Parashat HaShavua Tzav / Command
This Week's Reading List:
VaYikra / Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Mal'achi / Malachi 3:4-24
Ivrim / Hebrews 8:16
Vayikra {6:8} HaShem spoke to Moshe (Moses), saying, {6:9} Command Aharon (Aaron) and his sons, saying, This is The Torah of the olah (wholly burnt) offering: the olah korban (draw near / offering) shall be on the hearth on the mitzbeach (altar) all night to the morning; and the fire of the mitzbeach shall be kept burning thereon. {6:10} The cohen shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put on his flesh; and he shall take up the ashes whereto the fire has consumed the olah korban on the altar, and he shall put them beside the mitzbeach. {6:11} He shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes outside of the camp to a tahor (ritually clean) place. {6:12} The fire on the mitzbeach shall be kept burning thereon, it shall not go out; and the cohen shall burn wood on it every morning: and he shall lay the olah korban in order on it, and shall burn thereon the fat of the Shalom (Peace) -offerings. {6:13} Fire shall be kept burning on the mitzbeach continually; it shall not go out.
The olah was a sin offering. As we can see from the Scripture passage above, it was to be a continual offering that was placed on the mitzbeach – a new one each morning and evening – and allowed to burn throughout the day and night. There was never to be a time where an olah offering was not being consumed on the mitzbeach. This offering was unlike other offerings in that the animal being offered was offered whole. In the case of a goat or a lamb only the skin was removed and allowed to be used by the priests. Like all of the other sin offerings of the Tabernacle and Temple periods, this offering was a vicarious offering that substituted the required death penalty that was attached to human sin.
The interesting point found here is the fact that this offering was continual. It points to the fact that bnei Yisrael needed, besides the other prescribed sin offerings, a perpetual offering that served the purpose of purging sin. The implications of this are obvious. There needed to be a perpetual sin offering always before HaShem, an offering that would purge sin and thus enable Him to dwell in the midst of His people. However, in Judaism of today, there is no such offering. The Mishkan no longer exists and the Temple has been destroyed. In fact, in the place where the Temple once stood there now stands a Muslim Shrine. Has HaShem changed? Has modern day bnei Yisrael become so holy that they no longer need a continual burnt offering?
Malachi {3:6} "For I, HaShem, do not change; ..."
The fact is that HaShem does not change and certainly bnei Yisrael is just as sinful today as they were thousands of years ago. Therefore, they are in as much need of a vicarious substitute for their sin as they were in Biblical times. In fact they are probably more in need today then ever.
Romim (Romans) {8:32} He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? {8:33} Who will bring a charge against G-d's elect? G-d is the One who justifies; {8:34} who is the One who condemns? Mashiach (Messiah) Yeshua is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of G-d, who also intercedes for us. {8:35} Who shall separate us from the love of Mashiach? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {8:36} Just as it is written, "For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered." {8:37} But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. {8:38} For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, {8:39} nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of G-d, which is in Mashiach Yeshua our L-rd.
Judaism today has no Temple. It has no sacrifice. It has no vicarious substitution for its sin. The rabbis have substituted the works of man for the continual offerings. The rabbis have substituted the works of man for all the sin offerings.
Romim {1:22} Professing to be wise, they became fools, {1:23} and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible G-d for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. {1:24} Therefore G-d gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonoured among them. {1:25} For they exchanged the truth of G-d for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Judaism in its present form is a religion of man and not of G-d. It glorifies works, ritual and tradition. It does not glorify obedience to a G-d that does not change.
Ma’asei HaTalmidim (Acts of the Apostles) {2:22} 22 "Men of Israel, listen to these words: Yeshua the Nazarene, a man attested to you by G-d with miracles and wonders and signs which G-d performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— {2:23} this Man delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of G-d, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. {2:24} "And G-d raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. ... {2:33} "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of G-d, and having received from the Father the promise of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit), He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. {2:34} "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The L-rd said to my L-rd, "Sit at My right hand, {2:35} Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."' {2:36} "Therefore let all bnei Yisrael know for certain that G-d has made Him both L-rd and Mashiach -- this Yeshua whom you crucified." ... {2:38} And Kefa (Peter) said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be t’villah (immersed) in the name of Yeshua HaMashiach for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Ruach HaKodesh. {2:39} "For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the L-rd our G-d shall call to Himself."
HaShem has not changed. Yeshua HaMashiach is our continuous olah offering. He now occupies the place at the right hand of the Father. He continually intercedes before the Father on our behalf. As Messianic Believers we no longer have a need of a Temple so as to atone for our sin, because Yeshua is our once and for all korban, our spotless, and acceptable, Lamb.
Yochanan (John) {1:29} The next day he saw Yeshua coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world!
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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
