Torah portion Tzav

Torah portion Tzav

Why did Elohim give us these portions on sacrifice considering that for two thousand years we have had no temple, and therefore no sacrifices have been performed?

Why take up valuable space in the Torah to explain them in such detail?

One reason is that we are living in the times of the end. We haven’t needed these instructions on offerings for two thousand years, but when they were given, there were still almost fifteen hundred years during which the sacrifices would be performed, and the people needed to know how they were performed.

But why are we reading about them this week in 2020?

All things come with a price.

The reason is difficult to see in English, but in Hebrew is clearer.

What we read as sin offering is simply sin chatat in Hebrew. Same with guilt, or trespass, offering. In Hebrew, it is guilt, asham. In a clear sense, we bring our guilt and our sin and the priest burns them in the fire on the altar.

While we don’t bring animal offerings, we still have the opportunity and responsibility to bring our sin and guilt to the heavenly altar.

Complete dedication

When a non-priest sins, the priest who offers the person’s sacrifice gets to eat a portion as payment for his service. But when a priest sins, his offering is completely consumed. No part of the offering is eaten.

Yeshua told us we are to be a nation of priests, and as such, we are told to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice, completely, just as the priest’s offering in our Torah portion this week.

No part of us is to be held back.

Separation/set apart/holy

Our Torah portion makes a clear separation between priests and everyone else. Priests are consecrated and anointed. They are holy, set apart, to the work of the tabernacle and to the service of Elohim. The work they do is no less physical, precise, or demanding than anyone else, but it is all in service to Elohim.

Even when they return to their homes after their assignment at the tabernacle is completed for that season, they are still the teachers of the Torah to their community.

Do all to Yehovah

So to, we should recognize that regardless of the work we do, our careers, our service, even in our families, even as we are counseled in the Apostolic writings, “And whatever you may do, work from the soul as to the Lord and not to men,” (Col 3:23).

By doing so, we are witnesses to His glory, and as we do, we will “Let our light so shine before men, that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16).