Parasha Tzav

Parasha Tzav

Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36

Please Pray this

Prayer

First before reading.

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parashas

Tzav is the 25th in the Torah cycle, this word Tzav mean to command. These chapters teaches us how to perform the Principles and Rituals described in Vayikra.

Usually when something of spiritual significant happens on a particular day, it is celebrate on that date every year. The Torah Portion illustrate that the first Shabbat HaGadol, the first revelation of Light, occurred on the 10 of Nissan “Abib,” on a Shabbat, and this revelation of Light occurs again each year on the Shabbat preceding Passover, irrespective on whether the 10th fall on the Shabbat or not.



Shabbat Tzav is the only Shabbat in the entire Torah Cycle that merits the name Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Shabbat all by its self.



There are various explanation for the prominence of this Shabbat. It is called the Great Shabbat because all the Light revealed on the other Shabbat culminate on this Shabbat, the Shabbat before we Passove to the next Torah Cycle.



As the redemption from Egypt commence on the month of Nissan “Abib” and some believe that the Final Correction will also occur on this month.



In this Torah Portion we learn the value of spiritual growth. The hallmark of true spiritual work come when the student complete their spiritual goal and make themselves ready for the next assignment. If we choose to remain at one spiritual revelation, no other spiritual revelation will be made available to us. If we refused to advance from the first day of Creation, we will never experience the second day.



When the three Disciples were on the Mt. of Tranfiguration with Messiyah and they saw Him Transfigur with Moses and Elijah, they taught that was the hight of their spiritual development, they wanted to build three Tabernacle, Messiyah Yahushua said this is only the beginning of what you will see, there was a lot geated things to come.



In this Torah Portion we learn a precious lesson, that any great revelation is preceded by a time of Great sacrifice; hopelessness comes before a time of great elevation, The Shabbat of Tzav marks the end of the spiritual year and the beginning of the next. The Sacrifice one made in the last Torah Cycle will manifest in the fruit of the Spirit for the next Torah Cycle.



The first two chapter in Tzav discuss the offerings that have already been mentioned in previous chapter, such as: Olah offering (elevated offering), Minchah (meal offering), Shelamim (peace offering), Chatas (sin offering), and Asham (guilt offering).



The Torah and its principles are written to those who wishes to become apart of the Kingdom of Heavens. The Torah speaks to Aaron and his four sons, the Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH, the Five Fold Ministry on how they are to impart or to teach the people the laws require to santify them on their journey to perfection, which is one of the key requirements of the Kingdom.



Verse 1 – 6 continue to reveal to us the principle upon which the Kingdom is establish. The following verse deal with the handling of ash and and the fire from the Altars. The Tabernacle of the day require the removal of the previous day’s ash from the Altar.

In, addition, there was a general commandment to keep the Altar burning at all time.

Chapter 6

Lev 6:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - It is always intresting to know that when a new sets of rule or principles are given, it always starts with, “EL YAHVEH spoke to Moses” that there can be no doubt who is the originator of the Idea.



Lev 6:2 “When any being sins, and committed a trespass against יהוה , and has lied to his neighbour about a deposit, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or shall extort from his neighbour, - This is what the EL of all Elohim, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth says! When anyone who commited a transgression by lying, this is what they must do. Before we get to what must be done, notice how He compaire those who lie, those who rob and those who extort from his neighbour, are from the same spirit. What this commandment is addressing is a particular mentality that is govern my a certain spirit. This was the spirit that the angels who followed Lucifer had, when they were in the Kingdom.

Lev 6:3 or has found what was lost and has lied concerning it, or did swear falsely, so that he sins in regard to any one of all these that a man does, - A person who found a lost item off another brother and did not return the item to his neighbour and lied to protect himself are one of the same sin.



Lev 6:4 then it shall be, when he sins, and shall be guilty, that he shall return what he took by robbery, or what he has extorted, or the deposit which was deposited with him, or the lost item which he found, - It shall be when he decided to own up to his transgression, He must return first what was taken. He cannot just say I am sorry. That does not work.



Lev 6:5 or all that about which he swore falsely. He shall repay its total value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whom it belongs, on the day of his guilt offering. – If in the process of lying, he cost someone else to experience a lost, He must return it plus 20%. When he goes to do his sin offering he must also bring 20% of the cost to his neighbor.



Lev 6:6 “Then he brings his guilt offering to יהוה , a ram, a perfect one, from the flock, with your valuation, as a guilt offering, to the priest. – He must then bring his guilf offering the cost of a perfect lamb to the congregation, and El Yahushua will make the necessary atonement for him. The guilt offering does not negate that restoration of the item lose to the victim as is often taught today. Restoration in full plus 20% must be made. This fine is a deterance against sinning. If however, all a person has to do is to ask for forgiveness without compensation to the victim, then the impetuous to change one behavior is greatly diminishes. Just saying I am sorry is not good enough. There must be a penalty, even if the evidence was not deliberate. The guilty party must also acknolodge his error, as action contrary to Torah.



We cannot overcome our sin if we do not acknowledge of sin, for our sin expose a problem in our character. By paying a fine to the injured party, and acknowledge of error, the spiritual process of repairing that flaw will start, the dismantling of the spirit “root cause” behind this tendency to break any of the command in this discussion.



Lev 6:7 “And the priest shall make atonement for him before יהוה , and he shall be forgiven for whatever he did that made him guilty.” – El Yahushua will make atonement for us only when the previous requirement are made. By acknowledging our fault as contrary to Toral and make the necessary monetary contribution, El Yahushua will atone for our sins, this will realease the Holy Spirit to do a work in us, which will end up with the creation of a new attitude towards that sin.



Lev 6:8 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - Again we read that it is EL YAHVEH who spoke to Moses, it did not say that Moses wrote his own words.



Lev 6:9 “Command Aharon and his sons, saying, ‘This is the Torah of the burnt offering: This is the burnt offering, because it is burned on the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar is kept burning on it. – Command the Mighty Hand, the five Fold Ministry to implement the following law or teaching to the people, reguarding the burnt offering. It should be burned all night until morning.



The spiritual implication, is that when anyone come to Justification, initial salvation and offer a burnt offering, those things that we need to get rid of, we must not stop working with that individual until all the offering, those bad habits are taken care of at this Altar. This also imply that the Brazen Altar must remain open 24/7 that whosoever may come at any time will find this Altar open to them.



The night, represent those dark period of our live when we are required to remove those or anythings that cause us to be in darkness spiritually.



Lev 6:10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and put his linen trousers on his body, and shall take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and shall put them beside the altar. - Although this verse only specified two garments, the majority of the Kohem service is invalid unless he wears all four of his required vestments. These two garments seem to imply that the require minimum covering for this position is righteousness, righteousness is living according to the all the law. If the priest is living according to the basic requirement of the law, they are qualify to operate at this position spiritually.



The ash of the burn offering is that which is the residue of the cleansing process, those thing that have gone thought the fire, the ash is what is left over from the process. When some have gone through the fire of affliction, and those things that are nothing more than stubbles, useless commodities, are exposed, this level of priesthood may assist in the final removal of the ash. Ash is nothing more than useless waste, things that are of no spiritual value. The fire of affliction exposes these commodities to or character traits to us, these traits must not be allowed to exist within the camp. These ash, even thought they are not of themselves evil, they are off no value spiritual.



Lev 6:11 And he shall take off his garments, and put on other garments, and shall bring the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. – The priest hood shall take of his regular garments used to minister in the Tabernacle, the Holy Place and put on less honorable garments for the removal of these mundane task. Since these activates are not of the same spiritual magnitude as that of the Altar of the tabernacle, they must still be done by the Priest assign to do it.

Since the process involves moving a great deal of ash from the Holy Altar, it too must be handle with care, and it must be place in a clean place even if it is outside the Camp.

In cases where, for example when the casting out of an evil spirit is requited to be done by the priest, it should not be done in the Set Apart Priest Garments. The priest must remove this garment and perform that service in a regular garments. This that might be required to be done cannot be done in the Set Apart Garments. That garment is to minister at Father YAHVEH Set Apart Altars only.



Lev 6:12 And the fire on the altar is kept burning on it, it is not put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and arrange the burnt offering on it, and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. – This fire, this process must be kept burning in our lives, and it should never cease. The moment we stop examining ourselves, and brining our character to the fire to see what is of Torah and what is not, then the build up of useless garbage in out live will start. Our Hight Priest will arrange for the useless garbage and the excess of our lives to be taken to this Altar and place on the fire for removal.

The wood, the dead wood are those people or circumstances that are only good for one thing, to be burn. Notice when Yisrael were been tasted, EL YAHVEH used Pharaoh as a form of wood, which was later destroyed in the process. However he was instrumental in the sovereign plan to free Yisrael from Egypt.



Lev 6:13 fire is continually kept burning on the altar, it is not put out. – This Brazen Altar will continue to burn from a spiritual position, until EL YAHVEH Sovereign Will is achieved. The restoration of the Kingdom will see an end to this fire.



Verse 14 – 18 adds several new instructions to the laws of the grain offering also called the meal offering, which was first given in chapter 2.



Lev 6:14 And this is the Torah of the grain offering: The sons of Aharon shall bring it near before יהוה , in front of the altar, - The Torah, the teaching, the instruction pertaining to the grain offering, which the priest, the Mighty Hand of Elohim, the Five Fold Ministry shall perform on behalf of the people in the Sanctuary. The Hebrew word () is a general term, implying that the law in questioning applies to other subject as well. Here it teaches that the oil and frankincense mentioned in the next, with regard to Yisrael offering must be included also in the meal offering of verse 20, even though the service of the Priestly offering differs from those of the ordinary people.



Lev 6:15 and shall take from it with his hand from the fine flour of the grain offering, and from its oil, and all the frankincense which is on the grain offering, and shall burn it on the altar for a sweet fragrance, as its remembrance portion to יהוה . – The three-finger-full and the frankincense that are burned on the Altar will be a source of merit, so that Elohim will regard the owner of the offering as acceptable, and as one who brought satisfaction to Him.

Lev 6:16 ‘Then Aharon and his sons eat the rest of it. It is eaten with unleavened bread, in the set-apart place. They eat it in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. – The Five Fold Ministry shall use the rest of the offering for themselves. Today when we bring this offering, when we have a party in celebration of our good fortune, we must invite a member of the Five Fold Ministry to the celebration.

The meal offering has the status of offering that which is holy, for, as stated in verse 17, it has the same status as, a guilt, and sin offering. Therefore, it may not leave the Outer court and it may be eaten only by the male Kohanim.



Lev 6:17 It is not baked with leaven. I have given it to them as their portion of My offerings made by fire, it is most set-apart, like the sin offering and the guilt offering. – This offering must not be made with the contaminating influences of religion, it must be done according to the prescribe pattern outline in Torah.



Lev 6:18 ‘All the males among the children of Aharon eat it – a law forever in your generations concerning the offerings made by fire to יהוה . All that touches them is to be set-apart. - The new requirement of this law is that only the male among the children of Aaron shall partake of this offering, this becomes a permanent law. With the advent of women liberation movement this law seems to become a sticky wicket to many believers today. However, Elohim laws cannot be change, regardless of the prevailing social norms at any given time in the history of humanity.

Anyone who touches this offering, will become holy, even the very vessels that the meal was prepared in will also become Holy. If a food or vessel touches the meal offering in such a way that it can absorb its essence, that food or vessel must be treated according to the halachic stringency of the meal offering. All the foods would have to be eaten within the prescribe time period and in the place where the meal offering must be eaten.

Verse 19 – 23 illustrates the principle of the Priestly meal offering. This meal offering is offered on three occasions: Every Kohen must offer it once in his lifetime, the first time he performs the Temple service, the kohen Gadol must offer it when he assumes office and every day thereafter.



Lev 6:19 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - This verse is a point worth stressing every time, that the Law is the Word of EL YAHVEH. Since He is the King of Kings, He alone decides what goes on in His Kingdom.



Lev 6:20 “This is the offering of Aharon and his sons, which they bring near to יהוה , beginning on the day when he is anointed: one-tenth of an ĕphah of fine flour as a daily grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it at night. – These loaves are to be baked into twelve unleavened loaves that were to be on the altar of showbread. This was to be the offering of the Five Fold Ministry, the uncompromised Word of EL YAHVEH. The Word must be read morning and evening, much the same way we eat breakfast and dinner.

There is also another law that it is require to be read on the seventh year at the feast of Succoth.



Lev 6:21 “It is made on a griddle with oil. Bring it in mixed, bring the baked portions of the grain offering near, a sweet fragrance to יהוה . – The illustration that it was to be made on a griddle, symbolize that the Word, the bread of life, was to be proven in the lives of anyone who wishes to be part of the Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH. The bread or the Word must be mixed with faith. This offering, this bread must be accompanied or presented with Frankincense. Much like the frankincense on the Altar of Showbread.



Lev 6:22 “And the anointed priest from among his sons, who is in his place, prepares it – a law forever to יהוה . All of it has to be burned, - The priest or the Mighty Hand Ministry who is anointed, those set apart to teach the Word, in whatever part of the world they might be. This adjective describes the forever application, which applies only to the Kohen Gabol’s offering. It is brought every day and is describe as continual, while other Kohanim brings their offering only once, on the first day of their service.

This verse refers only to those who is anointed, who is mature, one who assumes the office of a Son of Aaron. He must bring this offering everyday of his tenure. From the first day in office, the Kohem Gadol must bring this offering twice a day.



Lev 6:23 and every grain offering for the priest is completely burned, it is not eaten.” - Every grain offering must be completely burnt, meaning that the offering, it must be completed. The presentation of the Weekly Parasha must be completed every week.



Verse 24 – 30 adds to the laws of the sin offerings that were given in chapter 4.



Lev 6:24 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,



Lev 6:25 “Speak to Aharon and to his sons, saying, ‘This is the Torah of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered, the sin offering is slaughtered before יהוה , it is most set-apart. – The upgrade to the previous definition given in chapter 4. The Torah tells us that the sin offering must be slaughtered in the same place as the elevation offering.

In choosing this roundabout way of telling us the location of its slaughter, the Torah alludes to an underlying cause of sin. An elevation offering is slaughter in the north part of the Brazen Altar, the word can also be used to describe hidden, because an elevation offering frequently is brought to atone for hidden thoughts of the heart.

Although a sin offering is brought for unintentional sin acts and not for thoughts, the Torah compares it to the elevation offering, which may be offered to atone for sinful thought, verse 1:3, because people do not become careless over night. If someone sins by mistake, we may be certain that his acts were preceded by sinful thoughts and desires.



Lev 6:26 ‘The priest who is making atonement eats it, in the set-apart place it is eaten, in the courtyard of the Tent of Meeting. – The High Priest who make atonement for us, enjoy the benefits of the sacrifice, in the set apart place. The term that performs is not meant literally as the Kohen who physically performs the service. Rather, the meat of the offering is apportioned among all the Kohanim who are eligible to perform its service, whether or not they actually did so. This is indicated by verse 29, which states clearly that all the Kohanim may eat the meal offering.



Lev 6:27 ‘All that touches its flesh is to be set-apart. And when its blood is sprinkled on any garment, you wash that on which it was sprinkled, in a set-apart place. – As in verse 18, above, this touching involves absorption of the sin offering essence. Whatever the Blood of the Lamb of all Lambs touches will be forgiven. Whatever that touches the flesh, the Word, the Torah is to be consider Kadosh, Holy. Whenever the Blood of the Lamb is used by any religious institution and the members thereof is was in the blood and water that flow from the side of the El Yahushua (Jesus Christ) is applied to the life of any one, they will be set apart as the next verse indicates.



Lev 6:28 ‘But the earthen vessel in which it is cooked is to be broken. And if it is cooked in a bronze pot, then it is scoured and rinsed in water. – Any earthly, unsaved vessel or person in which the word is applied, it will become to him a snare. However, if it is a person who reside in the Outer court, some one who is saved, which the bronze metal represent, then it will be a source of cleansing to them. A source of Living Water so to speak.



Lev 6:29 ‘Every male among the priests eats it, it is most set-apart. – Every male among the redeemed community should learn Torah in the Temple, Synagogue, or church, as the head of their respective household. They are then responsible to teach it to their family. It is also the responsibility to perform the blood ceremony for their family.



Lev 6:30 ‘And no sin offering from which any of the blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting, to make atonement in the set-apart place, is eaten, it is burned with fire. – There can be no sin offering without the shedding of blood. This must not be a joyous situation, it is not for eating and celebration, it is a solemn situation, it is to be completely burnt by fire.

With very few exception the blood service is perform only on the Altar in the Outer Court. This verse teaches us that if the Kohen erred and took the blood into the Holy Place with the intention of effecting an atonement there, the entire offering become invalid, and must be burned.





Chapter 7



This chapter expands on the guilt offering that was initially given on in chapter 5.



Lev 7:1 ‘And this is the Torah of the guilt offering – it is most set-apart. – This chapter deals with the guilt offering of those who reside spiritually in the Holy Place. These are the one who are on their way to perfection, in the process of achieving this glorified state, we will sin. When we do sin, the following is the process we must follow to rid our self of this sin.



Lev 7:2 ‘The guilt offering is slaughtered in the place where they slaughter the burnt offering, and its blood is sprinkled on the altar all around. – The guilt offering must be slaughter in the Outer Court. If someone in the Holy Place sin, he or she must go outside to the Outer court in order to make restitution at the Brazen Altar, then cleans them selves at the Laver, before reentering the Holy of Holies.



Lev 7:3 ‘Then he brings from it all its fat: the fat tail and the fat that covers the entrails, - as we have discussed before, the fat, the excess of our flesh, the things that cause us to sin in the first place, must be sacrifice in order to for us to reenter the Holy Place.



Lev 7:4 and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the appendage on the liver, which he removes with the kidneys. – The things we are ask to sacrifice at this altar are the very essence of our natural life, for the sake of the Spiritual Kingdom. Without a denial of self, we cannot enter the Kingdom.



Lev 7:5 ‘And the priest shall burn them on the altar as an offering made by fire to יהוה . It is a guilt offering. – The priest, the five fold ministry shall help the soul that sin, to deal with the root cause that causes him to sin in the first place. If this is not done then the deliverer continue to sin in that same area over and over again. All sin is, is the indicator that there is a deficiency in our character, we need to offer the required sacrifice at the appropriate altar; this will cut the root that support our desire to commit that particular sin. The sin is only the visible fruit of the flesh, if we cut the root that support the tree, the tree will no longer produce the fruit of the flesh.



Lev 7:6 ‘Every male among the priests eats it. It is eaten in the set-apart place, it is most set-apart. – Every male among the Children, should function in the Holy Place as a holy people. The Word, or Torah, is represent by the Altar of Showbread in the north side of the Holy Place. The Word is not for the unsaved world it is the Constitute of the Heavenly Kingdom.



Lev 7:7 ‘The guilt offering is like the sin offering, there is one Torah for them both: the priest who makes atonement with it, it is his. – One might be guilty; this does not means that one has sinned. However, when someone sin, he or she us usually guilty, therefore, both sins require the same sacrifice.



Verse 8 – 10 elucidates the miscellaneous gifts to the Kohen. Theses verses extend the rules that the parts of the offering that go to the Kohanim are divided among all who were in the temple and were eligible to perform the service, not only those who actually did so.



Lev 7:8 ‘And the priest who brings anyone’s burnt offering, the skin of the burnt offering which he has brought is the priest’s, it is his. – The burnt elevation offering that the priest brings on behalf of the people, he too will enjoy in the reward of it. The skin is what covers the flesh, since the intension of creation is to cover our flesh in the glory; the skin spoken of here is the reward that he will incur. Anytime the Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH brings someone to a higher plain spiritually, they are rewarded as a faithful servant.



Lev 7:9 ‘And every grain offering that is baked in the oven and all that is prepared in the stewing-pot, or on a griddle, is the priest’s who brings it, it is his. – Whatever process is chosen in preparation of the elevation offering, to bring the individual to a higher plain spiritually, the Priest, the five-fold ministry will receive a reward.



Lev 7:10 ‘And every grain offering mixed with oil, or dry, is for all the sons of Aharon, for all alike. – By repeating this principle three times, in three verses, is to drive home a message. As the Apostle Paul points out in the following Text. 1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but YAHVEH gave the increase. :7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but YAHVEH that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with YAHVEH: ye are Yah's husbandry, ye are Yah's building. 10 According to the grace of YAHVEH which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Yahushua our Messiyah. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of YAHVEH, and that the Spirit of YAHVEH dwelleth in you?



Verse 11 – 17 explains the Thanksgiving offering. When a man of his family survived a life-threatening crisis, and he brings a thanksgiving offering, to express his gratitude to EL YAHVEH, and his recognition that it is Elohim Who sustain him. The thanksgiving offering is a form of peace offering but with two differences: The todah is eaten for a day and a night, while the shelamim is eaten for two days and one night between; and a todah must be accompanied by forty loaves as describe below. However, many other laws of the two offerings are derived from one another.

From Psalm 107, David hymn of gratitude derives that there are four types of people who bring theses offerings: Those who survive a desert, or some perilous journey, dangerous imprisonment, serious illness, or sea voyage.



Lev 7:11 ‘And this is the Torah of the slaughtering of peace offerings which is brought to יהוה : - The following is the laws pertaining to the peace offering, which one may bring to EL YAHVEH.



Lev 7:12 ‘If he brings it for a thanksgiving, then he shall bring with the slaughtering of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened thin cakes anointed with oil, or cakes of finely blended flour mixed with oil. – If this offering is to give thanks for anything. The people who bring this offering must killed a lamb and eat it with an uncorrupted heart. The leaven by now was to be removed from our lives. This would be like the end of our sixth day of creation when we are entering into the Holy of Holies, or the marriage feast of the Lamb.

It is a time of celebration, for the individual. In the redeem community this should be a time all of us need to look forward to. It is a time when the covering of flesh is finally takes off, and we are covered only with the Shechinah Glory.

The thanksgiving offering consists of forty loaves, ten each of the four kinds that is enumerated in this passage. Half of the todah’s flour is used to make thirty unleavened loaves, which include oil.

The other half is used to ten leavened loaves, baked without oil. In this case the leavened loaves represent growth and unrestrained freedom. While the unleavened loaves represent food, and their oil symbolizes well being, for Torah and the Menorah are the two essential of our spiritual life.

Therefore, the combination of leavened and unleavened loaves in a todah offering shows that the person has emerged from constricting danger to unrestricted life (leavening), but at the same time he recognizes that he owes everything, his spiritual food and well being to EL YAHVEH.

One loaf from each of the four kinds is given to the Kohen, to acknowledge that our deliverance from danger and the duties that flows from it, are thanks to Elohim, whose emissary is the Kohen.



Lev 7:13 ‘Besides the cakes, he brings as his offering leavened bread together with the slaughtering of thanksgiving of his peace offering. – No loves from the thanksgiving offering are place on the Altar; thus this verse does not contradict verse 2:11, which prohibits leavened bread from the Altar.



Lev 7:14 ‘And from it he shall bring one cake from each offering as a contribution to יהוה : to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the peace offering, it is his. – One loaf from each of the four offering is a gift to the kohen, and the owner and his guest eat the rest. As for the animal, its service is identical to that of an ordinary peace offering, verse 7: 28 – 34; therefore, part of it is burned on the Altar, part goes to the Kohen, and the rest goes to its owner.



Lev 7:15 ‘As for the flesh of the slaughtering of his peace offering for thanksgiving, it is eaten the same day it is offered, he does not leave any of it until morning. – One the day of the offering, there is a time limit of eating the offering before the next morning, this applies to all flesh of all offering, unless the Torah specifies otherwise.



Therefore, only the todah, but also the chatas, asham, and many other offering are eaten for a day and a night. The major exception is an ordinary peace offering, which may be eaten for two days and the intervening night, as ill be explain in the next verse.

Since a todah is also a variety of peace offering, why should it not be eaten for two days and a night, like all the other peace offering? A todah offering was design to thank EL YAHVEH for His miracles, even though we are surrounded by it every day.

When we say our prayers, need to thank Him for the miracles in our lives every day. When we bring our todah offering, it is only because we happened to become aware of a special miracle, like the birth of a child or grandchild. Therefore a todah offering may be eaten for only one day, tomorrow will be for other miracles for which we may also be thankful.



Lev 7:16 ‘And if the offering he brings is a vow or a voluntary offering, it is eaten the same day that he brings his slaughtering, and what is left of it is eaten the next day, - This verse illustrate an ordinary peace offering which one brings not because a miracle was done to him, but because of an inner desire to draw close to EL YAHVEH. Since it is not a thanksgiving offering, but a peace offering, then loves are not part of the offering and it may be eaten for an additional day.

The situation that cause one to bring this offering, is when one declares an obligation to bring a peace offering, he must select the cost of the animal, and the animal is El Yahushua. The term voluntary offering or donation is not a personal obligation, but a declaration that a particular animal is consecrated for a peace offering. In our case that animal is El Yahushua. It should be done the same day it is made, if there is any lefty over brings it the next day. This is like making a donation of a $100.00 you bring $75.00 today and the rest tomorrow.



Lev 7:17 but whatever is left of the flesh of the slaughtering on the third day is burned with fire. - What this verse is saying is that we must finish what we started within the prescribe time. There is a spirit or angel over every blessing, if the time is not maintain it will become invalid. Remember the story of Lot and the angel, lot was encouraged to depart from Sodom before a certain time. Angels have to operate under a certain timetable. That was why Lucifer try to delay the angel who was bringing the answer to the prophet Daniel 10: 13. The offering we offer do have a certain time table for the blessing to be given, if we go beyond that time period we may miss our blessing.



Lev 7:18 ‘However, if any of the flesh of his peace offering is eaten at all on the third day, it is not accepted. It is not reckoned to him who brings it, it is unclean to him, and the being who eats of it bears his crookedness. – An offering can become rejected if the person performing it violate the following: The blood service will be performed after the end of the current day; the sacrifice parts will be placed on the Altar after the beginning of the next morning; the meat of the offering will be eaten after the allotted time.

Any of these actions will invalidate the offering immediately; it become pigul and must be burned. Anyone who eats pigul is liable to the serious charges of spiritual excision.

Although the subject of our discussion peace offering, which may be eaten for two days and a night, like the Sabbath meal, the did qualification of pigul applies to all offerings, each according to its own time requirements. Food that was prepared for the Sabbath on the 6th day should not last until the night of the 1st day.



Verse 19 –21 expresses the laws governing eating the meal offering, it must be eaten in a state of spiritual purity, on the part of both the meat and the eaters. These verse sets forth the prohibitions and the penalties for intentional violation of this requirement.



Lev 7:19 ‘And the flesh that touches that which is unclean may not be eaten, it is burned with fire. And as for the clean flesh, all who are clean eat of it. – Like every negative command for which no penalty is specified, the violator incurs lashes. Only for the violation mentioned in the next two verses is there a penalty of spiritual excision given.



Verse 20 –21 list the laws pertaining to contamination. These two verses refer to a contamination person, but they differ in this regard: Verse 20 speaks of the contaminations refers to someone who becomes impure as a result of his own bodily secretions. Verse 21 specifies a contamination that resulted from touching other bodies or objects that was or is contaminated. The penalty is the same.



The soul that touches it will be cut off, this refers to the punishment of kares, spiritual excision. The very mention of kares in Torah demonstrates that there are eternal rewards for the soul. If there were not an unimaginable degree of spiritual bliss awaiting the righteous soul after the death of the body, there could be no such thing as kares.

Lev 7:20 ‘But the being who eats the flesh of the peace offering that belongs to יהוה , while he is unclean, that being shall be cut off from his people. – This is a good illustration. If a woman who is on her monthly cycle was ask to lead song service on the Sabbath, her very presence there contaminate the blood offering. Anyone who partakes of it also eats from a contaminated offering.



Lev 7:21 ‘And when a being who touches that which is unclean, of the uncleanness of man, or of the uncleanness of beast, or of any unclean swarming creature, and shall eat the flesh of the peace offering that belongs to יהוה , that being shall be cut off from his people. – The carcass of an unclean animal that dies for whatever means, or a clean animal that died through any means other than that of a shechitah, kosher killing, is contaminated. This includes the eight species of small animals or vermin that are named in chapter 11.



Verse 22 – 27, illustrates the prohibition against consuming fats and blood applies to all sheep, goats, and cattle’s, whether they are consumed or not. Although the word () is commonly translated as fat, there is no English word that defines it precisely, for in terms of this prohibition, fat means only the fatty tissue that is place on the Altar in the case of offerings, with the exception of a sheep’s tail, which may be eaten.

As the following verse makes clear, fat is forbidden only from species that are eligible to be used as offerings.



Lev 7:22 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - There can be no doubt who the source of these commandments are.



Lev 7:23 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Do not eat any fat, of bull or sheep or goat. – the prohibition is strictly limited to the specific species are eligible for use as offering; they are Bull, sheep and goats. These three animals speak of the three levels of believers, the Holy of Holies, the Holy Place and the Outer Court.



Lev 7:24 ‘And the fat of a dead body, and the fat of what is torn, is used for any purpose, but you do not eat it at all. – The Fat of a dead body, those who are unsaved must not be used as an offering, for it is not welcome. Those that are torn are those who cannot make up their mind one-way or the other. They are those who are Luke warm in there belief system, a little of Torah and a little of the world.



Lev 7:25 ‘For whoever eats the fat of these beast of which men bring as an offering made by fire to יהוה , even the being who eats it shall be cut off from his people. – The belief system that is brought by the decisions of man may not be consumed. This could also mean the teaching or the traditions of man. These belief systems are called beast, for their origin lies in the traditions of man or the devil.



Lev 7:26 ‘And do not eat any blood in any of your dwellings, of bird or of beast. - The life of the body is in the blood. We as believers must not eat those things that sustain the flesh; we are spirits having a bodily experience. Our sustenance comes from word or Elohim the bread of life.



Lev 7:27 ‘Any being who eats any blood, even that being shall be cut off from his people. – Any soul that feed on the source of the existence of the flesh will die spiritually. Since Yisrael is a spiritual kingdom, the source of our existence in the Ruach and The Torah, the Spirit and the Word.



Verse 23 - 34. This passage describe the ritual that is performed with the parts of the peace offering offerings that will be place upon the Altar, and with the parts that will be presented as a gift to the priest.

Before they are placed on the Altar or presented to the Kohanim, they are waved in all four directions and then lifted up and lowered, as indicated by the Hebrew word (), wave service, in verse 29:24 and then rose up gift, in verse 34. The parts are waved to signify that EL YAHVEH controls existence everywhere, in all four directions, and above and below.

This service takes place only in the case of a peace offering, to teach that a major component of satisfaction with one’s lot in life is one’s recognition that He is Elohim’s servant and that his perception of the world must be based on the outlook of the Torah.

Moreover, his peace offering included a gift to the Kohen, which require the same wave offering, because devotion to EL YAHVEH must include devotion to his servant.

The presentation of the various body parts for the service is because they symbolize accomplishment and motion. The breast house the heart, which is the seat of our desire; and the thigh, represents the ability to move. By lifting and waving these organs, we acknowledge that we give up our desire and our ability to move forward spiritually.



Lev 7:28 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - The constant reminder that it is not the Law of Moses, it is EL YAHVEH Laws.



Lev 7:29 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘He who brings his peace offering to יהוה brings his offering to יהוה from the slaughtering of his peace offering. – When we bring a peace offering it must be from our own pocket, not from someone else pocket. The person bringing it must incur the cost of the Lamb.



Lev 7:30 ‘With his own hands he bring the offerings made by fire to יהוה . He brings the fat with the breast, to be waved as a wave offering before יהוה . – It cannot be send, he must bring his own. We cannot ask some one to pray to El Yahushua for our forgiveness, we must come our selves. We must offer our own animal nature, our own fat, and our own sacrifice. We must bring the fat with the beast, we must bring the sin with the root cause of the nature we are trying to sacrifice, and presented to our Heavenly Father.



Lev 7:31 ‘And the priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aharon’s and his sons.’ – When the sacrifice is burn on the Altar it will never be seen again, a different beast, a different nature will be sacrifice until there is no more need for anymore sacrifice.



Lev 7:32 ‘And the right thigh you give to the priest as a contribution from your peace offerings. – Here we see an expansion of this offering. The right thigh is to be presented to the Kohen, who is there to help us move forward.



Lev 7:33 ‘He among the sons of Aharon, who brings the blood of the peace offering, and the fat, the right thigh is his for a portion. – Without the Blood there can be no atonement, without a sacrificing of the produce of the flesh, the fat we cannot move forward spiritual. This symbolic representation is a constant reminder to us of the true purpose of life.



Lev 7:34 ‘For the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution I have taken from the children of Yisra’ĕl, from their peace offerings, and I give them to Aharon the priest and to his sons, as a law forever, from the children of Yisra’ĕl. – The breast and the thigh that are given to the Kohanem for there consumption, so we must give up our desire and our spiritual elevation to them. Moses was responsible to take the people out of Egypt, cross the Red Sea all the way to Mount Sinai.



Lev 7:35 This is the anointed portion for Aharon and the anointed portion for his sons, from the offerings made by fire to יהוה , on the day when Mosheh presented them to serve as priests to יהוה , - The anointed portion, the responsibility, the area they are required to work in our lives, within the lives of the redeem community. This responsibility given to the Five Fold ministry, it is the circumstance of their lives that must be used to create the desire results in our lives. Regardless of when the individual come to salvation.



Lev 7:36 which יהוה commanded to be given to them by the children of Yisra’ĕl, on the day that He anointed them, a law forever throughout their generations. – From the day the Priest, the Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH ministry, are appointed ministers for the people, this must be their prime directive.



Lev 7:37 This is the Torah of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, and of the sin offering, and of the guilt offering, and of the ordinations, and of the peace offering, - What ever offering, what ever Altar, what ever stage of development the individual is functioning at, there must be A Mighty Hand of YAHVEH is there to help them offer the required offering. In other word, in our spiritual development, whether we are in the Outer Court, or in the Holy Place, there is help for us. If we are function in the Holy Place and if we sin, we must exist the Holy Place go back out into the Outer court, sacrifice the attitude that cause us to sin on the Brazen Altar, wash ourselves in the Laver, before we can return to the Holy Place.



Lev 7:38 which יהוה commanded Mosheh on Mount Sinai, on the day when He commanded the children of Yisra’ĕl to bring their offerings to יהוה , in the Wilderness of Sinai. – The Wilderness is compatible spiritually to the Holy Place. It is those of us who are in the Holy Place that this law is given to. As the majority of the journey of the Children of Yisrael, was done in the Wilderness, so does the journey of the redeem community to reside in the Holy Place, until they prove themselves worthy to enter the Holy of Holies.







Chapter 8



This chapter describes the consecration of Aaron and His sons as Kohanim, and is followed by chapter, nine and ten which discuss the consecration of the Tabernacle. It would be unheard off to ask the Kohanim to bring the offering without first train them in the ritual of the different laws of the various type of offerings.

This is a message to all those who have the desire to be spiritual leaders, how can you call your self a leader when you do not even know which day is the Sabbath day.

Lev 8:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - Again we are warned that Torah is the Word of the King of King and not the Law of Moses as we are so often Told.



Lev 8:2 “Take Aharon and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread, - The word takes in Hebrew means that mosses was to win over Aaron and His sons to assume the priesthood. We know that in verse 9:7 the Aaron felt unworthy and had to be persuaded to do so. Did Aaron understand the severe responsibility, or the magnitude of the responsibility that were place on he and his sons. Much like when mosses were ask by EL YAHVEH to go talk to Pharaoh.

The offering of this verse is the offering mentioned in exodus chapter 29. The bull was a sin offering; one ram was an elevation offering; the second ram of inauguration, which plains as a synonym for a peace offering.



Lev 8:3 and assemble all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting. – The entire assembly must be present to see that Aaron’s family had been chosen as kohanim. Too often thing is done in secret where the ministry is concern, this must not be so.



Lev 8:4 And Mosheh did as יהוה commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting.



Lev 8:5 And Mosheh said to the congregation, “This is the word יהוה commanded to be done.” – Moses stress that everything he was about to do was of EL YAHVEH’S behest; he is seeking no glory for himself and his brothers. Moses informed the people that Elohim commanded everything he was about to do.

Lev 8:6 So Mosheh brought Aharon and his sons and washed them with water, - Moses brought the Priesthood to the () Laver, when he would was them in preparation for their induction into the priesthood. The requirement here was for an immersion in a mikveh.

All Hebrew immersion requires that a person be submerged completely in the water. This process requires that the person submerge himself in EL YAHVEH’S holiness, or also in the Torah, to the exclusion of any other extraneous and contradictory religious philosophy. This is always a necessary requirement for the consecration of the Kohanim to the Temple service.



Lev 8:7 and put the long shirt on him, and girded him with the girdle, and dressed him in the robe, and put the shoulder garment on him, and girded him with the embroidered band of the shoulder garment, and with it tied the shoulder garment on him, - They must now put the long shirt of righteousness on, and girded his waist with the belt of truth, put on the gold plate the sign of a mature believer.



Lev 8:8 and put the breastplate on him, and put the Urim and the Tummim in the breastplate, - The Urim and the Tumin, this is a slip of parchment upon which was written the secret Name of Elohim. It was place in the fold of the breastplate and, when consulted by the Kohen Gadol, it enables him to inquire of EL YAHVEH to learn the answer to question of Major importance.



Lev 8:9 and put the turban on his head. And on the turban, on its front, he put the golden plate, the set-apart sign of dedication, as יהוה had commanded Mosheh. – Upon the Turban, toward his face. The golden Head plate rested upon the Kohen Gadol’s forehead, and was held in place by three threads tied at the back of his head. The middle thread was drawn over the turban. Thus, the thread was upon the turban; the head plate was positioned toward his faces, in front of the turban.



Lev 8:10 And Mosheh took the anointing oil and anointed the Dwelling Place and all that was in it, and set them apart. – Even an object like the Tabernacle that was build according to the specification of EL YAHVEH, can receive the anointing it is done according to the sovereign will. How much more a human, who was build in Elohim image.



Lev 8:11 And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its base, to set them apart. - The altar was first sprinkled seven times, and then it was anointed with a greater amount of oil. Spiritually, we should all experience the sprinkling, the spiritual benefits of the difference altar before we can become proficient at it. Our ability to experience theses altars will create the ability to be set apart as Holy unto EL YAHVEH.



Lev 8:12 And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aharon’s head and anointed him, to set him apart. – This anointing symbolizes the spiritual proficiency we have attained. We now become the Ark of the Covenant so to speak.

There are two kinds of anointments. A king is anointed to invest himself with the power to rule, a priest is anointed to elevate him to a station of total set apartness.



Lev 8:13 And Mosheh brought the sons of Aharon and put long shirts on them, and girded them with girdles, and put turbans on them, as יהוה had commanded Mosheh. – Moses brought the Fivefold ministry and gave them their badge of merit. Their spiritual achievement, that had been accomplish in their lives by the things they had experience.



Lev 8:14 And he brought the bull for the sin offering, and Aharon and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull for the sin offering, - As human we are in a position that we may sin, this bulk represent El Yahushua, we must always be under the Blood. We must always confess our sin to him, for He is our High Priest who makes atonements for our sins.



Lev 8:15 and it was slaughtered. And Mosheh took the blood, and put some on the horns of the altar all around with his finger, and cleansed the altar. And he poured the blood at the base of the altar, and set it apart, to make atonement for it. – There can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood, Moses purify the Altar, by means of the Blood. As we purify our physical body making it the Altar for the Holy Spirit. Removing if from the realm of the physical to the realm of the spiritual. He sanctified it so that it could be used to effect atonement for sinners.

These Altar also represent El Yahushua, it is only through Him that we can make atonement for our sin. In this spiritual sense, the bull is Yahushua who sanctified us, by His blood.



Lev 8:16 And he took all the fat that was on the entrails, and the appendage on the liver, and the two kidneys with their fat, and Mosheh burned them on the altar. – Again the removal of the fat that cover the internal organs is symbolic of the spiritual things that that surrounds our inner character, these character traits is essential for our spiritual development as our internal organs is essential for our physical development.

The Liver: The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion. The liver is necessary for survival; there is currently no way to compensate for the absence of liver function. This organ plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body, including glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification. It lies below the diaphragm in the thoracic region of the abdomen. It produces bile, an alkaline compound which aids in digestion, via the emulsification of lipids. It also performs and regulates a wide variety of high-volume biochemical reactions requiring highly specialized tissues, including the synthesis and breakdown of small and complex molecules, many of which are necessary for normal vital functions.

The Kidrey: The kidneys are paired organs with several functions. They are seen in many types of animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are an essential part of the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid base balance, and regulation of blood pressure. In producing urine, the kidneys excrete wastes such as urea and ammonium; the kidneys also are responsible for the reabsorption of water, glucose, and amino acid. The kidneys also produce hormones including calcitriol, renin, and erythropoietin. Located behind the abdominal cavity in the retroperitoneum, the kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and drain into the paired renal veins. Each kidney excretes urine into a ureter, itself a paired structure that empties into the urinary bladder.

The liver spiritually would represent the Holy Spirit while the two Kidney represent the two stone tablet of the Torah. As the Liver produce bile that aid in the digestion process, the Spirit of Understanding is essential in the digestion of the Heavenly Manna, the Torah.

The Brazen Altar is the largest altar in the Tabernacle, every other Altar find its origin in this Altar. As the Liver represent the Menorah, and the two kidney represent the Alter of Showbread. The placeing of the fat of these two organs in the fire of the brazen Altar, shows us spiritual that both the Menorah and the Altar of showbread have its root in the brazen Altar.The function of the Liver and the function of the two kidneys place the same function the physically, as they play spiritually.

Lev 8:17 And the bull, and its skin, and its flesh, and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp, as יהוה had commanded Mosheh. – The Camp of the Yisraelites was support to be a spiritual camp, the burning of the bull that earthly nature, its skin, its covering, the flesh, that which supports the fleshly nature, and the dung, the fruits of the flesh, must be removed and destroyed outside the camp. The camp is also indicative of the corporate body as well as the individual life.

The removal of the influence of the flesh is essential for our spiritual development. Notice the procedure for the bull is not the same for the ram in the next verse. The ram in this verse also speaks of a spiritual achievement, and the things that were burn outside the camp are indicative of our spiritual accomplishment.

Lev 8:18 And he brought the ram of the burnt offering, and Aharon and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram, - Aaron on his sons also laid their hands on the bull, as they did here. The bull was those who made it into the Holy of Holies, and the stuff that got burnt was the thing they lost in order to achieve this lofty height spiritually.



Lev 8:19 and it was slaughtered. And Mosheh sprinkled the blood on the altar all around, - An Altar is a draw near point, without the Blood of Messiyah Yahushua to be present at any of the Altars in the Tabernacle we cannot draw near to ABBA YAHVEH.



Lev 8:20 and he cut the ram into pieces. And Mosheh burned the head, and the pieces, and the fat, - If what I say in the last paragraph is true, and the Ram is a different level of accomplishment, that is why the things place on the altar here are different from the bull offering of verse 17.



Lev 8:21 and he washed the entrails and the legs in water. And Mosheh burned the entire ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a sweet fragrance, and an offering made by fire to יהוה , as יהוה had commanded Mosheh. – In this verse the animal parts define the character traits in our lives. The entrails symbolizes the inner aspect of the human body, the way we think, the nature of the flesh, the things that supports the flesh only to name a few; they must be sacrifice. The legs mean our spiritual walk. These two things must be wash with the pure water of the Word. Mush like when we awake up each morning we wash our face, and in the evening when we get home from work we take a bath. When we are in the Holy Place, or the wilderness spiritually, it is the time when we are tested to see if the principle of Torah is worked into our lives.

The first ram is for the spiritual development of the individual; the second ram in verse 22 is for the spiritual development for the service of the Priest. It is not everyone who is develop spiritually become priest, it is the best of the best that are chosen to become priest.



Lev 8:22 And he brought the second ram, the ram of ordination, and Aharon and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram, - Here we see yet another revelation, by laying their hand on the head of this ram, and notice it is a ram not a female lamb. They become one with it. The first ram was the best of the best as I have already described, not the best of the best were to be chosen for ordination to the priesthood.

A person might desire the position of priesthood; it does not mean that they are qualified. I have a PhD in Christian Education, the first ram, and then I was chosen to become a Rabbi, by the Holy Spirit, when I was called out of the Sunday church. I spent the next four years learning the Hebrew ness of Scripture.

I was a pastor, or so I think, I had to give it up and go sit in a Messiyanic congregation to learn, the necessary spiritual doctrine in order to be where I am today.



Lev 8:23 and it was slaughtered. And Mosheh took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aharon’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. – In the Spiritual sense, slaughtering means to offer this second lamb symbolically to the service of the ministry. Both of these two Rams are also symbolically that of El Yahushua.

This second ram was a peace offering; its service completed the process by which the Kohanim were consecrated for their new role as spiritual leader in the Tabernacle. It was Moses who consecrates them as priest, not a degree from bible school.



Lev 8:24 And he brought near the sons of Aharon, and Mosheh put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Mosheh sprinkled the blood on the altar all around, - The placing of the blood on the right ears means that the hearing of the one who is ordain must be for the Kingdom only; the right thumb that all his work must be for the Kingdom of Heavens, and his right Toe his spiritual must be for the Kingdom only. The right part of our body is the side of authority, that is why El Yahushua in now sitting at the Right Hand of our Father in the Holy of Holies.



Lev 8:25 and took the fat and the fat tail, and all the fat that was on the entrails, and the appendage on the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh, - Everything, every attachment to the world, every thing in there past as the tail represent was place on the altar for destruction, and for reassignment to a new purpose, a new direction, for the ultimate purpose in life, the service of the Kingdom of Heavens.



Lev 8:26 and from the basket of unleavened bread that was before יהוה he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of bread anointed with oil, and one thin cake, and put them on the fat and on the right thigh, - Inside the Basket which is a form of the Altar of Showbread, were ten loaves the ten commandments, with three kind of bread. It was for those in the Outer court, those in the Holy Place and for those in the Holy of Holies. All three kinds of matzos were made with oil; they were all anointed to accomplish that which it was design to do. The Apostle Paul alluded to this definition when He said in 1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Messiyah. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. In other word, I am giving you milk when I should have to give you solid food. A child drinks milk, while an adult eat solid food. The three type of bread in the basket are the teaching for the Fathers, the young men, and the children. The Priesthood must be able to do all three, when the situation presents itself.



Lev 8:27 and placed all these in the hands of Aharon and in the hands of his sons, and waved them as a wave offering before יהוה . – The responsibility was place in the hands of Aaron and His sons, the Mighty Hand of Elohim, the Fivefold ministry of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teachers. He then waves them to show that he had done what was required of Him.



Lev 8:28 Mosheh then took them from their hands and burned them on the altar, on the burnt offering. They were ordinations for a sweet fragrance. It was an offering by fire to יהוה . – Moses then took them and burns them on the Altar, symbolizing that this responsibility was given to know one else, but the Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH.

The Mighty Hand of EL YAHVEH were ordain for a sweet smelling fragrance. This sweet fragrance is when a believer comes into the fullness of all that is required of him, full maturity. The destruction of the influence of the flesh is such an action.



Lev 8:29 And Mosheh took the breast and waved it, a wave offering before יהוה . It was Mosheh’s portion of the ram of ordination, as יהוה had commanded Mosheh. – During the seven days of inauguration Moses function as the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest. He receives the Breast of the peace offering as his portion because it always went to the Kohanim from the peace offering.



Lev 8:30 And Mosheh took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aharon, on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him. And he set apart Aharon, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him. – The five altar of the Outer Court and Holy Place all represent five place where El Yahushua bleed from on the Cross at Calvary. The Brazen Altar, the blood from His Feet; the Laver the blood and Water from His side; the Altar of Showbread the Blood from His left hand; the Menorah the Blood from His Right Hand; the Altar of Burnt offering the Blood from the Crown of thorns. All these five altar are represented by one of Aaron’s and his sons.

The Brazen Altar the evangelist, the Laver the Pastor, the Altar of Showbread the Teacher, the Menorah the Prophet and the Altar of Burnt offering Aaron the Apostle. The garment of the Mighty Hand of Elohim is their responsibility, there service to the Tabernacle. Every believer should experience this altar to there fullness in order to make it into the Holy of Holies.

The Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies is a culmination of all the other Altars spiritually. If we draw a line between the brazen altar and the altar of burn incense and one between the Menorah and the altar of showbread we see the Cross-.

When Yahushua told us to pick up our Cross daily and follow him, it also mean we must experience all the altars of the Tabernacle, where he has shed His Blood for us to experience. When we approach these altars we must carry the Blood of Yahushua with us, He is our Kohen Gadol, our High Priest.



Lev 8:31 And Mosheh said to Aharon and his sons, “Cook the flesh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and eat it there with the bread that is in the basket of the ordinations, as I have commanded, saying, ‘Aharon and his sons are to eat it.’ – At the entrance of the Meeting, just past the Laver, at the entrance to the Holy Place the flesh was to be cooked, while ordinary peace offering was to be eat throughout the camp; this peace offering was given the highest status “Kadosh Kadoshem” most sacred offering, and had to be consumed in the Tabernacle area. Another aspect of this offering higher status is that it had to be consumed that day and evening, unlike ordinary peace offering that could be consumed the following day as well.



Lev 8:32 “Then burn the rest of the flesh and the bread with fire. – What was left over had to be destroyed that day.



Lev 8:33 “And do not go outside the door of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed – for he fills your hands for seven days. – When anyone is being ordained as a part of the Mighty Hand they must not go out side for seven days. When El Yahushua, died on Passover He spend 3 days in the grave, He spend 40 day teaching His disciples, He ascended to Heavens on the 43 day and spent the next 7 days being inaugurated as our High Priest. He too had to fulfill all things in Torah.



Lev 8:34 יהוה has commanded to do, as he has done this day, to make atonement for you. – The whole purpose of the Chapter is to prepare a priesthood who will function at their assign altar, that as we want to elevate our selves spiritually, there will be a mature person at the different altar to help us walk in all the spiritual experience we require for our spiritual development.



Lev 8:35 “And stay at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days. And you shall guard the duty of יהוה , and not die, for so I have been commanded.” – If most of us who cal ourselves Pastors would spend this time in seclusion it would separate the sheep from the goat in ministry. These seven day of seclusion were a time when the priest to be would focus on nothing but their duties, and their responsibility to carry out these duties to the letter of the Law. That is why we will hear of the death of Aaron two sons who brought false fire to the Tabernacle, so they died.



Lev 8:36 And Aharon and his sons did all the words that יהוה had commanded by the hand of Mosheh.

Haftarah

Yireyahu “Jeremiah” 7:21-8:8

Jer 7:21 Thus said יהוה of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl, “Add your burnt offerings to your slaughterings and eat meat. – YAHVEH TZEVAOTH, having shown the people that the temple would not protect them while they polluted it with their wickedness, here shows them that their sacrifices would not atone for them, nor be accepted, while they went on in disobedience. See with what contempt he here speaks of their ceremonial service. "Put your burnt-offerings to your sacrifices; go on in them as long as you please; add one sort of sacrifice to another; turn your burnt-offerings (which were to be wholly burnt to the honor of YAHVEH) into peace-offerings’’ (which the offered himself had a considerable share of), "that you may eat flesh, for that is all the good you are likely to have from your sacrifices, a good meal’s meat or two; but expect not any other benefit by them while you live at this loose rate. Keep your sacrifices to yourselves’’ (so some understand it); "let them be served up at your own table, for they are no way acceptable at YAH’s altars.’’



Jer 7:22 “For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Mitsrayim, about matters of burnt offerings or slaughterings. – He shows them that obedience was the only thing he required of them as HE also did from their Fathers, as HE also do for us today. He appeals to the original contract, by which they were first formed into a people, when they were brought out of Egypt. ABBA YAHVEH made them a kingdom of priests to HIMSELF, not that HE might be regaled with their sacrifices, as the devils, whom the heathen worshipped, which are represented as eating with pleasure the fat of their sacrifices and drinking the wine of their drink-offerings, Deu. 32:38.

No: Will ABBA YAHVEH eat the flesh of bulls? Ps. 50:13. I spoke not to your fathers concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices, not of them at first. The precepts of the moral law were given before the ceremonial institutions; and those came afterwards, as trials of their obedience and assistances to their repentance and faith. The Levitical law begins thus: If any man of you will bring an offering, he must do so and so (Lev. 1:2, 2:1), as if it were intended rather to regulate sacrifice than to require it. But that which ABBA YAHVEH commanded, which he bound them to by his supreme authority and which he insisted upon as the condition of the covenant, was,



Jer 7:23 “But this word I did command them, saying, ‘Obey My voice,1 and I shall be your Elohim, and you be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, so that it be well with you.’ Footnote: 1Aḇraham did so (Gen. 26:5), and יהוה again laid down this condition for Yisra’ĕl to be His people (Ex. 19:5), and the same applies to us (Jn. 3:36, Rom. 6:16, Heb. 4:11, Heb. 5:9, Rev. 22:14). – Obey my voice; see Ex. 15:26, where this was the statute and the ordinance by which YAHVEH proved them: Hearken diligently to the voice of EL YAHVEH. The condition of their being YAH’s peculiar people was this (Ex. 19:5), If you will obey my voice indeed. "Make conscience of the duties of all believers in Messiyah Yahushua, observe positive institutions from a principle of obedience, and then I will be your EL and you shall be my people,’’ which is the greatest honor, happiness, and satisfaction, that any of the children of men are capable of. "Let your conversation be regular, and in every thing study to comply with the will and word of YAHVEH; walk within the bounds that I have set you, and in all the ways that I have commanded you, and then you may assure yourselves that it shall be well with you.’’ The demand here is very reasonable, that we should be directed by Infinite Wisdom to that which is fit, that he that made us should command us, and that he should give us law who gives us our being and all the supports of it; and the promise is very encouraging: Let God’s will be your rule and his favor shall be your felicity.



Jer 7:24 “But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the counsels, in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. – ABBA YAHVEH was shows them the Believers in Jeremiah days as he is doing to us today that disobedience was the only thing for which he had a quarrel with them as HE does with us. He would not reprove them for their sacrifices, for the omission of them; they had been continually before him (Ps. 50:8); with them they hoped to bribe YAHVEH, and purchase a license to go on in sin. Today many believers because think because they believe in Jesus Christ, they do not have to obey the commandments. That therefore which YAHVEH had all along laid to their charge was breaking HIS Commandments in the course of their conversation, while they observed them, in some instances, in the course of their devotion.



Jer 7:25 “From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Mitsrayim until this day, I have even sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. - They set up their own will in competition with the will of EL YAHVEH: They hearkened not to YAHVEH and to his law; they never heeded that; it was to them as if it had never been given or were of no force; they inclined not their ear to attend to it, much less their hearts to comply with it. But they would have their own way, would do as they chose, and not as they were bidden.

Their own counsels were their guide, and not the dictates of divine wisdom; that shall be lawful and good with them which they think so, though the word of EL YAHVEH says quite contrary. The imagination of their evil heart, the appetites and passions of it, shall be a law to them, and they will walk in the way of it, and in the sight of their eyes. If they began well, yet they did not proceed, but soon flew off. They went backward, when they talked of making a captain, and returning to Egypt again, and would not go forward under YAH’s conduct. They promised fair: All that YAHVEH shall say unto us we well do; and, if they would but have kept in that good mind, all would have been well; but, instead of going on in the way of duty, they drew back into the way of sin, and were worse than ever.



Jer 7:26 “But they did not obey Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck. They did evil, more than their fathers. - When ABBA YAHVEH sent to them by word of mouth to put them in mind of the written word, which was the business of the prophets, it was all one; still they were disobedient. When believers say that all that is important is believing in Jesus Christ, it is a sign of a stiff neck people.



ABBA YAHVEH had servants of HIS among them in every age, since they came out of Egypt unto this day, some or other to tell them of their faults and put them in mind of their duty, whom he rose up early to send (as before, verse 13), as men rise up early to call servants to their work; but they were as deaf to the prophets as they were to the law: Yet they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear.

This had been their way and manner all along; they were of the same stubborn refractory disposition with those that went before them; it had all along been the genius of the nation, and an evil genius it was, that continually haunted them till it ruined them at last. Their practice and character were still the same. They are worse, and not better, than their fathers.



Jer 7:27 “And you shall speak all these words to them, though they do not listen to you. And you shall also call to them, though they do not answer you. – Jeremiah himself cam as a witness against them that they were disobedient, or he shall soon find it so: "Thou shalt speak all these words to them, shalt particularly charge them with disobedience and obstinacy. But even that will not work upon them: They will not hearken to thee, nor heed thee. Thou shalt go, and call to them with all the plainness and earnestness imaginable, but they will not answer thee; they will either give thee no answer at all or not an obedient answer; they will not come at thy call.’’



Jer 7:28 “But you shall say to them, ‘This is a nation that did not obey the voice of יהוה their Elohim, nor did they accept instruction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth. – He must therefore own that they deserved the character of a disobedient people, that were ripe for destruction, and must go to them and tell them to their faces: "Say unto them, This is a nation that obeys not the voice of EL YAHVEH. They are notorious for their obstinacy; they sacrifice to YAHVEH as their EL, but they will not be govern by HIM as their EL; they will not receive either the instruction of HIS Word or the correction of his rod; they will not be reclaimed or reformed by either. Truth has perished among them; they cannot receive it; they will not submit to it nor be governed by it. They will not speak truth; there is no believing a word they say, for it is nail to the cross, cut off from their mouth, and lying comes in the room of it. They are false both to YAHVEH and man.’’





Jer 7:29 ‘Cut off your hair and throw it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights, for יהוה has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.’ – Here is, A loud call to weeping and mourning. Jerusalem, that had been a joyous city, the joy of the whole earth, must now take up a lamentation on high places, the high places where they had served their idols; there must they now bemoan their misery. In token both of sorrow and slavery, Jerusalem must now cut off her hair and cast it away; the Word is peculiar to the hair of the Nazarites, which was the badge and token of their dedication to ABBA YAHVEH, and it is called their crown. Jerusalem had been a city that was a Nazarite to YAHVEH, but now must cut off her hair, must be profaned, degraded, and separated from YAHVEH, as she had been separated to him. It is time for those that have lost their holiness to lay aside their joy.

The destruction of Jerusalem appears here very terrible. That speaks misery enough in general; EL YAHVEH hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. Sin makes those the generation of YAH’s wrath that had been the generation of his love. And YAHVEH will reject and quite forsake those who have thus made themselves vessels of wrath fitted to destruction. He will disown them for his. "Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.’’ And he will give them up to the terrors of their own guilt, and leave them in those hands.





Jer 7:30 “For the children of Yehuḏah have done what is evil in My eyes,” declares יהוה . “They have set their abominations in the house which is called by My Name, to defile it. – The sin of Jerusalem appears very heinous, nowhere worse, or more exceedingly sinful: "The children of Judah’’ (YAH’s profession people, that came forth out of the waters of Judah, Isa. 48:1) "have done evil in my sight, under my eye, in my presence; they have affronted me to my face, which very much aggravates the affront:’’ or, "They have done that which they know to be evil in my sight, and in the highest degree offensive to me.’’

Idolatry was the sin which was above all other sins evil in YAH’s sight. Now here are two things charged upon them in their idolatry, which were very provoking: That they were very impudent in it towards EL YAHVEH and set him at defiance: They have set their abominations (their abominable idols and the altars erected to them) in the house that is called by my name, in the very courts of the temple, to pollute it (Manasseh did so, 2 Ki. 21:7, 23:12), as if they thought YAHVEH would connive at it, or cared not though he was ever so much displeased with it, or as if they would reconcile heaven and hell, YAHVEH and Baal. The heart is the place which YAHVEH has chosen to put his name there; if sin have the innermost and uppermost place there, we pollute the temple of EL YAHVEH, and therefore he resents nothing more than setting up idols in the heart, Eze. 14:4.



Jer 7:31 “And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into My heart. – They are notorious in there religious, their version on how they think they should praise ABBA YAHVEH. They have particularly built the high places of Tophet, where the image of Moloch was set up, in the valley of the son of Hinnom, adjoining to Jerusalem; and there they burnt their sons and their daughters in the fire, burnt them alive, killed them, and killed them in the most cruel manner imaginable, to honor or appease those idols that were devils and not gods. This was surely the greatest instance that ever was of the power of Satan in the children of disobedience, and of the degeneracy and corruption of the human nature.

One would willingly hope that there were not many instances of such a barbarous idolatry; but it is amazing that there should be any, that men could be so perfectly void of natural affection as to do a thing so inhuman as to burn little innocent children, and their own too, that they should be so perfectly void of natural religion as to think it lawful to do this, nay, to think it acceptable. Surely it was in a way of righteous judgment, because they had changed the glory of ABBA YAHVEH into the similitude of a beast, that YAHVEH gave them up to such vile affections that changed them into worse than beasts.

YAHVEH says of this that it was what he commanded them not, neither cam it into his heart, which is not meant of his not commanding them thus to worship Moloch (this he had expressly forbidden them), but he had never commanded that his worshippers should be at such an expense, nor put such a force upon their natural affection, in honoring him; it never came into his heart to have children offered to him, yet they had forsaken his service for the service of such gods as, by commanding this, showed themselves to be indeed enemies to mankind.



Jer 7:32 “Therefore see, the days are coming,” declares יהוה , “when it shall no longer be called Topheth, or the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter, for they shall bury in Topheth until no room is left. – Death shall triumph over them. Sin reigns unto death; for that is the wages of it, the end of those things. Tophet, the valley adjoining to Jerusalem, shall be called the valley of slaughter, for there multitudes shall be slain, when, in their sallies out of the city and their attempts to escape, they fall into the hands of the besiegers. Or it shall be called the valley of slaughtered ones, because thither the corpses of those that are slain shall be brought to be buried, all other burying places being full; and there they shall bury until there be no more place to make a grave. This intimates the multitude of those that shall die by the sword, pestilence, and famine. Spiritual death shall ride on prosperously, with dreadful pomp and power, conquering and to conquer.

The slain of YAHVEH shall be many. This valley of Tophet was a place where the citizens of Jerusalem walked to take the air; but it shall now be spoiled for that use, for it shall be so full of graves that there shall be no walking there, because of the danger of contracting a ceremonial pollution by the touch of a grave. There it was that they sacrificed some of their children, and dedicated others to Moloch, and there they should fall as victims to divine justice. Tophet had formerly been the burying place, or burning place, of the dead bodies of the besiegers, when the Assyrian army was routed by an angel; and for this it was ordained of old, Isa. 30:33. But they having forgotten this mercy, and made it the place of their sin, YAHVEH will now turn it into a burying place for the besieged.

In allusion to this valley, hell is in the renewed Covenant called Gehenna, the valley of Hinnom, for there were buried both the invading Assyrians and the revolting Jews; so hell is a receptacle after death both for infidels and hypocrites, the open enemies of YAH’s assembly and its treacherous friends; it is the congregation of the dead; it is prepared for the generation of YAH’s wrath.



Jer 7:33 “And the corpses of this people shall be food for the birds of the heavens and for the beasts of the earth, with none to frighten them away. – But so great shall that slaughter be that even the spacious valley of Tophet shall not be able to contain the slain; and at length there shall not be enough left alive to bury the dead, so that the carcases of the people shall be meat for the birds and beasts of prey, that shall feed upon them like carrion, and none shall have the concern or courage to frighten them away, as Rizpah did from the dead bodies of Saul’s sons, 2 Sa. 28:26, Thy carcase shall be meat to the fowls and beasts, and no man shall drive them away.

The law and the prophets agree, and the execution with both. The decent burying of the dead is a piece of humanity, in remembrance of what the dead body has been—the tabernacle of a reasonable soul. Nay, it is a piece of divinity, in expectation of what the dead body shall be at the resurrection. The want of it has sometimes been an instance of the rage of men against YAH’s witnesses, Rev. 11:9. Here it is threatened as an instance of the wrath of YAHVEH against his enemies, and is an intimation that evil pursues sinners even after death.



Jer 7:34 “And in the cities of Yehuḏah and in the streets of Yerushalayim I shall make to cease the voice of rejoicing and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. For the land shall become a waste! – Joy shall depart from them: Then will I cause to cease the voice of mirth. YAHVEH had called by his prophets, and by less judgments, to weeping and mourning; but they walked contrary to him, and would hear of nothing but joy and gladness, Isa. 22:12, 13. And what came of it?

Now YAHVEH called to lamentation verse 29, and he made his call effectual, leaving them neither cause nor heart for joy and gladness. Those that will not weep shall weep; those that will not by the grace of YAHVEH be cured of their vain mirth shall by the justice of YAHVEH be deprived of all mirth; for when YAHVEH judges he will overcome. It is threatened here that there shall be nothing to rejoice in.

There shall be none of the joy of weddings; no mirth, for there shall be no marriages. The comforts of life shall be abandoned, and all care to keep up mankind upon earth cast off; there shall be none of the voice of the bridegroom and the bride, no music, no nuptial songs. Nor shall there be any more of the joy of the harvest, for the land shall be desolate, uncultivated and unimproved. Both the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem shall look thus melancholy; and when they thus look about them, and see no cause to rejoice, no marvel if they retire into themselves and find no heart to rejoice. YAHVEH can soon mar the mirth of the most jovial, and make it to cease, which is a reason why we should always rejoice with trembling, be merry and wise.

Chapter 8

The prophet proceeds, in this chapter, both to magnify and to justify the destruction that God was bringing upon this people, to show how grievous it would be and yet how righteous.

I. He represents the judgments coming as so very terrible that death should appear so as most to be dreaded and yet should be desired verse 1-3.

II. He aggravates the wretched stupidity and willfulness of this people as that which brought this ruin upon them verse 4–8.



Jer 8:1 “At that time,” declares יהוה , “they shall bring the bones of the sovereigns of Yehuḏah, and the bones of its heads, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, out of their graves, - These verses might fitly have been joined to the close of the foregoing chapter, as giving a further description of the dreadful desolation which the army of the Chaldeans should make in the land. It shall strangely alter the property of death itself, and for the worse too.

Death shall not now be, as it always used to be, the repose of the dead. When Job makes his court to the grave it is in hope of this, that there he shall rest with kings and counselors of the earth; but now the ashes of the dead, even of kings and princes, shall be disturbed, and their bones scattered at the grave’s mouth, Ps. 141:7. It was threatened in the close of the former chapter that the slain should be unburied; that might be through neglect, and was not so strange; but here we find the graves of those that were buried industriously and maliciously opened by the victorious enemy, who either for covetousness, hoping to find treasure in the graves, or for spite to the nation and in a rage against it, brought out the bones of the kings of Judah and the princes.

The dignity of their sepulchers could not secure them, nay, did the more expose them to be rifled; but it was base and barbarous thus to trample upon royal dust. We will hope that the bones of good Josiah were not disturbed, because he piously protected the bones of the man of YAHVEH when he burnt the bones of the idolatrous priests, 2 Ki. 23:18. The bones of the priests and prophets too were dug up and thrown about. Some think the false prophets and the idol-priests, YAHVEH putting this mark of ignominy upon them: but, if they were YAH’s prophets and his priests, it is what the Psalmist complains of as the fruit of the outrage of the enemies, Ps. 79:1, 2. Those of the spiteful Chaldeans that could not reach to violate the sepulchres of princes and priests would rather play at small game than sit out, and therefore pulled the bones of the ordinary inhabitants of Jerusalem out of their graves.

The barbarous nations were sometimes guilty of these absurd and inhuman triumphs over those they had conquered, and YAHVEH permitted it here, for a mark of his displeasure against the generation of his wrath, and for terror to those that survived. The bones, being dug out of the graves, were spread abroad upon the face of the earth in contempt, and to make the reproach the more spreading and lasting.



Jer 8:2 and shall spread them before the sun and the moon and all the host of the heavens, which they have loved and which they have served and after which they have walked, which they have sought, and to which they have bowed themselves. They shall not be gathered nor buried, they shall be for dung on the face of the earth. – They shall be spread before the sun (for they shall not be ashamed openly to avow the fact at noon day) and before the moon and stars, even all the host of heaven, whom they have made idols of. They we on display for all the Sons of YAHVEH to see what will happen to those who came to earth to learn obedience, how there dead bodies lies motionless. Psalms 82:5 They know not, neither will they nderstand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8Arise, O YAHVEH, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Here is a fulfillment of Psalms 82 where men die like men and not live like gods. From the mention of the sun, moon, and stars, which should be the unconcerned spectators of this tragedy, the prophet takes occasion to show how they had idolized them, and paid those respects to them which they should have paid to YAHVEH only, that it might be observed how little they got by worshipping the creature, for the creatures they worshipped when they were in distress saw it, but regarded it not, nor gave them any relief, but were rather pleased to see those abused in being vilified by whom they had been abused in being deified. See how their respects to their idols are enumerated, to show how we ought to behave towards our YAHVEH.



1. They loved them. As amiable being and bountiful benefactors they esteemed them and delighted in them, and therefore did all that follows.



2. They served them, did all they could in honor of them, and thought nothing too much; they conformed to all the laws of their superstition, without disputing.



3. They walked after them, strove to imitate and resemble them, according to the characters and accounts of them they had received, which gave rise and countenance to much of the abominable wickedness of the heathen.



4. They sought them, consulted them as oracles, appealed to them as judges, implored their favor, and prayed to them as their benefactors.



5. They worshipped them, gave them divine honor, as having a sovereign dominion over them. Before these lights of heaven, which they had courted, shall their dead bodies be cast, and left to putrefy, and to be as dung upon the face of the earth; and the sun’s shining upon them will but make them the more noisome and offensive. Whatever we make a god of but the true EL only, it will stand us in no stead on the other side death and the grave, nor for the body, much less for the soul.



Jer 8:3 “And death shall be preferred to life by all the rest of those who remain of this evil people, who remain in all the places where I have driven them,” declares יהוה of hosts. - Death shall now be what it never used to be, the choice of the living, not because there appears in it any thing delightsome; on the contrary, death never appeared in more horrid frightful shapes than now, when they cannot promise themselves either a comfortable death or a human burial; and yet every thing in this world shall become so irksome, and all the prospects so black and dismal, that death shall be chosen rather than life, not in a believing hope of happiness in the other life, but in an utter despair of any ease in this life. The nation is now reduced to a family, so small is the residue of those that remain in it; and it is an evil family, still as bad as ever, their hearts unhumbled and their lusts unmortified. These remain alive (and that is all) in the many places whither they were driven by the judgments of YAHVEH, some prisoners in the country of their enemies, others beggars in their neighbor’s country, and others fugitives and vagabonds there and in their own country. And, though those that died very miserably, yet those that survived and were thus driven out should live yet more miserably, so that they should choose death rather than life, and wish a thousand times that they had fallen with those that fell by the sword. Let this cure us of the inordinate love of life, that the case may be such that it may become a burden and terror, and we may be strongly tempted to choose strangling and death rather.



Jer 8:4 “And you shall say to them, ‘Thus said יהוה , “Would they fall, and not rise? Does one turn away and not return? – Do you want to die like men or live like a god. The prophet here is instructed to set before this people the folly of their impenitence, which was it that brought this ruin upon them. They are here represented as the most stupid senseless people in the world, that would not be made wise by all the methods that Infinite Wisdom took to bring them to themselves and their right mind, and so to prevent the ruin that was coming upon them.

They would not attend to the dictates of reason. They would not act in the affairs of their souls with the same common prudence with which they acted in other things. Sinners would become saints if they would but show themselves men, and religion would soon rule them if right reason might. Observe it here. Come, and let us reason together, saith EL YAHVEH: Shall men fall and not arise? If men happen to fall to the ground, to fall into the dirt, will they not get up again as fast as they can? They are not such fools as to lie still when they are down. Shall a man turn aside out of the right way? Yes, the most careful traveler may miss his way; but then, as soon as he is aware of it, will he not return? Yes, certainly he will, with all speed, and will thank him that showed him his mistake.



Jer 8:5 “Why then has this people, Yerushalayim, turned away in a continual backsliding? They cling to deceit, they refuse to turn back. - Thus men do in other things. Why then has this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? Why do not they, when they have fallen into sin, hasten to get up again by repentance? Why do not they, when they see they have missed their way, correct their error and reform? No man in his wits will go on in a way that he knows will never bring him to his journey’s end; why then has this people slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? See the nature of sin; it is a backsliding it is going back from the right way, not only into a by-path, but into a contrary path, back from the way that leads to life to that which leads to utter destruction. And this backsliding, if almighty grace does not interpose to prevent it, will be a perpetual backsliding.

The sinner not only wanders endlessly, but also proceeds end-ways towards ruin. The same subtlety of the tempter that brings men to sin holds them fast in it, and they contribute to their own captivity: They hold fast deceit. Sin is a great cheat, and they hold it fast; they love it dearly, and resolve to stick to it, and baffle all the methods YAHVEH takes to separate between them and their sins. The excuses they make for their sins are deceits, and so are all their hopes of impunity; yet they hold fast these, and will not be undeceived, and therefore they refuse to return. There is some deceit or other, which those hold fast that go on willfully in sinful ways, some lie in their right hand, by which they keep hold of their sins.



Jer 8:6 “I have listened and heard – they do not speak right. No man has repented of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ They all turned to their own course, like a horse rushing into battle. – They would not attend to the dictates of conscience, which is our reason reflecting upon our own actions and ourselves.

What expectations were from them, that they would think themselves: I hearkened and heard. The prophet listened to see what effect his preaching had upon them; YAHVEH listened, as one that desires not the death of sinners, that would have been glad to hear any thing that promised repentance, that would certainly have heard it if there had been any thing said of that tendency, and would soon have answered it with comfort, as he did David when he said, I will confess, Ps. 32:5.

YAHVEH looks upon men when they have done amiss (Job 33:27), to see what they will do next; he hearkens and hears. 2. How these expectations were disappointed: They spoke not aright, as I thought they would have done. They did not only not do right, but not so much as speak right; YAHVEH could not get a good word from them, nothing on which to ground any favor to them or hopes concerning them. There was none of them that spoke aright, none that repented him of his wickedness. Those that have sinned then, and then only, speak aright when they speak of repenting; and it is sad when those that have made so much work for repentance do not say a word of repenting.

Not only did YAHVEH not find any repenting of the national wickedness, which might have helped to empty the measure of public guilt, but none repented of that particular wickedness which he knew himself guilty of. They did not so much as take the first step towards repentance; they did not so much as say, What have I done? There was no motion towards it, not the least sign or token of it. Note, True repentance beings in a serious and impartial inquiry into ourselves, what have we done, arising from a conviction that we have done amiss.

They were so far from repenting of their sins that they went on resolutely in their sins: Every one turned to his course, his wicked course, that course of sin which he had chosen and accustomed himself to, as the horse rushes into the battle, eager upon action, and scorning to be curbed. How the horse rushes into the battle is elegantly described, Job 39:21, etc. He mocks at fear and is not affrighted. Thus the daring sinner laughs at the threatening of the word as bugbears, and runs violently upon the instruments of death and slaughter, and nothing will be restrained from him.



Jer 8:7 “Even a stork in the heavens knows her appointed times. And a turtledove, and a swallow, and a thrush observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the right-ruling of יהוה . – This is a conviction of Christian who claims that these feast days were nail to the Cross.

They would not attend to the dictates of providence, nor understand the voice of YAHVEH in them. It is an instance of their foolishness that, though they are YAH’s people, and therefore should readily understand his mind upon every intimation of it, yet they know not the judgment of the Lord; they apprehend not the meaning either of a mercy or an affliction, not how to accommodate themselves to either, nor to answer YAH’s intention in either. They know not how to improve the seasons of grave that YAHVEH affords them when he sends them his prophets, nor how to make use of the rebukes they are under when his voice cries in the city. They discern not the signs of the times (Mt. 16:3), nor are aware how YAHVEH is dealing with them. They know not that way of duty, which YAHVEH had prescribed them, though it be written both in their hearts and in their books.

It is an aggravation of their foolishness that there is so much sagacity in the inferior creatures. The stork in the heaven knows her appointed times of coming and continuing; so do other season-birds, the turtle, the crane, and the swallow. These by a natural instinct change their quarters, as the temper of the air alters; they come when the spring comes, and go, we know not whither, when the winter approaches, probably into warmer climates, as some birds come with winter and go when that is over.



Jer 8:8 “How do you say, ‘We are wise, and the Torah of יהוה is with us’? But look, the false pen of the scribe has worked falsehood. - They would not pay attend to the accuracy of the written word. They say, we are wise; but how can they say so? With what face can they pretend to any thing of wisdom, when they do not understand themselves so well as the brute-creatures?

Why, truly, they think they are wise because the law of YAHVEH is with them, the book of the law and the interpreters of it; and their neighbors, for the same reason, conclude they are wise, Deu. 4:6. They translate the Law of Hebrew to Greek, to Latin, to German, to English in their own understanding.

But their pretensions are groundless for all this: Lo, certainly in vain made he it; surely never any people had Bibles to so little purpose as they have. They might as well have been without the law, unless they had made a better use of it. YAHVEH has indeed made it able to make men wise to salvation, but as to them it is made so in vain, for they are never the wiser for it: The pen of the scribes, of those that first wrote the law and of those that now write expositions of it, is in vain.

An example, in Genesis 1:1 there are four major mistake in the translation from Hebrew to English, yet the so-called writers of the Bible have fail to see these errors.

Both the favor of their El and the labor of their scribes are lost upon them; they receive the grace of YAHVEH in vain. There are many that enjoy abundance of the means of grace, that have great plenty of Bibles and ministers, but they have them in vain; they do not answer the end of their having them.

Brit Chadashu

Romiyan “Romans” 12:1-8

The apostle, having at large cleared and confirmed the prime fundamental doctrines of the Messiyanic, comes in the next place to press the principal duties. We mistake our religion if we look upon it only as a system of notions and a guide to speculation. No, it is a practical religion, that tends to the right ordering of the conversation. It is designed not only to inform our judgments, but to reform our hearts and lives. From the method of the apostle’s writing in this, as in some other of the epistles (as from the management of the principal ministers of state in Messiyah’s kingdom) the stewards of the mysteries of YAHVEH may take direction how to divide the word of truth: not to press duty abstracted from privilege, nor privilege abstracted from duty; but let both go together, with a complicated design, they will greatly promote and befriend each other.



The duties are drawn from the privileges, by way of inference. The foundation of Messiyanic practice must be laid in Messiyah knowledge and faith. We must first understand how we receive Messiyah Yahushua, and then we shall know the better how to walk in him. There is a great deal of duty prescribed in this chapter. The exhortations are short and pithy, briefly summing up what is good, and what the YAHVEH in Messiyah requires of us. It is an abridgment of the Messiyanic directory, an excellent collection of rules for the right ordering of the conversation, as becomes the gospel. It is joined to the foregoing discourse by the word "therefore.’’

It is the practical application of doctrinal truths that is the life of preaching. He had been discoursing at large of justification by faith, and of the riches of free grace, and the pledges and assurances we have of the glory that is to be revealed. Hence carnal libertines would be apt to infer."

Therefore we may live as we list, and walk in the way of our hearts and the sight of our eyes.’’ Now this does not follow; the faith that justifies is a faith that "works by love.’’ And there is no other way to heaven but the way of holiness and obedience. Therefore what ABBA YAHVEH hath joined together let no man put asunder. The particular exhortations of this chapter are reducible to the three principal heads of Messiyanic duty: our duty to YAHVEH to ourselves, and to our brother. The grace of YAHVEH teaches us, in general, to live "godly, soberly, and righteously;’’ and to deny all that which is contrary hereunto. Now this chapter will give us to understand what godliness, sobriety, and righteousness, are though somewhat intermixed.



Rom 12:1 I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. – In this chapter we observe that, according to the scheme mentioned in the contents, the apostle’s exhortations, concerning our duty to ABBA YAHVEH, We see what is godliness.

It is to surrender ourselves to ABBA YAHVEH, and so to lay a good foundation. We must first give our own selves unto ABBA YAHVEH, 2 Co. 8:5. This is here pressed as the spring of all duty and obedience. Man consists of body and soul, Gen. 2:7; Eccl. 12:7.

The body must be presented to him. The body is for ABBA YAHVEH, and YAHVEH for the body, 1 Co. 6:13, 14. The exhortation is here introduced very pathetically: I beseech you, brethren. Though he was a great apostle, yet he calls the meanest Messiyanic brethren, a term of affection and concern. He uses entreaty; this is the gospel way: As though ABBA YAHVEH did beseech you by us, 2 Co. 5:20. Though he might with authority command, yet for love’s sake he rather beseeches, Philem. 8, 9. The poor useth entreaty, Prov. 18:23. This is to insinuate the exhortation, that it might come with the more pleasing power. Many are sooner wrought upon if they were accosted kindly, are more easily led than driven. Now observe,



Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim. – As gods in training, we are not to conformed to this world system, but through the things we experience it is to transform our mind, proving the positive commandment and safe guarding the negative commandment the things we must not do. We please ABBA YAHVEH when we do HIS will.



What is the great enemy to this renewing, which we must avoid; and that is, conformity to this world: Be not conformed to this world. All the disciples and followers of the Messiyah Yahushua must be nonconformists to this world. Do not fashion yourselves according to the world. We must not conform to the things of the world; they are mutable, and the fashion of them is passing away. Do not conform either to the lusts of the flesh or the lusts of the eye. We must not conform to the men of the world, of that world which lies in wickedness, not walk according to the course of this world (Eph. 2:2); that is, we must not follow a multitude to do evil, Ex. 23:2.



If sinners entice us, we must not consent to them, but in our places witness against them. Nay, even in things indifferent, and which are not in themselves sinful, we must so far not conform to the custom and way of the world as not to act by the world’s dictates as our chief rule, nor to aim at the world’s favors as our highest end. True Messiyahic consists much in a sober singularity. Yet we must take heed of the extreme of affected rudeness and moroseness, which some run into. In civil things, the light of nature and the custom of nations are intended for our guidance; and the rule of the gospel in those cases is a rule of direction, not a rule of contrariety.

What is the great effect of this renewing, which we must labor after: That you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of ABBA YAHVEH. By the will of YAHVEH here we are to understand his revealed will concerning our duty, what EL YAHVEH requires of us. This is the will of YAHVEH in general, even our sanctification, that will which we pray may be done by us as it is done by the angels; especially his will as it is revealed in the Renew Covenant, where he hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son.

First, The will of YAHVEH is good, and acceptable, and perfect; three excellent properties of a law. It is good (Mic. 6:8); it is exactly consonant to the eternal reason of good and evil. It is good in itself. It is good for us. Some think the evangelical law is here called good, in distinction from the ceremonial law, which consisted of statutes that were not good, Eze. 20:25. It is acceptable, it is pleasing to YAHVEH; that and that only is so which is prescribed by him. The only way to attain his favor as the end is to conform to his will as the rule. It is perfect, to which nothing can be added. The revealed will of YAHVEH is a sufficient rule of faith and practice, containing all things which tend to the perfection of the man of EL, to furnish us thoroughly to every good work, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

Secondly, That it concerns Messiyanic to prove what is that will of YAHVEH which is good, and acceptable, and perfect; that is, to know it with judgment and approbation, to know it experimentally, to know the excellency of the will of YAHVEH by the experience of a conformity to it. It is to approve things that are excellent (Phil. 1:10); it is dokimazein (the same word that is used here) to try things that differ, in doubtful cases readily to apprehend what the will of YAHVEH is and to close in with it. It is to be of quick understanding in the fear of EL YAHVEH, Isa. 11:3.

Thirdly, That those are best able to prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of YAHVEH, who are transformed by the renewing of their mind. A living principle of grace is in the soul, as far as it prevails, an unbiased unprejudiced judgment concerning the things of YAHVEH. It disposes the soul to receive and entertain the revelations of the divine will. The promise is (Jn. 7:17), If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine. A good wit can dispute and distinguish about the will of YAHVEH; while an honest, humble heart, that has spiritual senses exercised, and is delivered into the mould of the word, loves it, and practices it, and has the relish and savor of it. Thus to be godly is to surrender ourselves to YAHVEH.



Rom 12:3 For I say, through the favour which has been given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he should think, but to think soberly, as Elohim has given to each a measure of belief. – Through the Grace that has been given to all of us, we must not think more highly of ourselves we received more grace that another person. As believer we must with a rational mind, think about the reason why we are Created, for every one is given different belief according to our character, to help us become an over-commer.



A sober opinion of ourselves is essential. It is ushered in with a solemn preface: I say, through the grace given unto me: the grace of wisdom, by which he understood the necessity and excellency of this duty; the grace of apostleship, by which he had authority to press and enjoin it. "I say it, who am commissioned to say it, in YAH’s name. I say it, and it is not for you to gainsay it.’’ It is said to every one of us, one as well as another. Pride is a sin that is bred in the bone of all of us, and we have therefore each of us need to be cautioned and armed against it. Not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. We must take heed of having too great an opinion of ourselves, or putting too high a valuation upon our own judgments, abilities, persons, performances. We must not be self-conceited, nor esteem too much our own wisdom and other attainments, not think ourselves to be something, Gal. 6:3.

There is a high thought of ourselves which we may and must have to think ourselves too good to be the slaves of sin and drudges to this world. But, on the other hand, we should think soberly, that is, we must have a low and modest opinion of ourselves and our own abilities, our gifts and graces, according to what we have received from YAHVEH, and not otherwise. We must not be confident and hot in matters of doubtful disputation; not stretch ourselves beyond our line; not judge and censure those that differ from us; not desire to make a fair show in the flesh.

These and the like are the fruits of a sober opinion of ourselves. The words will bear yet another sense agreeable enough. Of himself is not in the original; therefore it may be read, That no man be wise above what he ought to be wise, but be wise unto sobriety. We must not exercise ourselves in things too high for us (Ps. 131:1, 2), not intrude into those things which we have not seen (Col. 2:18), those secret things which belong not to us (Deu. 29:29), not covet to be wise above what is written. There is a knowledge that puffs up, which reaches after forbidden fruit.

We must take heed of this, and labor after that knowledge which tends to sobriety, to the rectifying of the heart and the reforming of the life. Some understand it of the sobriety which keeps us in our own place and station, from intruding into the gifts and offices of others. See an instance of this sober modest care in the exercise of the greatest spiritual gifts, 2 Co. 10:13 - 15. To this head refers also that exhortation verse 16, Be not wise in your own conceits. It is good to be wise, but it is bad to think ourselves so; for there is more hope of a fool than of him that is wise in his own eyes. It was an excellent thing for Moses to have his face shine and not know it. Now the reasons why we must have such a sober opinion of ourselves, our own abilities and attainments, are these.



Because whatever we have that is good, YAHVEH hath dealt it to us; every good and perfect gift comes from above, James 1:17. What have we that we have not received? And, if we have received it, why then do we boast? 1 Co. 4:7. The best and most useful man in the world is no more, no better, than what the free grace of ABBA YAHVEH makes him every day. When we are thinking of ourselves, we must remember to think not how we attained, as though our might and the power of our hand had gotten us these gifts; but think how kind YAHVEH hath been to us, for it is he that gives us power to do any thing that is good, and in him is all our sufficiency.



Because EL YAHVEH deals out his gifts in a certain measure: According to the measure of faith. The measure of spiritual gifts he calls the measure of faith, for this is the radical grace. What we have and do that is good is so far right and acceptable as it is founded in faith, and flows from faith, and no further. Now faith, and other spiritual gifts with it, is dealt by measure, according as Infinite Wisdom sees meet for us.

Messiyah had the Spirit given him without measure, Jn. 3:34. But the saints have it by measure; see Eph. 4:7. Messiyah, who had gifts without measure, was meek and lowly; and shall we, that are stinted, be proud and self-conceited?



Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function, - ABBA YAHVEH is seeking faithful believers to fulfilled different position in the Kingdom of Heavens. As our physical body has different organs so does the Kingdom of Heavens have different position for different skills in the kingdom? Because YAHVEH has dealt out gifts to others as well as to us: Dealt to every man. Had we the monopoly of the Spirit, or a patent to be sole proprietors of spiritual gifts, there might be some pretence for this conceitedness of ourselves; but others have their share as well as we. YAHVEH is a common Father, and Messiyah a common root, to all the saints, who all drive virtue from him; and therefore it ill becomes us to lift up ourselves, and to despise others, as if we only were the people in favor with heaven, and wisdom should die with us.

All the members have not the same office, but each hath its respective place and work assigned it. The office of the eye is to see; the office of the hand is to work, etc. So in the mystical body, some are qualified for, and called to, one sort of work; others are, in like manner, fitted for, and called to, another sort of work. Magistrates, ministers, people, in a Yisrael, have their several offices, and must not intrude one upon another, nor clash in the discharge of their several offices. Each member hath its place and office, for the good and benefit of the whole, and of every other member.



Rom 12:5 so we, the many, are one body in Messiyah, and members each one of one another. – This reasoning he illustrates by a comparison taken from the members of the natural body (as 1 Co. 12:12; Eph. 4:16): As we have many members in one body. All the saints make up one body in Messiyah, who is the head of the body, and the common center of their unity. Believers lie not in the world as a confused disorderly heap, but are organized and knit together, as they are united to one common head, and actuated and animated by one common Spirit.

We are not only members of Messiyah, but we are members one of another. We stand in relation one to another; we are engaged to do all the good we can one to another, and to act in conjunction for the common benefit. See this illustrated at large, 1 Co. 12:14, etc. Therefore we must not be puffed up with a conceit of our own attainments, because, whatever we have, as we received it, so we received it not for ourselves, but for the good of others.

Particular believers are members of this body, constituent parts, which speak them less than the whole, and in relation to the whole, deriving life and spirits from the head. Some members in the body are bigger and more useful than others, and each receives spirits from the head according to its proportion. if the little finger should receive as much nourishment as the leg, how unseemly and prejudicial would it be! We must remember that we are not the whole; we think above what is meet if we think so; we are but parts and members.



Rom 12:6 Now having different gifts, according to the favour which was given to us, let us use them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of belief; - A sober use of the gifts that ABBA YAHVEH hath given us. As we must not on the one hand be proud of our talents, so on the other hand we must not bury them. Take heed lest, under pretence of humility and self-denial, we be slothful in laying out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, "I am nothing, therefore I will sit still, and do nothing;’’ but, "I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost in the strength of the grace of Messiyah.’’ He specifies the ecclesiastical offices appointed in particular churches, in the discharge of which each must study to do his own duty, for the preserving of order and the promotion of edification in the church, each knowing his place, and fulfilling it. Having then gifts. The following induction of particulars supplies the sense of this general. Having gifts, let us use them. Authority and ability for the ministerial work are the gift of YAHVEH.

Gifts differing. The immediate design is different, though the ultimate tendency of all is the same.

According to the grace, The free grace of ABBA YAHVEH is the spring and original of all the gifts that are given to men. It is grace that appoints the office, qualifies and inclines the person, works both to will and to do. There were in the primitive church extraordinary gifts of tongues, of discerning, of healing; but he speaks here of those that are ordinary. Compare 1 Co. 12:4; 1 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pt. 4:10. Seven particular gifts he specifies, which seem to be meant of so many distinct offices, used by the prudential constitution of many of the primitive churches, especially the larger. There are two general ones here expressed by prophesying and ministering, the former the work of the bishops, the latter the work of the deacons, which were the only two standing officers, Phil. 1:1.

But the particular work belonging to each of these might be, and it should seem was, divided and allotted by common consent and agreement, that it might be done the more effectually, because that which is every man’s work is nobody’s work, and he dispatches his business best that is a man of one business. Therefore David sorted the Levites (1 Chr. 23:4, 5), and in this wisdom is profitable to direct. The five latter will therefore be reduced to the two former.



Rom 12:7 if serving, in the serving; or he who is teaching, in the teaching; - It is not the task that we perform, it is the faithfulness we display in carrying out of our task. If it is servings let us serve faithfully if it is teaching lets us teach faithfully. He that teacheth, let him be in his teaching; so some supply it, let him be constant, and diligent in it; let him abide in that which is his proper work, and be in it as his element. See 1 Tim. 4:15, 16, where it is explained by two words, en toutois isthi, and be in these things and continue in them. Let him that exhorted wait on exhortation. Let him give himself to that. This is the work of the Teacher, as the former of the teacher; to apply gospel truths and rules more closely to the case and condition of the people, and to press upon them that which is more practical. Many that are very accurate in teaching may yet be very cold and unskillful in exhorting; and on the contrary. The one requires a clearer head, the other a warmer heart. Now where these gifts are evidently separated (that the one excels in the one and the other in the other) it conduces to edification to divide the work accordingly; and, whatsoever the work is that we undertake, let us mind it. To wait on our work is to bestow the best of our time and thoughts upon it, to lay hold of all opportunities for it, and to study not only to do it, but also to do it well.



Rom 12:8 or he who encourages, in the encouragement; or he who is sharing, in sincerity; he who is leading, in diligence; he who shows compassion, joyously. – The work of the Prophet is one who is sent to encourage the believer to walk faithful, or to return to the straight and narrow path. Ministry. If a man hath the office of a deacon, or assistant to the teacher, let him use that office well, a (suppose), an elder, or an overseer of the poor; and perhaps there were more put into these offices, and there was more solemnity in them, and a greater stress of care and business lay upon them in the primitive churches, than we are now well aware of. It includes all those offices, which concern the Assembly, the outward business of the house of YAHVEH. See Neh. 11:16.

Serving tables, Acts 6:2. Now let him on whom this care of ministering is devolved attend to it with faithfulness and diligence; particularly,

[1.] He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity. Those church-officers that were the stewards of the church’s alms, collected money, and distributed it according as the necessities of the poor were. Let them do it liberally and faithfully; not converting what they receive to their own use, nor distributing it with any sinister design, or with respect of person: not forward and peevish with the poor, nor seeking pretences to put them by; but with all sincerity and integrity, having no other intention in it than to glorify YAHVEH and do good. Some understand it in general of all almsgiving: He that hath wherewithal, let him give, and give plentifully and liberally; so the word is translated, 2 Co. 8:2; 9:13. ABBA YAHVEH loves a cheerful bountiful giver.

[2.] He that ruleth with diligence. It should seem, he means those that were assistants to the pastors in exercising church-discipline, as their eyes, and hands, and mouth, in the government of the Assembly, or those ministers that in the congregation did chiefly undertake and apply themselves to this ruling work; for we find those ruling that labored in the word and doctrine, 1 Tim. 5:17. Now such must do it with diligence. The word denotes both care and industry to discover what is amiss, to reduce those that go astray, to reprove and admonish those that have fallen, to keep the church pure. Those must take a great deal of pains that will approve themselves faithful in the discharge of this trust, and not let slip any opportunity that may facilitate and advance that work.