Parasha Vayikra

“I just don’t understand,” said Sam to his friend Benjamin. “I know that the Messiah died for my sins, but if the Torah has not passed away then does that mean I am still supposed to offer sacrifices?”

Benjamin thought for a few moments before he spoke.

“Sam, the sacrificial system that was set up after the Exodus pointed to Yahshua the Messiah. All of the commands in the Torah including the verses about the offerings were presented as ways to connect with the Almighty.”

“I know that,” said Sam. “But didn’t the death of Jesus, I mean Yahshua, replace the need for the sacrifices? You say that I should follow the Law of Moses, but much of the Law is about sacrifices and killing animals. The temple no longer stands and even if it did, I just don’t think I can or should do those things.”

Benjamin again paused to think. He even offered a silent prayer that his discussion would lead to Sam’s spiritual renewal and acceptance of Torah.

“You are correct that there are many orders in the Bible about the sacrificial system. Of the six hundred and thirteen commands I’ve been telling you about, most deal with the priesthood and the tabernacle. And as you said, temple worship does not currently take place in Yisra’el. The issue here though is not about killing innocent animals. Nor is the real issue about the tabernacle or temple. Sam, the purpose Yahweh gave the tabernacle to Moshe and Yisra’el was for Moshe and Yisra’el. It was given for them and not for Yahweh,” said Benjamin.

“Yahweh the Almighty doesn’t need burnt offerings or peace offerings. Yahweh doesn’t eat the sacrifices. The mitzvot or “commands” about the sacrificing in the Torah were given for the people worshipping as a mode of worship and devotion. The word for sacrifices in the Hebrew is “korban” or “qorbanot.” When we think of sacrifices or offerings we always think of losing or giving up something, but this word “korban” literally means to “draw near or approach.” The purpose of the tabernacle and the reason for the many types of sacrifices was so that the nation of Yisra’el could draw near to Yahweh through obedience. “Obedience is better than sacrifice” means that the underlying reason for the sacrifice is the obedience.

“The elaborate and specific instructions about korban in the book of Leviticus were not given to confuse or distance the nation of Yisra’el from Yahweh. Korban was given as a way to connect with Yahweh. We don’t offer korban today because there is no temple but that doesn’t mean the decrees concerning the korban have been replaced or done away with. Remember that verse from Matthew I keep telling you. Yahshua said, “Think not that I have come to abolish the Torah. I have not come to do away with the Torah but to fulfill it.”

Benjamin continued, “Yahshua’s death was an ultimate sacrifice for sins. The book of Hebrews teaches in chapter ten, verse ten ‘And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Yahshua HaMoshiach once for all.”’

Sam looked puzzled when he heard these words. He honestly wanted to understand this Nazarene faith, but all of his life Sam had been taught that the Old Testament with its weird and legalistic commands had been done away with. Sam was a “New Testament Christian” who knew his church’s doctrines, yet he earnestly desired to walk with the Savior.

“So, are you telling me that the sacrificial system has not been done away with? Are you saying that it is ok to offer sacrifices even though the Savior has come?”

Benjamin spoke with love and compassion when he responded. “I know this is difficult to understand, but nothing in the Torah has passed away. Just as the korban or sacrifices before Yahshua pointed forward to His life and death, the korban after Yahshua came pointed back to his life and death. Even after the Savior’s ascension in the book of Acts did Paul continue to offer sacrifices and prayers at the temple? Here let me find a few verses for you in my King James Bible.”

They read together:

“Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that time an offering should be offered for every one of them,” Acts 21:26.

“Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar,” Acts 25:8.

If Sam was a little confused before, then now he was really puzzled. He knew he had read the book of Acts in its entirety, but he didn’t remember seeing anything about the early believers in the Messiah still worshipping at the “Jewish” temple. Benjamin’s statements were starting to make sense. Maybe there was truth to Benjamin’s newfound faith and observance to the Old Testament.

“Sam, we should follow the book of Leviticus as best we can.” Benjamin continued, “Either all of the Bible is for us today or none of it is for us today. Leviticus is just as much Bible as the book of John is. Every aspect of this Biblical faith is either a rehearsal or a reminder. What we do, like celebrating the New Moon or even the upcoming Passover Seder, is a reminder about past events. At Passover we remember how Yahweh delivered the Hebrews from Egypt. At the same time we are rehearsing for the future Passover dinner, the “marriage supper of the Lamb.” This event that we will be “rehearsing” for is spoken about in the book of Revelation. Let’s read from the last chapter of Isaiah to learn more about Torah keeping in the future reign of Yahweh.”

They read again from the King James Bible:

“And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith Yahweh,” Isaiah 66:23.

“Ok, ok. I think I am beginning to understand what you are trying to say. Are you telling me that believers should strive to keep every command in the Bible? That all of His Word is eternal?” asked Sam.

“The Bible, including the teachings or laws of Moses, is a book of love,” said Benjamin. “It was given to Yisra’el and the world to show man how to live. The Torah is the rule book for life on Earth. There are many commands in the Scriptures though that we just cannot fulfill today. We don’t offer sacrifices because there is no temple. And we don’t keep the seven-year Shabbat for farmland because we don’t live in the Land of Yisra’el. This is just like how women are exempt from the command of circumcision for obvious reasons. This week our congregation begins reading and studying the book of Leviticus. Why don’t you join us so we can learn together?”

“All right Ben, I’ll come,” said Sam. “But, I don’t have to wear one of those funny little beanie hats do I?”