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Weekly Parashah |
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| Torah: Lev. 14:1-15:33 | Haftara: 2 kings 7:3-20 | Brith Chadashah: Mt 8:1-17 Mk 1:35-45 |
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| Metzora (Leper) |
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Scripture: |
Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33
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Torah |
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14 Then Adonai spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “This is the Torah of the one with tza’arat in the day of his cleansing. He should be brought to the kohen, [a] 3 and the kohen is to go to the outside of the camp. The kohen is to examine him, and behold, if the mark of tza’arat is healed in one with tza’arat, 4 then the kohen is to command that two clean living birds, cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop be brought for the one being cleansed. 5 The kohen should command them to kill one of the birds in a clay pot over living water. 6 As for the living bird, he is to take it, the cedar wood, the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them with the living bird into the blood of the bird that was killed over the living water. 7 He is to sprinkle on the one being cleansed from the tza’arat seven times and pronounce him clean, then release the living bird over the open field. 8 “The one to be cleansed must wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water. Then he should be clean. After that he may come into the camp, but is to dwell outside his tent for seven days. 9 Then on the seventh day, he is to shave all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows—he must shave off all his hair. He is to wash his clothes, and bathe his body in water. Then he will be clean. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Lev.+14%3A1-15%3A33&version=TLV |
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Scripture: |
2 Kings 7:3-20
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Haftarah |
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3 Now there were four men with tza’arat at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why should we sit here till we die? 4 If we say: ‘Let’s go into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, so we will die there; but if we sit still here, we’ll die also. So come, let’s go into the camp of the Arameans. If they spare us, we’ll live; and if they kill us, we’ll just die.” 5 So they got up at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans. But when they arrived at the edge of the Aramean camp, behold, no one was there! 6 For Adonai had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a noise of chariots and a noise of horses—indeed a noise of a huge army. So they said one to another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians to assault us.” 7 So they got up and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents, their horses and their donkeys—the entire camp just as it was—and fled for their lives. 8 When these men with tza’arat came to the edge of the camp, they entered into one tent, ate and drank, and took from there silver, gold, and clothes, then went and hid them. Then they returned and went into another tent, and took from there too, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to each other, “It’s not right, what we’re doing. This day is a day of good news, and we’re keeping silent! If we wait till the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go now and report to the king’s household.” 10 So they came and called out to the city gatekeepers, and told them, “We went to the camp of the Arameans, and look, there was not a single soul there, no human voice—just the horses and the donkeys tied up, and the tents just as they were.” 11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was reported to the royal palace inside. 12 When the king got up in the night, he said to his courtiers, “Let me tell you now what the Arameans have contrived against us. They know that we are hungry, so they went out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we’ll capture them alive and get into the city.’” https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+kings+7%3A3-20&version=TLV |
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Scripture: |
Matthew 8:1-17
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Brit Chadashah |
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Healing Those who Trust8 When He came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. 2 And a man with tzara’at came to Him and bowed down before Him, saying, “Master, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” Immediately his tzara’at was cleansed. 4 And Yeshua said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go show yourself to the kohen and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”[a] 5 Now when Yeshua came into Capernaum, a centurion came begging for help. 6 “Master,” he said, “my servant is lying at home paralyzed, horribly tormented.” 7 Yeshua said to him, “I’ll come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion said, “Master, I’m not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Now when Yeshua heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Amen, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith! https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mt+8%3A1-17&version=TLV
Mark 1 : 35 – 4535 Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left, and went away to a place in the wilderness; and there He was praying. 36 Then Simon and those with him hunted for Yeshua. 37 And when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everybody’s looking for You.” 38 He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also—this is what I came for.” 39 And He went throughout all the Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 A man with tzara’at comes to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him. He said, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” 42 Immediately, the tzara’at left him, and he was cleansed. 43 Yeshua sent him away at once, sternly warning him. 44 He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the kohen.[a] Then, for your cleansing, offer what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim and spread the word, so much that Yeshua could no longer enter a town openly but had to stay out in wilderness areas. Still, they kept on coming to Him from everywhere. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mk+1%3A35-45&version=TLV |
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Parashah in 60 seconds |
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22 The Candles
The Candles
As one steps into many churches, they may notice, akin to our own setting, two candlesticks burning bright upon the altar or a table. It's an intriguing observation that numerous priests and pastors may not fully grasp the profound meaning behind this. Customarily, these two candles, specifically designed for Shabbat, are lit and left to burn out on their own. The essence of these candles is deeply symbolic, representing the twin Torah commandments related to Shabbat: “keep” and “remember.”.
The act of keeping Shabbat is perceived as a commitment to observe the holy day, while remembering Shabbat is linked to the preparation for it. For the Jewish community, these candles serve as a poignant reminder of their liberation from Egyptian bondage to the freedom of the Promised Land. In a Christian context, this symbolizes our journey from the captivity of darkness, a life devoid of Christ leading to spiritual death, to a life bathed in light, guiding us towards eternal life with Christ.
Our observance of the Sabbath is thus intertwined with the recognition of the grace of our salvation, a gift from Christ. This gift was imparted to us on the day we committed our lives to Jesus Christ. Lighting these candles is a ritual of remembrance, a moment to reflect on our salvation and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. In the gentle glow of these candles, we see not only the light brought into the world by Jesus Christ but also the presence of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit, a fire within, burns in the heart of every Christian who has accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It symbolizes the journey of every believer who has walked through the door of faith and embraced the new covenant with Christ.
Proverbs 20:27 (KJV)
“27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
This verse beautifully illustrates the candle of the Lord as a beacon that illuminates darkness, revealing our innermost being. The Holy Spirit is there to merge with our spirit, casting light upon the darkest corners of our soul, searching all its innermost parts.
Luke 24:30-34 (KJV)
“30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”
This passage beautifully captures the disciples' experience of their hearts burning within them as they listened to Jesus, a metaphor for the enlightening presence of the Holy Spirit. The spoken word of God, the Rhema word, brings forth this light, as does the written word of God, the Holy Bible, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It is through these mediums that the light of Christ is disseminated, illuminating our paths and guiding us in our spiritual journey.
Thus, the simple act of lighting candles transcends mere tradition; it becomes a profound act of remembrance, reflection, and acknowledgment of the spiritual journey we undertake as followers of Christ. It symbolizes the light of Christ that dispels darkness, the warmth of His presence in our lives, and the continuous guidance of the Holy Spirit, leading us toward a deeper understanding and a closer relationship with our Savior.
From the sermon by Christiaan J. de Ruiter,
on the covenants, passing under the blood. February 23, 2013
