Torah Pearls #24 – Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26)

There are so many important things in this episode. This comment is not about those. I do think God smells. I think creation was for the purpose of His glory. Why would He create so many nice flowers with beautiful scent before creating man? I think it was for His enjoyment. if it was just so animals or insects can find the flowers they could have smelled the same or boring. Some flowers smell amazingly beautiful. Also, God is a perfumer and made His own blend of incense which we can assume smells nice and we are forbidden to use. I guess it could be for the priest but I think it is because we stink and God wants nice smells near him. Just my weird thoughts on this issue.

Totally enjoyed this podcast! The three of you bring so much to the table.

believe we r all unclean especially concerning dead relatives or insects for instance.

Yes I’m always shocked to find something unclean that I have been eating, but am glad to finally find it.

Before I became a messianic I used to argue against Christians that just because they relied on the sacrifice of Yesuah, that God commands us to repent and obey him which legitimized his sacrifice for us.

I like the idea of Yeshuah becoming sin for us in a TANAK sense of our sins being transferred on him even though he was innocent and did no sin

I honestly think that in these days being exiled in pagan Nations we cannot get around some of the things we eat. Yehovah told Ezekiel to eat unclean bread, because of the exile that was coming where the Israelites would be subjected to unclean things, as a reminder of their disobedience in the Land where the Torah would be upheld. The fact that we are waking up to practices that are forbidden but Torah is a good thing as we try to keep the Torah as well as we can. I am thankful that we are in a time of extended grace, but prepared to follow his commandments

Hi! Thinking of unintentional sin, one of the “natural flavorings” used in many foods is made from castoreum – anal glands of BEAVER. It is commonly used as a vanilla, strawberry or raspberry, etc flavor.

(I wonder who was the 21st to say: let me see that this tastes like!! I imagine ie dogs liking butts of other dogs, and figure G-d made it a sweet taste for them… BUT…)

So I had been enjoying Nestle coffee mate creamer – until one day the thought kept nagging me. So I called Nestle, and sure enough, that’s what they use!

I explained the perverted idea of wringing beaver anal glands into your coffee, which she agreed to… after a long pause of disgust. I mentioned millions of Jews, Muslims, vegans and vegetarians not using their product for that reason.

A couple months later they came out with a “plant based” version, but a vegan told me that the term is used very “loosely.” I need to make another call!

Oh my! Repent is not the only word, but total disgust for what I had unintentionally been drinking for years!

Thanks again for all your knowledge that you share… I enjoy listening every week. Shalom!

You shall know the truth and the truth WILL set you free. It is amazing what you will learn by reading the Book for it it says rather than what you’ve been taught it says. Dumping the traditions which may or not be based on fact will indeed set you free

Us good Christians were told a truth of these Leviticus sacrifices, when u symbolically transfer sins to an animal by placing hands on their heads, the animal pushes back, against u, but Yeshuah went willingly, as a grown man. Not a child. A child was born, yes, but a grown man, Son, was given.

When is Yahushua Hamashiach Coming?

Use a 1917 JPS the latest JPS is dodgy. Also have a Stone Edition Chumash.

Is Nehemia Gordon available in a pocket edition ;and where can I get one!???!

Wow this was HUGE! Thank you Nehemia, Keith and Jono ! You are much appreciated and adored by our whole family and your insights are invaluable! YHVH bless you all!

AMEN!!!!! Well said, thank you.

Very true, the concept of sin becomes very vague without this background.

I love this book! I think the thing that jumps out at me, unless I read these words, I don’t know what “sin” is.

For the sin offering, my bible says the flour is placed “on top of the offerings made to YHVH by fire.” So why couldn’t it mean that if you were too poor to bring an animal, you could still participate by putting flour on top of someone else’s blood offering?

Question, there was a lot of back and forth at the beginning. What is the Tanakh version that you suggest for someone who is fluent in English and only knows a limited amount of Hebrew?

Thanks in advance!

Christendom has committed the greatest presumptuous sin of all when it assumes that the gracious and freely given invitation by YHVH to the gentiles (Isaiah 56:6-7) is incomplete and has the audacity to say to the Creator of the universe “if you want us to join ourselves to you then come down to earth so we can kill you and then we will serve you“.

This is a slap to the face of YHVH

Thank you for covering all the sacrifices n offerings in such detail. Baruch hashem YEHOVAH.

Another interesting point my husband and I found about presumptuous sins that parallels and dare I say clarifies Numbers 15:30-31 is found in Deut. 17:12-13. This describes someone who sins willfully and will not heed the warning of the priest about it, choosing to not see his sin and repent, then that person will be killed as an example.

Also explained in the New Testament, how can the atoning blood of the Messiah cover someone who chooses not to repent. “IF we confess our sins” (make no excuses) “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.

And again in Hebrews 10:26 “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.…”

And as symbolized in the sacrifices, those sacrifices would be vain if 1) someone chooses to go through the motion but does not have repentance in their heart 2) flat out refuses to see, admit, repent and turn from their sins. No wonder that arrogant, rebellious person was supposed to be killed so as to not corrupt the rest of Israel. And no wonder God detested these kinds of sacrifices and would not accept them.

Dont think it is about doing a sin willfully, knowing it is wrong, I think it is about not having true repentance about it or not repenting at all.

As pointed out by Nehemiah, Hebrews 9:22 says almost all of sin is cleansed by blood. What about the other sins that are not cleansed by blood. Leviticus 14:21 points out it is the combination of a lamb and a grain offering for atonement of sin. “And if he be poor, and cannot get so much; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make an atonement for him, and one tenth meal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering, and a log of oil;”

I believe that Yeshua haMashiach was a perfect representative of what the sacrifices symbolized. Why else did He insist, “”I am the bread of life” (John 6:35) and again, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” And why else did John the Baptist say when he saw Yeshua, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

What does this have to do with the sacrifices in Leviticus? Matthew 26: 26 “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

He is prophesying of what He was about to do, to become a living sacrifice of bread and wine (flesh and blood). The first sacrifice described in Leviticus 1, the sacrifice of the animal that was totally consumed described how Yeshua was a complete sacrifice for the sins of the people.

No wonder He stated such shocking statements as this: 51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.” (John 6:51-58).

By believing in Him we are partakers of the sacrifice of the grain and the blood made available for the rich and the poor, man and woman, and all alike. He had the sins that were to be atoned by blood and by grain covered in Him offering himself up for us upon the cross. “He who has ears to him, let him hear.” (Matthew 11:15).

I would appreciate clarification on the Bibles you do and do not recommend. For example, you mention (I think) the Scherman Hebrew Bible as a good one, but then you go on to talk about problems with the Stone Edition. As far as I can tell, all of Scherman’s Bibles are a “Stone Edition.” Can you please clarify this? For what it is worth, I agree with your assessment completely – there is not really good Bible for those interested in the original languages. The best ones are electronic versions where you can easily view multiple volumes at once. Sadly, these are usually pretty expensive. Thoughts on this?

On a semi-related matter, I am curious why it is acceptable (even required of course) to print G*d’s Name in Hebrew, but then once translated into say, English, it must be replaced with the word “Lord.” “Lord” is its own word “Adonai” in Hebrew, so such replacement usage is clearly wrong, even if a near equivalent, it’s still not His Name! For me, this is changing the original Scripture and rendering G*d’s Name vain (to nothing) which is clearly forbidden and so even worse than trying to “build a fence” and protect His Name. The problem with this, of course, is the situation we have now – no one can agree on exactly how His Name is pronounced – unthinkable! Just my two shekels and I’d appreciate your comments.

NOW ! A question with fear and trembling . Isn’t it clear then that the sacrifice is done away with as it is (according to God) unnecessary ?

I think that would be to your own discretion homie, when I read it, I immediately felt bad in the manner that I was enjoying the fat that Yehovah prefers for Himself….even if it’s not an offering, I’m convicted to not eat it any longer…But your absolutely right brother!..good point, your right, it isn’t an offering or sacrifice..so…It’s all on your conviction bro! God bless
Hope this helped…I know I ain’t nehemia..

Regarding the fat: are the 5 specified fats forbidden to be eaten even if the animal is not an offering at all but rather being slaughtered completely for food?

What is the difference/similarity between the offerings offered for atonement that you discussed today and the ones offered by the Priest on the day of atonement?

there is a cd called power bible and you can read it in interlinear. it must be ordered and installed on your computer. it’s great for beginners

Thank you both for being so diligent in your presentations. When you’re on the frontlines of any ministry, it seems to be like putting a bull’s-eye on your forehead. The rewards are vast, but putting yourselves into the limelight often opens you up to attacks from those you are trying to serve. YHVH bless and keep you. Most of those you teach are so much more than grateful for all your work and tolerance, than you will ever know. Maybe that’s just how it’s supposed to be. Again, I gratefully thank both of you for your hard work and profound grace. Abiding R.

Hi Nehemia, I really appreciate all u guys do to make clearer the word of God, it has really helped. But please, I think, Keith should let you explain more, instead of jumping in, when you are trying to give us some torah pearls. its like the spirit of satan is trying to use him to block/interfer with the truth, coming out from u.
Keith might be ignorant of this, but with prayer and with Gods help, you all will remain in Gods righteousness.