called to preach, teach, and share the Besorot Tovot allowed to get their living from this calling?

What does the B’rit Chadashah say? As it is written, “ I f we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? If others are sharing in this right to be supported by you, don’t we have a greater claim to it? But we don’t make use of this right. Rather, we put up with all kinds of things so as not to impede in any way the Good News about the Messiah. Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple, and those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrifices offered there? In the same way, the Lord directed that those who proclaim the Good News should get their living from the Good News.” (1st Corinthians 9:11-14 CJB).

Note the analogy and tying it into the Temple work via comparative analysis. Rav Shaul isn’t saying this is a tithe but likening to the principle of that tithe. The need is being met so they are able to do their task that they were called to do just as the Cohanim and the Levi’im were. It would still be wise to take into consideration of the example of Rav Shaul who didn’t make use of this right and demand from the community, aka “fleecing the flock”. It wasn’t a right that was forced onto the community.

Forced giving might not necessarily come from one’s heart, it could be given begrudgingly . Each should give according to one’s desire of their heart as it is written, “ So I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go on to you ahead of me and prepare your promised gift in plenty of time; this way it will be ready when I come and will be a genuine gift, not something extracted by pressure. Here’s the point: he who plants sparingly also harvests sparingly. Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2nd Corinthians 9:5-7)

Now let’s summarize everything we talked about:

1.) Cohanim 2.) Levi’im 3.) Service 4.) Redemption 5.) Tithing 6.) Firstborn 7.) Offerings

Let us to turn to one last passage for today.

Please everyone turn to Luke 24,

“ That same day, two of them were going toward a village about seven miles from Yerushalayim called Amma’us, and they were talking with each other about all the things that had happened. As they talked and discussed, Yeshua himself came up and walked along with them, but something kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you talking about with each other as you walk along?” They stopped short, their faces downcast; and one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only person staying in Yerushalayim that doesn’t know the things that have been going on there the last few days?” “What things?” he asked them. They said to him, “The things about Yeshua from Natzeret. He was a prophet and proved it by the things he did and said before God and all the people. Our head cohanim and our leaders handed him over, so that he could be sentenced to death and executed on a stake as a criminal. And we had hoped that he would be the one to liberate Isra’el! Besides all that, today is the third day since these things happened; and this morning, some of the women astounded us. They were at the tomb early and couldn’t find his body, so they came back; but they also reported that they had seen a vision of angels who say he’s alive! Some of our friends went to the tomb and found it exactly as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.” He said to them, “Foolish people! So unwilling to put your trust in everything the prophets spoke! Didn’t the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?” Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself. They approached the village where they were going. He made as if he were going on farther; but they held him back, saying, “Stay with us, for it’s almost evening, and it’s getting dark.” So he went in to stay with them. As he was reclining with them at the table, he took the matzah, made the b’rakhah, broke it and handed it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. But he became invisible to them. They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn inside us as he spoke to us on the road, opening up the Tanakh to us?” They got up at once, returned to Yerushalayim and found the Eleven gathered together with their friends, saying, “It’s true! The Lord has risen! Shim‘on saw him!” Then the two told what had happened on the road and how he had become known to them in the breaking of the matzah. They were still talking about it when — there he was, standing among them! Startled and terrified, they thought they were seeing a ghost. But he said to them, “Why are you so upset? Why are these doubts welling up inside you? Look at my hands and my feet — it is I, myself! Touch me and see — a ghost doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you can see I do.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. While they were still unable to believe it for joy and stood there dumbfounded, he said to them, “Have you something here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, which he took and ate in their presence. Yeshua said to them, “This is what I meant when I was still with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds, so that they could understand the Tanakh, telling them, “Here is what it says: the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day; and in his name repentance leading to forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed to people from all nations, starting with Yerushalayim. You are witnesses of these things. Now I am sending forth upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been equipped with power from above.” He led them out toward Beit-Anyah; then, raising his hands, he said a b’rakhah over them; and as he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. They bowed in worship to him, then returned to Yerushalayim, overflowing with joy. And they spent all their time in the Temple courts, praising God. (Luke 24:13-53 CJB)

Can we find the Messiah in the offerings? Can we find the Messiah in the priesthood? Can we find the Messiah in the moed’im? Can we find Messiah in Redemption?? Can we find the Messiah in the Torah, in the Prophets, and the Writings? Yes indeed. Amein. May all of God’s people say, Amein!

Levy ben David