This is not so much an article/teaching, with a central idea or theme like most of my blog posts. This is simply my notes and some scripture as I read through the Torah portion…
Leviticus 25:1-27:34
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
Luke 13:1-33/John 10:22-42/Luke 14:1-15:32
Let’s discuss a few key points from this portion…
The land (and all things) belong to Yehova, and do not belong to us.
Even the promise land “given” to Israel was not really given to them.
The land was provided to them by Yehova.
Leviticus 25:23
“Moreover, the land is not to be sold permanently, because the land is Mine. For you are sojourners with Me.”
Psalm 24:1
The earth is Adonai’s and all that fills it—[a]
the world, and those dwelling on it.
Deuteronomy 10:14
Behold, to Adonai your God belong the heavens and the highest of heavens, the earth and all that is in it.
This gives us a better understanding of the story of the rich young ruler.
Matthew 16:21-24
Yeshua said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you own, and give to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he had much property. 23 Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Amen, I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
If the earth and all that is in it belongs to Yehova, then we should not have any trouble letting go of what we have to help others.
Gaining and hoarding wealth should not be our goal in life.
The world teaches that he who dies with the most toys will win.
Torah teaches us that being “not of this world” involves helping others.
In the Jubilee year, all debts are forgiven, and the possession of property reverts to the original owners, as it was awarded to the tribes/families from Yehova.
If one falls on hard times, and sells his property, the ownership reverts back to the original family during the Jubilee year.
It is an economical reset.
It sets an even playing field once every 50 years.
It prevents the gross accumulation of wealth and property.
If we understand that we truly “own” nothing, and that we are not to hoard and accumulate for ourselves, we get a better understanding of this:
Matthew 6:31-33
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the pagans eagerly pursue all these things; yet your Father in heaven knows that you need all these. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Even our basic necessities are to be provided to us, through faith in Yehova.
Do you trust Him?
Do you trust His word?
However, we need to keep this in mind…
The promise of secure living comes with a caveat:
Leviticus 25:18
“Therefore you are to keep My statutes and observe My ordinances, and carry them out, so that you may live securely in the land.
Secure living, without worry, depends upon us keeping His statutes and observing His ordinances.
Just submit. Agree that His will is greater than our own.
Is it His will for us to go on mission trips to China?
Is it His will for us to go to Mexico on Spring break and build a home for someone?
Is it His will for us to start a ministry, file for 501C3 tax status, and purchase commercial property, and asking the congregation to pay for all of it?
How do we define His will?
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do Your will, O my God. Yes, Your Torah is within my being.
His will for our lives is simply to know and do Torah.
There is nothing wrong with mission trips, provided you teach truth.
There is nothing wrong with beginning a ministry, provided you teach truth.
But in the simplest form, His will is for us to listen to Him, recognize His voice, and submit to what He would have us do.
Matthew 11:30
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
1John 2:3-6
Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this— 6 whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.
Would an apostle, a man who learned directly from Yeshua, tell us to walk just as He walked if it were too hard for us?
Back to the Torah portion…
Leviticus 26:3-14 [Faithfulness Ensures Blessings]
(Read aloud)
Leviticus 26:14-39 [Faithlessness Ensures Misery]
(Read aloud)
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing, if you listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your God that I am commanding you today, 28 but the curse, if you do not listen to the mitzvot of Adonai your God, but turn from the way I am commanding you today, to go after other gods you have not known.
Which do you choose?
Blessing or Curse?
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“I call the heavens and the earth to witness about you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 by loving Adonai your God, listening to His voice, and clinging to Him. For He is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell on the land that Adonai swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob—to give them.
Which do you choose?
Life or Death?
Luke 13:24-30
Then Yeshua said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25 Once the Master of the household gets up and shuts the door, and you’re standing outside and begin knocking on the door, saying, ‘Master, open up for us,’ then He will say to you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will start to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your company, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Get away from Me, all of you evildoers!’”
28 “There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 And they will come from the east and west and from the north and south, and they will recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed, some are last who shall be first, and some are first who shall be last.”
Let’s take a closer look regarding entering the narrow door:
“Make every effort” (some translations say to strive to enter)
The word is G75 in the Strong’s concordance.
agōnizomai
The definition given by Strong’s is:
to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something):—fight, labor fervently, strive.
Entering through the narrow door is not something we just wander through by accident.
It requires determination and great effort.
We must “strive” to enter.
We do so how again?
We submit ourselves to Yehova’s will. We do that by keeping His statutes, ordinances, and commands.