Light of Messiah Ministries Canada - Torah Portion

Light of Messiah Ministries Canada

Parsha M'tzora - One being diseased (a leper)

4/26/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

M’tzora deals with ritual impurity among other things. It addresses cleansing from skin disease (Heb. tzara'at), houses with an eruptive plague, male genital discharges, and menstruation

And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the L-RD.

Leviticus 14:18

The message

Parsha Tazria - Bearing Seed

4/19/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

Tazria is Hebrew for bearing seed (or she conceives). It is the 13th word, and the first distinctive word, in the parsha. It is the 27th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fourth in the Book of Leviticus. The parsha discusses ritual impurity among other things.

This week’s Parsha Tazria, is about the ailment's diagnosis and treatment, while next week's Parsha M'tzora, is concerned with the "clean-up" after the diagnosis. In the ancient time the sages believe that all sickness seemed incurable by human beings, and so its root cause also could not be human. Thus, however a disease "presented," its origin must have been from G-D. In this Parsha, the word tzaraat in Hebrew is used to describe various kinds of skin diseases. The Rabbis of the Midrash, recalling that Miriam also got afflicted with tzaraat after she speaks ill of Moses' Kushite wife in Numbers 12, imagined that tzaraat was a punishment for motzi shem ra - “speaking badly of someone" (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 16:1-6). The Midrash understands the law of leprosy as an allusion to seven traits that G-D hates as mentioned in Proverbs 6:16.

There are six things Adonai hates,
seven which he detests:
a haughty look, a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that plots wicked schemes,
feet swift in running to do evil,
a false witness who lies with every breath,
and him who sows strife among brothers.

Proverbs 6:16-19

The message

Parsha Sh'mini: The Eight Day

4/9/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

Parasha Shemini tells of the consecration of the Tabernacle, the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, and the dietary laws of kashrut - the clean and unclean food.

In the first reading of the parsha, covering Leviticus 9:1–16, it says that on the eighth day of the ceremony to ordain the priests and consecrate the Tabernacle, Moses commanded Aaron to assemble calf, rams, a kid of a goat, a lamb, a bull, and a meal offering as sacrifices (known in hebrew as korbanot) to the L-RD.

Is it important to have these animal sacrifices?
The blood of the animals and the animal sacrifices as commanded by G-D may not be able to take away sins but rather it sanctified those who are obedient so that by His ultimate sacrifice, He can make the “sanctified” PERFECT!

It is in connection with this will that we have been separated for God and made holy, once and for all, through the offering of Yeshua the Messiah’s body.

Hebrews 10:10

The message

Parsha Tav: Command

3/31/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

The Parsha teaches us how the priests performed the sacrifices and describes the ordination of Aaron and his sons. In the first reading (Lev 6:8-18 in KJV), the L-RD told Moses to command Aaron and the priests about the rituals of the sacrifices ( קָרְבָּנוֹת†, karbanot)

The burnt offering ( עֹלָה†, olah). The Burnt offering was performed to atone for the sins of the people against the L-RD and was a dedication offering of one’s life before the L-RD continually.

The Meal (grain) offering ( מִנְחָה†, minchah). The purpose of the meal offering was an offering of gifts and speaks of a life that is dedicated to generosity and giving.

The sin offering ( חַטָּאת†, chatat). The sin offering expiated (meaning, paid the debts in full) the worshippers unintentional weaknesses and failures before the L-RD.

The Trespass (guilt) offering ( אָשָׁם†, asham). The trespass offering is similar to the sin offering but the main difference is that the trespass offering is an offering of money for sins of ignorance connected with fraud.

The peace offering ( ,שְׁלָמִים shelamim). The peace offering was a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving was most of the time a voluntary act.

This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai.

Leviticus 7:37-38

The message

Parsha P'kudei

3/8/2019

By Jaime Noriega | 2019

Introduction

The Parsha starts with the accounting of the contributions and the materials for the Tabernacle, which would be used to complete Adonai's sanctuary.

In this Torah reading, G-d chose to place His glory in the finite space of the Mishkan. His presence was unmistakable and of great substance, It was heavy and inspired reverence. The presence of the L-RD was so weighty, in fact, that Moses himself was unable to enter.

But will G-d dwell indeed on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!

1 Kings 8:27

The message

Parsha T'tzaveh | You command

3/8/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

Tongues of fire is known phrase during the first century. According to the Qumranic documents 1Q29, 4Q376 and 4Q408 the “tongue of fire” is connected with Urim and Thummim in discovering the will of G-D and the high priest would rely upon it (Num 27:21; 1 Sam 28:6).

Tongues of fire (in Qumranic writings) and even the traditions as recorded by Josephus (Ant 3.214-215) indicated that a miracle happens and the appropriate stone (either Urim orThummim) would shine forth as a brilliant light - known to them as “tongue of fire." 4Q376 Frag 1 Col 1, Frag 2–4 (w/ 4Q408 Frag 2) and 4Q376 Frags 5-7: shows that the Urim was used to test whether a prophet was true or false. The show on the “tongues of fire” in each head of the apostles and the disciples with them was an affirmation a sign to everyone that these were proven to be “true prophets.”

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:1-4

The message

Parsha Mishpatim: These are the rules

2/15/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

The Mishpatim literally means a verdict, judicial sentence or a formal decree. The verdicts given from the past judicial decision of the judge becomes a “precedent” - is a principle or rule established in a previous legal case. Mishpatim are believed to be G-D’s judgment in the past prior to the re-giving of the Torah in Mt Sinai. These judgments became set of rules and instructions (Heb. torah) to be followed by Israel and the mixed multitude that went with them.

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love [Gk Agapao - to love in moral sense] your enemies, bless [Gk. eulogeo - to speak well] them that curse you, do good [Heb. mitzvot] to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:43-48

The message

Parsha Bo: Go to Pharaoh

1/25/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

Passover Commandments
1. The lamb shall be unblemished male, a year old (Exo 12:5)
2. It shall be kept up to 14th of Nisan and kill it in-between lights (Exo 12:6)
3. Roast it with fire, eat with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exo 12:8)
4. Dont eat raw, or boil and burn left overs in the morning (Exo 12:9-10)
5. You shall eat it in haste and be dressed up ready to leave (Exo 12:12)
6. You shall over this as an ordinance forever (Exo 12:24)
7. Only the circumcised can eat it (Exo 12:43-49)

Feast of Unleavened Bread Commandments
1. To celebrate it as a permanent ordinance (Exo 12:14)
2. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread (Exo 12:15)
3. Remove the leaven on the first day (Exo 12:15)
4. You shall have a holy convocation on first and seventh day (Exo 12:16)
5. Eat unleavened bread from 14-21st day of the first month (Nisan) (Exo 12:18)
6. No leaven should be found in dwelling places (Exo 12:19)
7. You shall not eat anything leavened in all your dwellings (Exo 12:20)

And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the L-RD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage: And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the L-RD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the L-RD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.

Exodus 13:14-15

The message

Parsha Va-eira: And I [G-d] Appeared

1/17/2019

By Richard Sison | 2019

Introduction

The first reading of the parsha covers Exo 6:2 to 13. The L-RD spoke to Moses and identified Himself as the G-d of the Patriarchs [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob] and acknowledged hearing the moaning of the Israelites (v. 2-4) G-d instructed Moses to tell the Israelites that G-d would free them, make them G-d's people, and bring them to the Promised Land (v. 6-8)

The L-RD established the following:
1. The L-RD confirmed that He is who He is, He is the L-RD
2. He confirmed that He appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
3. He is known to the Patriarchs as G-D Almighty
4. He established His covenants with them
5. He is giving Canaan as a land of their pilgrimage.
6. He heard the groaning of the children of Israel [see Gen 18:21 - things are reported to G-D]
7. He remembered (heb. zakar - “to mark”) His covenant [with the Patriarchs]

Moshe said to G-d, “Look, when I appear before the people of Isra’el and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you’; and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”

Exodus 3:13

The message

Parsha Lech Lecha - Go Forth

11/1/2018

By Jaime Noriega | 2018

Introduction

The portion of the Scripture for this week opens with the divine calling of Abraham to leave his country, his people and his family in order to embark upon a journey to a new land.

Abraham, through his covenant with G-d, was to be blessed and be a blessing to all humanity. Interestingly enough, the Hebrew word for blessing (brakha) may be changed to spring of water (breikah) with just one minor vowel change.

God is the source of all blessing, and Yeshua is the fountain of springs of living water (John 4:14)

I will bless those who bless you, but I will curse anyone who curses you; and by you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

Genesis 12:3

The message