Kedoshim

Parashas Kedoshim

Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27

HafTorah

Ahmos “Amos”  9:7 - 15

Brit Chadasha

Act15:1 - 21

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

                                                                                        

This Torah portion Kedoshin “holiness” is the 30 reading in the Torah cycle, it begins by explaining the reason for this prohibition, and it was to make a group of people become more holy by emulating its CREATOR as much as possible.

In most calendar year the Portion of Kedoshim, meaning holy in the plural sense, is usually read together with the previous Parasha of Acharei Mot, meaning after death. If we joined them together the two translate, after death, they are holy.

The purpose of this holiness is for a set of people to grow spiritually in their life here on earth. The only way to accomplish this is to be obedient to the Commandment found in Torah.

These commandment demands more than minimal observance, for as one experience the sixth days of Creation need to Create a perfect son, we are required to climb up the ladder of our spiritual holiness, one would elevate his soul, his ego to what the Torah and the Holy Spirit requires.

It was and it is still ABBA YAHWEH’S will to rest HIS Presence among the Hebrew people, so that they could be called a holy people for HIS service. In order to achieve this, Yisrael was enjoined to avoid the Spiritual contamination that results from religious and sexual practices.

The Torah teaches that the respect for parents, ordains that they must be honored through personal service, but that is to be done in a respectful manner. The commandment did not say to love, but the honor one’s parents.

The definition of Shabbat observance goes beyond the seventh day of the week and includes the seventh year sabbatical, for that to testify that ABBA YAHWEH is the CREATOR and MASTER of the Universe. As there is a daily Sabbath, there is also a weekly Sabbath, yearly Sabbath, and even a thousand year Sabbath.

We are also exhorted in Torah Portion Kedoshim that the prohibition against idolatry includes not only worship, but anything that shows them credence or respect, even when there could be some personal advantage in doing so.

On the Day of Judgment people will be found defective because they did not pay any attention to the Torah. As it is forbidden to associate with people who lack the faith, as for those who are not in a state of holiness at the time of intercourse, they will produce offspring whose souls came from the source of defilement.

Yahweh spoke to Moses saying speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisrael and say to them: you shall be holy for I am Yahweh your Elohim I am holy. As believers we must not be like the horse, or the donkey, which have no understanding.

How many times did the Torah raise her voice in every direction to awaken them, but all lay sleeping, unaware of their sins? They do not look or pay attention to the time when they will rise up to face the Day of Judgment.

At time, the Heavenly King will exact from them the shame of the Torah that cried out against them, and yet they did not even turn their face to her. All are found totally defective since they do not even know of the decree of the heavenly King. Woe to them and woe to their soul.

Sometime it is only after the fact that we realize we were wrong about a certain situation because information was concealed from us. This Parasha Kedoshim helps us to access information when we need it so that we can see and understand clearly.

In this Shabbat of Kedoshim, we should all take the time to pray to the Holy Spirit; for the Spirit of the YAHWEH shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YAHWEH. Let the Spirit of Understanding write the Torah on our heart, and allow the Spirit of Wisdom to help us walk according to what we understand.

Lev 19:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying, - Our Creator Yahweh uses His Name to inform us that He is speaking in this verse, to illustrate a point, that HE is the CREATOR, therefore HE alone must determine the parameters in which those in His Kingdom must operate.

The opening words of this chapter are similar to those used when the Ten Commandments were given. I am Yahweh and there is only one God called Yahweh. This demonstrates the supreme importance of morality in Elohim’s scheme for the Hebrew people.

Just as the nation cannot exist without the acknowledgement that EL YAHWEH is our EL, so it must accept upon itself the laws off: holiness, parents, and idols. It is always EL YAHWEH Will to rest His Presence among the Hebrew People so that if they could rise to it’s calling to be a Holy Nations, Exodus 19:6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Yisrael.

In order to make this possible, Yisrael was required to avoid the spiritual contaminations that would result from the sexual and religious practices listed in the previous chapters.

This Parashas begins to explain that the reason for these prohibitions was to make it possible for a nation to become Holy by imitating its First Born Son El Yahushua as much as humanly possible.

Furthermore, the purpose of this holiness code is for believers in the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the earth, to become elevated in their lives spiritually while still in this world. The way to accomplish this is through scrupulous adherence to the commandments found in Torah.

These command demands more than a minimum observance, for as one makes his request know that he or she is willing to climb up the spiritual ladder holiness, one must obey and practice what the Torah teaches.

Therefore, the Torah teaches that the respect for a parent was ordains not only that they are honored through personal service, but also that it be done in a respectful manner. The definition of the Sabbath observance goes beyond the seventh day of the week and includes the seventh year sabbatical of field and loans, for them, too, testify that Elohim are the Creator and Masters of the Universe.

We are exhorted that the prohibition against idolatry includes not only acts of worship, but anything that shows them credence or respect, even when there could be some personal advantage in doing so.

Lev 19:2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘Be set-apart, for I יהוה your Elohim am set-apart. -  This message must be given to every member of the Children of Yisrael in every generation that they must set themselves apart, to be prepared to be the Bride.

 Because Yahweh is holy and we have His seed inside of us, we have to be holy ourselves. When we become aware of the Divine spark in every person, we will awaken the holiness in our hearts.

What does it mean to be holy? It means that we are aware that the world is one complete whole and that we are all connected to each other through the sparks of the Creator that exists within each of us. If we harm each other, we are in essence harming ourselves.

Mistreating another person is like sticking a finger into an electric socket. Because there are repercussions arising from our every word and deed, it is always in our best interest to share, to love each others.

Lev 19:3 ‘Each one of you should fear his mother and his father, and guard My Sabbaths. I am יהוה your Elohim. – As a bride to be, we must learn to fear and honor our parent, and safe guard the Sabbath, for the Sabbath is the goal for the bride to be. It is the sign that we are one of the Grooms, wise virgins.

Reverence or fear means that one should take from or learn from and act towards his parents, as he would towards a king with the power to punish those who treat him disrespectfully. Honor, as mandated in the Ten Commandments, refers in general to serving one’s parents, by listening to them, such as feeding and dressing them, or assisting them if they find it difficult to do.

We are to revere our parent, but not at the expense of the commandments. We are to honor them as if it was EL YAHWEH living among us.

The Torah speaks of the Sabbaths in the plural, a very unusual usage of the word. This alludes to a higher and lower meaning of the Sabbath. The higher Sabbath alludes to the holiness of the Sabbath, the day on which Elohim permits His Essence to be poured out more abundantly than any other day, apparent and accessible, so that the Hebrew can unite themselves with godliness.

The lower Sabbath in its practical aspect as a day of rest, when every Hebrew can forget about the cares of the world and devote themselves to higher pursuits.

Lev 19:4 ‘Do not turn to idols, and do not make for yourselves molded mighty ones. I am יהוה your Elohim. – Having exhorted all the Hebrew to show regard for the three partners EL YAHWEH, fathers and Mothers, who brought them into existence, the Torah now forbids anyone to add false deities to the partnership. The word idol and molted gods or created things. The word idol contains the syllable lx not, or nothing, because these gods have no power and no spiritual value. But if someone is foolish enough to turn to idol, he will begin to respect them as if they truly were gods.

These idols can be our jobs, mortgage, profession, even our health, sometime children; I have to work on Sabbath or on Passover, so I can’t come to church. 

Verse 5 – 8 explains Piggul or reason why a offering is rejected. An offering can be disqualified by improper intentions at the time of the service. This teaches that it’s not enough to carry out the commandments mechanically; one must perform them with the right intention, as well.

Each offering has its specified time limitations for being eaten or burned on the Altar. This passage deals with two disqualifications:

§       If at the time of the service the Kohen/Pastor has in mind that the offering will be eaten or burned after the proper time, the offering become piggul;  its service may not be continued. If the blood service is concluded, one who eats the flesh of the offering is punished by kares.

§       If the Pastor had in mind that the offering will be eaten or burned in the wrong place, it becomes disqualified, but the punishment for eating it is kares.

Only an offering that is perfect in every ways can become piggul; therefore People should conduct themselves with this in mind.

 Lev 19:5 ‘And when you bring a peace offering to יהוה, bring it for your acceptance. -  An offering must be slaughtered in such a way that they will find favor in EL YAHWEH’S Eyes, but if it is slaughtered with the improper intentions describe above, the offering is rejected. At all times even when there is not sin in our lives to prevent us making an offering, it is still a good idea to submit one’s ego to Yahweh. As it is good even to take a bath even if there is no visible sign of defilement. This is what I call insurance; you do not purchase insurance when you need it, but before it is needed, and hope that it is never needed.

Lev 19:6 ‘It is eaten the same day you slaughter it, and on the next day. And that which is left on the third day is burned with fire. – This verse cannot refer to the actual time of eating, because that requirement has been given in 7:16, Rather, it means that if the Kohen intends at the time of the slaughter that it will be eaten after the deadline, it become disqualified immediately.

When we eat anything it becomes a part of us, when we kill an animal we are in essence elevating the consciousness of that animal to our consciousness. We should never eat an animal that has been slaughter more than two days.

This has great implication; the consciousness of that animal might have departed from that animal by then.

Lev 19:7 ‘So if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable, it is not accepted, - In general terms, food left for the third day should not be eaten. What this means is that food that has been slaughter or cooked or process should be eaten as soon as we can, so that the consciousness of the food can be passed on to the human.

Lev 19:8 and he who eats it bears his crookedness, because he has profaned the set-apart offering of יהוה, and that being shall be cut off from his people. – Any persons who disregard the laws that specify when an offering may be eaten implies that he considers the sacrificial meat to be eaten, implies that he consider the sacrificial meat to be nothing more than a means of gratifying his appetite, and not the elevating of the consciousness of the food.

Verse 9 – 10 explains about giving to the poor. We have been commanded to imitate EL YAHWEH’S holiness in whatever is humanly possible, to honor parents, one’s partners and to respect his sacred offering.

This scripture continues the progression. EL YAHWEH is merciful and charitable, so it stands to reason that He should command His people to display the same sort of kindness by setting aside part of their wealth for the poor. This is why this passage, regarding our gifts to the poor, ends and signed with the words I am YAHWEH, your EL.

Then, the Torah continues with the laws of honesty business dealing among all categories of people, between the authority and the people, and the social relationship of love and considerations.

A Hebrew people must discharge his responsibilities to others before he regards his own. Even at the moment of his harvest, when a full season of labor comes to its climax, he must leave part of his crop for the poor before he takes it for himself and his family. 

Lev 19:9 ‘And when you reap the harvest of your land, do not completely reap the corners of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. – The edge of our wheat field, or our Citrus orchard, those that grow at the edge of the field must be left for the poor or the traveler. If during reaping anything that falls to the ground must be left for the poor.

Even the poor in spirit have a right to get a chance to elevate something. As the field elevates the soil into vegetation, everything in the field should be giving a chance to be elevated. The poor person, the one with the smallest ego will look for the smallest seed and elevate to the human consciousness.

Lev 19:10 ‘And do not glean your vineyard or gather every grape of your vineyard, leave them for the poor and the stranger. I am יהוה your Elohim. -  We are commanded not to pick the single grapes on the vine, only those in a cluster. The poor are entitled to take harvest them for themselves. These gifts for the poor must be left in the field.

The people were told here that they should leave a little of the harvest for the poor to gather up. Something not shared is something not properly used at all. This is why it is important to give gifts to the poor. In Mar 4:8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred. What this seem to imply, is what Yahushua imply in Mark 4, As there are the wealthy, the middle class and the poor, there are fruits that bear a hundred, sixty, and thirty fold.

Some people believe they have to have something, in order to be vessels for those who wish to share. The most powerful gift to share with a brother is the wisdom of Kabbalah. Darkness is the cause of all pain and suffering, it can exist only in the absence of light. Sharing wisdom is like lighting a candle in a darkened room. Knowledge itself is the substance of spiritual light, immortality, and increasing joy.

Verse 11 – 15 deals with honest dealings with others. Stealing, robbery, false oaths, and so on are never the norms in an enlighten society; if they were, to practice these things their society would breakdown.

There are other subtle manifestations of these sins. It is not at all uncommon for a society to be lax in its ethics. People may look for ways to deceive others in business, to deny obligations that cannot be proven, to invoke YAH’S name to convince others that lies are true, to underpaid labors, or to seek personal gain through unctuous flattery.

Such conduct is wrong, even thought the court may not be able to deal with it. By using the plural in condemning such practices, EL YAHWEH implies that He wants Yisrael as a whole to look to its general standards of honesty and upright conduct.

Lev 19:11 ‘Do not steal, do not lie, do not deceive one another. – The prohibition applies not only to the person actually committing the sin, but also to those who support it or make false accusation, such as a witness who remains silent through he has seen a thief or knows that someone is withholding property, and someone who falsely claims money that is not owed him, or unjustifiably demands an oath.

The prohibition against lying, says we shall not deny falsely, and you shall not lie. Do not deny that you posses property that someone has left in trust with you, and do not lie, by backing up your denial with a false oath.

In other words we should not take away a sheep from a next man fold. We should not lie, meaning do not speak against the truth of Torah, or deceive another person, by telling them not to keep the Law because Jesus nail the law to the cross.

The progression of sins listed in this verse; illustrate the defense mechanism of human nature, which takes control of a person once he allows himself to sin. If someone steals, he will seek to defend himself by denying that it ever happened, and he may well go so far as to swear falsely to cover up his guilt.

To be connected with the light of the Creator, we have to be honest with ourselves and with others. Even the violation of the smallest truth about Torah can disconnect us from the light.

Honesty in business with another believer is important because if we receive anything dishonestly, it will be taken away from us. Moreover, we could end up losing even what we already had. There is a spiritual order governing what we are supposed to receive. If we receive anything the wrong way, we will not only lose what we gain but what we are supposed to receive in the future.

In other words, if we get what we do not deserve, something else will be taken away from us.

Lev 19:12 ‘And do not swear falsely by My Name and so profane the Name of your Elohim. I am יהוה. – Someone who swears falsely in Yahweh’s Name demonstrates that he has no respect for EL YAHWEH’S Name. This verse say we may used the Sacred Name of יהוה YAHWEH, but we must not swear falsely when we call upon יהוה Name. So when we call יהוה God, or the Lord, or Adonai we are profaning HIS Name.

Lev 19:13 ‘Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of him who is hired is not to remain with you all night until morning. – By depriving a brother a fellow worker of his earnings, or by deceitfully or forcible withhold anything belonging to another believer, such as an article that was in your position. Mat 10:10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 2Ti 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto Yahweh, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

John 4:36 And he that reaped received wages, and gathered fruit unto life eternal: that both he that sow and he that reaped may rejoice together.

If a believer, a worker was hired for the day, his employer has until morning to pay him; if he was hired for the night, he must be paid by the next evening. The prohibition applies from the time the wages become payable; therefore, if a worker is hired by the week, his wages is payable at the end of the week, not on a daily basis.

Lev 19:14 ‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but fear your Elohim. I am יהוה. – In additional to the general meaning of this verse, symbolically that one should not give bad advice to an unsuspecting person, particularly if the advisor stands to benefit from the other’s error. It is also forbidden to cause someone to sin. Mat 11:4  Yahushua answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

The message of this commandment is that we are responsible for the spiritual welfare of those who are younger spiritually, and not put anything in their way that might cause them to sin.

Someone who gives bad advice can easily hide his perfidy by saying he was sincere and meant well. But the Torah warns him that he cannot deceive EL YAHWEH. If HE is indeed treacherous to his friends, Yah can be trusted to punish him.

One who preys on the deaf and blind should beware, for YAHWEH can punish him by making him deaf or blind also. To be deaf means that we cannot hear the Voice of Yahweh yet; to be blind is to be unable to see the Light that emanate from Torah. One can be deaf and blind and still be able to hear and see the blessing of Torah.

Lev 19:15 ‘Do no unrighteousness in right ruling. Do not be partial to the poor or favor the face of the great, but rightly rule your neighbor in righteousness. – A judge who rules falsely is guilty of a perversion of justice and what he has done is an abomination. But if litigants deceive the judge by lying, they are responsible for the perversion of justice that they will have cause.

Jas 2:2 - 6 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;   And you show respect to him that wear the nice clothing, and say unto him, you sit here in a good place; and say to the poor, you stand there, or sit here under my footstool:   Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and you become a judges of evil thoughts?   Listen, my beloved brethren, have not Yahweh chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which He hath promised to them that love Him?   But you have oppressed the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Do not say that since the wealthy man is obligated to help the poor, it is proper for a judge to rule in favor of the poor litigant so that he will supported in dignity. Torah stress that justice must be rendered honestly; charity may not interfere with it.

With righteousness shall you judge your fellow man! In addition to its simple meaning, the verse teaches that one must always give people the benefit of the doubt. That judges must be object while members of society, as a whole should seek to justify their fellows, is no contradiction at all. A judge may not consider extraneous factors that explain why someone acted as he did, but do not absolve him from payment.

But in the social sphere, we must be careful not to condemn. That someone acted improperly and is liable for it does not necessarily make him worthy of rejection by his peers.

Lev 19:16 ‘Do not go slandering among your people. Do not stand against the blood of your neighbor. I am יהוה. -  Slander, it is forbidden to tell someone what others have said or done behind his back, if there is even the slightest possibility that it may cause harm. Mat 5:43 You have heard that it hath been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 19:19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, you shall love your neighbor as thyself.

The Hebrew word lybr is related to lbvr peddler, because a gossip goes from person to person and house to house peddling his slander and gossip. Gossipmonger is a great sin and has been the cause of much bloodshed. This is why the Torah follows up this commandment by warning against standing aside while someone’s name or blood is shed. To gossip is to send negative energy to another person; it is similar to a curse.

Lev 19:17 ‘Do not hate your brother in your heart. Reprove your neighbor, for certain, and bear no sin because of him. – This verse speaks of your antagonist as your brother. Even though he wronged you, think of him as a brother and do not fall prey to hatred. Mat 7:11  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? John 15:12 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Love is about giving, love is opposite to fear.

It is important to talk directly to people and to express any feeling of anger in a non-reactive and non-judgmental manner, of course, rather than keeping the anger inside. Anger that is stored in our heart distorts our judgment. When we bring something out into the light, we can deal with it; when we keep it inside, it festers like a sore.

Lev 19:18 ‘Do not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am יהוה. -  Revenge consist of retaliating against someone who has displeased you, by attempting to do him harm, or by refusing to do him a favor that you would normally have done. Mat 5:42 Give to him that asked you, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 You have heard that it hath been said; you shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Even if someone does not retaliate, it is forbidden to bear a grudge, by saying, for example I will lend you the tool you need even though you refused me when I needed something. EL YAHWEH wants us to purge the insult or misdeed from our hearts.

The prerequisite to be able to love your neighbor as your self is the ability to give ourselves. When we reach a place where we give ourselves unconditionally, we can connect to the reason the whole world was created. It was created to give us the ability to be able to share with others and to give of ourselves as well. When we give ourselves we gain the ability to bring others into our lives.

Lev 19:19 ‘Guard My laws. Do not let your livestock mate with another kind. Do not sow your field with mixed seed. And do not put a garment woven of two sorts of thread upon you. -  This verse stress the point that we must guard EL YAHWEH laws, if this is so, how anyone can says the laws are done away with.

Eze 44:17  And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

There are certain combinations and mixtures for example in food, clothing, relationship, and so on that are forbidden. We do not have to be in the presence of anyone who is still overwhelmingly negative, as long as we have tried to deal with them lovingly and proactively.

This verse goes on to say do not let our livestock cross bread, for example a horse and a donkey. We also know that when these two animals cross bread it produces a mule, which is sterile.

One of the most vicious dogs there is a pit bold; it is a cross between two other breeds of dogs. We are also admonish not to sow mix seed in a field, example barley and wheat should not be planted in the same field. We must not wear a garment made from two different fabrics such as linen and wool.

Every animal has a certain consciousness over it. When we mix or bread this consciousness we create a consciousness that the Creator did not approve off.

The prohibitions not to crossbreed or to wear mixtures of wool and linen are the quintessential, decrees, commands of the King for which every believer should abide by. This speaks of our righteousness, we cannot have wool which cause the flesh to produce sweat and linen which cause the flesh to remain cool at all times.

EL YAHWEH created the world with certain distinct species, and in His Wisdom decreed that these species remain intact and undefiled among men. For man to take it upon himself to alter the order of Creation suggest a lack of faith in Yah’s plan.

Moreover, a Heavenly force directs each species on earth, so that the earthly species represent profound spiritual forces. To tamper with them is to cause harm that the mind of man cannot understand.

Is there any wonder why the two new breed of dogs, the Pit bold and the Doberman both a product of cross breeding, are well known as man killers.

Verse 20 – 22 illustrate shifchah charufah. The designated maidservant. This unusual decree is unlike any other commandment in several ways.

Lev 19:20 ‘And when a man take a wife, a woman who is a female servant, designated to another man, and who has not had the ransomed nor redeemed price paid for her, there should be an inquiry. But they are not to be put to death, because she was not free. – What this verse is saying, is if a man have a servant girl, and she was promise to another man, if a man had sex with her, they did not sin, even though she was promise to another man.

The reason for this is that she was still under the authority of her first master. The man who she was promise to, did not pay the bride price. However, if the man who she was promise to have redeemed her or paid the bride price for her, then both of them would be given the death penalty. Even though a promise was given to the other man, that she could be redeem by him, the man is partially guilty.

This is why when a man is engaged to a woman she cannot change her mind and keep the man’s ring. The ring is a sign that a covenant was made.