Tazria (She Conceives) Vayikra/Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Tazria(She Conceives)Vayikra/Leviticus 12:1-13:59
Haftorah Reading: II Kings 4:42-5:19
This Torah portion may seem at first glance to have little to do with us or our world. However, as we go over it tonight I pray each of us will see the biblical truths within these verses, truths that will give us a far better understanding of how it speaks exactly to us today.
Metzora(Leper) Leviticus/Vayikra 14:1-15:33
Torah Portion: Metzora(Leper) Leviticus/Vayikra 14:1-15:33
Haftorah Reading II Kings 7:3-20
Tonight, we continue our study of leprosy by looking at the process by which a person, house or clothing could be cleaned from leprosy. To begin, I would like us to look at several scriptures in the Messianic writings that speak of this problem in the time of Yeshua.
In Luke 17:11-19 we read of Yeshua meeting 10 lepers on His way to Jerusalem. They asked Him to heal them from this disease. He told them to go and show themselves to the priest in Jerusalem. As they went, they were cleansed. Yeshua did exactly what our Torah portion explained had to be done to be considered clean again. The lepers were told to go before the priest in Jerusalem to confirm their healing.
Tazria (She Conceives) and Metzora( Leper) Leviticus (Vayikra) 12-15
Torah Portion Tazria (She Conceives) and Metzora( Leper) Leviticus (Vayikra) 12-15
Haftorah Reading II Kings 4:42-5:19 and II Kings 7:3-20
This week we read two portions of scripture that have mainly to do with the disease of leprosy. In our world today medical science has eradicated this disease so the question is why bother with a subject that is no longer relevant in our world? The Torah is less concerned about the actual disease than the spiritual lessons behind it.
Tazria (Conceived) and Metzora (Leper) (Leviticus) Vayikra 12-15
Torah Portion: Tazria (Conceived) and Metzora (Leper) (Leviticus) Vayikra 12-15
Haftorah Reading: II Kings 4:42-5:19 and II Kings 7:3-20
Tonight we read two Torah Portions concerning clean and unclean items and people. Remember, this condition of being unclean does not necessarily mean sin has occurred. Usually it is a result of just living in the world or natural bodily functions such as we see here tonight.
However, as with leprosy it can be brought on by the sin of “lashon harah” or an evil tongue. This is related to gossip or talking badly about someone or in some cases about something. The most obvious example is the case of Miriam, the sister of Moshe. We read about this in Numbers/B’Midbar 12:1-10. When we read these verses we read where Aaron and Miriam were talking about Moshe marrying a Cusite woman. G-d judged Miriam by causing her to have leprosy. Scripture says she became white as snow and was restored only when Moshe prayed for her. We also see where this condition was looked on as if she was dead.
Metzora (Leper)(Leviticus) Vayikra 14-15
Torah Portion: Metzora (Leper) (Leviticus) Vayikra 14-15
Haftorah Reading: II Kings 7:3-20
This week our Torah portion continues with the discussion of clean and unclean issues dealing with people. In last weeks section in verses 13:1-4 we read where the word used for man was “adam” rather than the more common word, “ish.” This shows the connection between this disease and the fall of mankind in the garden. Then death, disease and sin entered the world and we still suffer from the effects of the actions of Adam and Eve. Here again we read where one of the effects of the illness of leprosy is rooted in our spiritual nature, in that this disease, as well as other things, can separate us spiritually from G-d. Yeshua and His blood can cleanse us from this separation. However, it is very important for us to do what we can to not come under the influence of the issues we read about this week. Remember, this is at least 3 chapters devoted mainly to one ailment and its effect on our connection with G-d.
Metzora Lev 14:1-15:33
Torah Portion: Metzora Leviticus 14:1-15:33
HafTorah: II Kings 7:3-20
First let’s finish up last week. We were going to cover those things that Yeshua and His family did which would be examples of Torah. So let us take a look at what you have found. First, He was circumcised on the 8th day. (Luke 2:21) At 13 He appeared in Jerusalem at the time of his coming of age. He kept the Passover and Sabbath. (Mark 1:21, Mark 6:2, Matt. 5:18)
Tazria Leviticus 12-13
Torah Portion: Tazria Leviticus 12:1-13:59
HafTorah: II Kings 4:42-5:19
Today we read mainly about two things that render a person ta’ama or unclean. One being much more serious than the other. Remember ta’ama or unclean meant the person who was in this state could not enter the Temple in Jerusalem to worship. It did not necessarily mean they had sinned. But this condition rendered them unable to enter G-d’s presence physically. So, let us look at both and see what spiritual lessons we can glean from scripture.
Metzora Lev. 14-15
Torah Portion: Metzora Vayikra Lev. 14-15
HafTorah: II Kings 7:3-20
Tonight I want us to look at the person with leprosy and the process involved with the person becoming clean again. Look at Lev. 14:1-3 which introduces us to this process. It is important to keep in mind that the process we are looking at did not cure the leprosy but was the process to declare the person clean so they could reenter the religious life of Israel.
Yeshua Is Our Hope – Metzora Leviticus 14
Torah Portion: Metzora Leviticus 14:1-15:33
HafTorah: II Kings 7:3-20
This is the second Torah Portion devoted to leprosy. Four chapters given to a disease and all the details of how to tell if a person has it and if so what to do about it and how to be declared clean. Seems odd doesn’t it – until we look at the New Testament and how leprosy was used as a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven. I sent you some verses that I think give us a good view of this. Luke 17:12-14, Matthew 10:7-8, Matthew 11:4-5 and Matthew 26:6. What can we see from all these? Cleansing of leprosy was seen as a sign that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. But why was this? Think about the disease. What did it do? It spread through the body slowly killing it and also easily spread to others. Sin also is at work in our body to bring death physically and spiritually. Leprosy separated the person from being part of the Temple worship, separated them from family and friends. Anyone who had it had to live outside the camp. Which brings me to Matthew 26:6 about Simon the leper. How can we tell he had been healed and cleansed? He lived in town and people came and went in his house. Maybe he was one who had been healed by Yeshua. Yeshua also raised Lazarus from the dead in this same town, which gives us a further insight into leprosy. It was viewed as a death sentence. The person with it had to tear his clothes, leave his head uncovered and cry, “unclean, unclean.” Sin makes us spiritually unclean and separates us from G-d. To enter into His presence we must be made clean by Messiah.
Tazria/Metzora (Conceived/Leper)
Weekly Torah Section: Tazria (Conceived) and Metzora (Leper) Leviticus 12:1-15:33,
Haftorah: II Kings 7:3-20
What binds these Torah sections and II Kings 7:3-20 together? Leprosy and Lepers are the common themes. What is leprosy? Today it is known as Hanson’s Disease. But what the scripture talks about is probably something else. In scripture when people had leprosy it was usually different types of skin problems, boils, rashes or psoriasis.
In II Kings we read of Elisha and how he followed Elijah as the prophet to the northern kingdom. The events here happened during the reign of King Joram, son of Ahab, the king of Syria. Ben Hadad had laid siege to the city and people had been reduced to eating their own children as prophesied in Deut. 28:53. In chapter 6 verse 25, it tells how bad it had become. We pick up the story in II Kings 7:3 where we see four lepers talking at the entrance to the city. Why were they outside the city? The answer can be found in Leviticus 13:46. Because of their leprosy they were not allowed inside the city.