Chadwick - Thompson Accountants and Tax Advisors

Welcome to this week’s Torah / Bible study section.   “Yahweh spoke to Moses after the death [acharei mot] of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached YHWH”  (Leviticus 16:1). 

“Acharei Mot” begins with God's instructions for Aharon (Aaron), the Cohen HaGadol  (The High Priest), regarding entering the innermost chamber of the Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, with the ketoret  (incense offering) and the preparations for the crucial once-a-year sacrifice on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement).  It seems that YHWH is trying to prevent any more “accidental deaths” due to well-meaning Israelites coming too close to the holiness of God as Aaron’s two sons.  During this time, the Holy of Holies was placed behind a thick, heavy curtain or veil in front of the atonement cover on the Ark.  There YHWH appeared in a cloud:    “YHWH said to Moses: ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die.’”  (Leviticus 16:2). 

Not just anyone could enter this most innermost sanctuary, but only the High Priest (Cohen HaGadol) and even then only one day out of the entire year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).   This week’s study emphasizes that it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.  “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul” (Leviticus 17:11).

The first section of the Torah portion (Acharei Mot) describes the Yom Kippur offering of two goats:  one for the offering and the other as the scapegoat (called the Azazel [עֲזָאזֵל] in Hebrew).   “But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the wilderness as a scapegoat.”  (Leviticus 16:10).  Lots would be cast over two goat, one of which would be offered to God as a sin offering.  The High Priest would lay his hands upon the other goat, symbolically laying all the sins of Israel upon the Azazel.  The goat would then be banished into the wilderness, carrying away the sins of Israel along with it (Lev 16:21-22). 

The scapegoat's carrying away of sin is a beautiful picture of what is described in Isaiah 53: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  (Isaiah 53:6).  Just as this scapegoat took the sins of the Jewish People and carried them away into the wilderness, so did Yahshua carry away our sins.  When Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) saw Yahshua coming to the Jordan River, he said, “Hinei seh ha’Elohim, hanoseh chatat ha’olam (Here is the Lamb of God who carries away the sins of the world”  (John 1:29).  Once we begin to see these Scriptures in their Hebraic context, not only do they make more sense but they also bring a richness to our faith that we cannot have without this understanding of its Jewish roots.  The Hebrew term l'azazel in this Parasha means either for absolute removal or to Azazel (a name).  Azazel has been translated scapegoat in the King James Bible, but the Septuagint translates it the sent away or the sent away one.  Later rabbis believed l'azazel referred to azaz (rugged) and el (strong), interpreting it to be the rugged cliff from which the goat was thrown.

Shalom All,       Last week, in study section“Ki Tisa”, the people made a golden calf and worshiped it when Moses did not return from Mount Sinai when they expected.  In this week’s Torah / bible study, “Vayakhel”, a team of wise-hearted artisans implements the instructions to build the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its furnishings, the instruction for which is detailed in the previous Torah readings of Terumah, Tetzaveh, and Ki Tisa.  

On Moses’ descent from the Mount, the assembled people know the instructions being passed onto them are not of Moses; but Yahweh God.  The building  was not just Moses’ private project; it was a community affair, so each one contributed what they could from their material resources.  Some prepared the holy garments, while others prepared the anointing oil, and the sacred vessels, etc.  Everyone worked together toward this common goal.  Similarly, none of us can do the work of the Lord alone.  Building up the body of Messiah must be a communal work, each one whose hearts are stirred by the Lord, giving what they are able.  Some use their talents and others give their material resources (Romans 12:4-8 Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.  

Moses’ message also included a set of instructions for living a Godly lifestyle.  This Torah portion takes its name from the first Hebrew word of Exodus 35:1, “vaykhel.” The verb kahal (קהל) means “to assemble,” so vaykhel (ויקהל) means “and he assembled.”  “Then Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, ‘These are the things that YHWH has commanded you to do.’”  (Exodus 35:1). 

Moses begins by underscoring the importance of the Sabbath.  Notice that work during the course of the week is framed as a passive endeavour; in other words, this verse is not commanding that work be done for six days.  Judaism understands from this that work is not the source of one’s sustenance; rather, it is the way in which they receive God's blessing  (Chabad). 

[Open with card trick to show how one’s eyes can be deceived].  We all know and accept there is the Holy and powerful Spirit of God or Holy Spirit as is called in the New Testament.  We should equally know and accept there are spirits not of God.  The bible speaks of many unhealthy spirits.  Of fear, Jealousy, whoredom, unclean devil, of devils, the anti-christ, bondage or of the world.  I am going to speak of one which comes in many disguises.  Of envy, desire, haughty, self or of Egypt where rulers wanted to be and made themselves gods.  

In war truth is the first casualty.  Our enemy is the deceiver who is against truth.  Through subtlety and as a minister of light he fights our flesh, blood and mind.  One of our most important defences is truth.  So we must seek it out Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

[Open with card trick to show how one’s eyes can be deceived].  We all know and accept there is the Holy and powerful Spirit of God or Holy Spirit as is called in the New Testament.  We should equally know and accept there are spirits not of God.  The bible speaks of many unhealthy spirits.  Of fear, Jealousy, whoredom, unclean devil, of devils, the anti-christ, bondage or of the world.  I am going to speak of one which comes in many disguises.  Of envy, desire, haughty, self or of Egypt where rulers wanted to be and made themselves gods.  

In war truth is the first casualty.  Our enemy is the deceiver who is against truth.  Through subtlety and as a minister of light he fights our flesh, blood and mind.  One of our most important defences is truth.  So we must seek it out Joh 4:23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Eph 6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

1Co 10:20  But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 1Co 10:21  Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.  2Co 6:15  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

There are systems of many things in the world as well as organisations and it is possible to be in more than one at the same time.  However, I hope to show you with Yahweh’s spiritual system one can only belong to it solely and exclusively.  So any other system is "sacrifice to devils"!!  This mean it is not like a meal where you can have a bit of this and a bit of that to make up a system to your liking or participate in more than His system.  If your present denomination has got a bit of it's system wrong, it may be "sacrificing to devils".  Second point is God only has one system with specific ways of which Moses and Yahshua were the two main teachers.  That system was for both believing Jews and Gentiles.  For prove of the latter point see previous studies on Jew and Gentile scriptures.

This study is based on Rom 6:14 “.. sin .. dominion .. not under the law; but under grace” and Gal 5:4 “Justification”.  Are we justified by grace or the law? Do believers have to keep the laws of Exodus 20 - 25? Hopefully we shall see both are valid.   Gal 5:4 in context of circumcision.  Gal 5:1  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Gal 5:2  Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, (then) Christ shall profit you nothing. Gal 5:3  For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Gal 5:4  Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal 5:5  For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

A short note on the subject and purpose of Galatians is it has to fit into Paul’s and the apostles other teachings see Acts 16:6; 18:23 which refer to Galatia (see also article Apostles’ Doctrine).  In these places we see Paul’s visit to Galatia is mentioned in the book of Acts and how that visit fits in with his travels.