Identifying the Messiah,

From the law of purification of leprosy

Text: Lev 14

       An opening thought: Many of you know, that I have been writing a weekly lesson, for a number of years now. In turn I have chronicled, the entire life of David, among writing on a subject at random, each week.

            Though after reading through the torah, several times. I elected to write a weekly torah lesson, at the beginning of this cycle. I mention this, because there are a number subjects in the torah that I struggle with and this week's portion is one of them.

      Now if I was like several preachers, then I could simply dismiss this week's portion, on the false basic, the law was done away with, at the foot of the Cross. However "G-d's word is sealed in heaven." {Ps 118:89} Hence if the Lord thought so highly, as to seal His word in heaven. Then His word, must still be meaningful to Him. Consequently I will attempt to teach, on this difficult passage. However please pray for me in the coming weeks, as I attempt to teach on these passages, that the Church neglects.

     Last week's portion described in great detail the laws for diagnosing and quarantining lepers. This week's torah portion is called metzora { (metzora), which means "leper." You maybe wondering why, even bother in studying this passage, being there isn't a temple, or any Cohen priest.

       Well, the laws of biblical leprosy, have spiritual applications for us today, for example. The sages associated evil speech, with leprosy. In turn the rabbis have used these laws to teach, about the grievous sin, of evil speech, which comes from the tongue. James 3:10-11

       The sages gave moral interpretations for the Torah's regulations for assessing leprosy and the laws for effecting purification. For example, the sages taught that the word "metzora" (leper) is derived from a combination of the Hebrew words "motzi," which means "wellspring" or "source," and the Hebrew word "ra," which means "evil." Put them together and it spells the word "leper" {metzora,} sort of. The word metzora actually comes from the Hebrew word for leprosy (tzara'at.} The "wellspring of evil" explanation is meant as a illustrative reminder

    The sages derive this teaching, from the story of Miriam, who contracted leprosy. (Numbers 12 ) Having set the background, let's get started.

      The following Hebrew word for spoke "dabar," means "to speak in the destructive sense." I mention this fact, because when Moses married a Cushite woman, who was dark skin. Miriam spoke against Moses' marriage, in a harsh or evil manner. {Num 12:1 } In doing so, Miriam challenge Moses' position of authority by asking, "has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" Which was a mistake, because the LORD heard it. Num 12:2

     Upon hearing Miriam's remark, the Lord summoned Aaron, Moses and Miriam to the tabernacle. Then upon arriving, He summoned Aaron and Miriam forward and said, "if there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?" Num 12:6-8

       Then in anger, the present of the Lord departed in a cloud. Though upon departing; Miriam, suddenly became inflected with leprosy. {Num 12:11 - 10 } Why leprosy, you ask?

            Well the sages state, there are seven evil things that a person can do, that will bring about leprosy. They are slander, or gossip, bloodshed, false oath, incest, arrogance, robbery and envy. Explaining then why, Miriam was inflected with leprosy, because she slandered Moses.

            Had only Miriam guarded her tongue, she would have been spared, this misery. How do I know? Well Solomon stated, "whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles." Pro 21:23

           We all are formiliar with how Moses interceded with the Lord on Miriam's behalf, and how after seven days. The Lord mercifully healed Miriam of her leprosy. {Num 12:14 } In light of this fact, I'm remindful that Solomon also stated, "death and life are in the power of the tongue." {Prov 18:21 } The sages expounds on this verse, by telling the following story.

       The king of Persia took ill and was advised by his doctors that he needed to drink the milk of a lioness in order to be cured. Someone volunteered to bring the king fresh lion's milk; for ten goats. He took the goats and traveled to where the lions hang out. On the first day, when he was sure that a lioness saw him clearly, he threw her a goat from far away. The next day he came closer. By the tenth day, he had won her trust and managed to obtain a full jug of lion's milk.

        On his way back he had a vision; in which parts of his body had a major argument. The legs said, "none of the other limbs can compare to us. If we would not have transported the body, it would have been impossible to obtain this milk.." The hands argued that they were without parallel. If they hadn't performed the various actions necessary, it would have been impossible to obtain the milk. The heart argued that if it had not come up with the idea of the goats the entire project would have been impossible. The tongue then argued that if it had not spoken up, all would have been for naught.

         All the other limbs were enraged at the tongue, "how do you even dare to make any claim? You are in a dark place hidden away, you can't do anything and can't think of anything!" The tongue replied, "you will see, this very day you will all agree that I am your master."

         Afterwards the man entered the present of the king and said, "your majesty, here is the bitch's milk." The king became enraged and demanded that he should be hung. On the way to the execution, all the limbs began to cry. Then the tongue said, "didn't I tell you that you are all helpless? If I save you, will you all acknowledge my superiority?" They all agreed.

         The man then asked the executioner to let him speak with the king once more, and his request was granted. He told the king to try the milk as it would surely cure him, and anyway many people also refer to a lioness as a bitch. The king tried the milk and was cured, and the man was spared. Implying "death and life are in the hands of the tongue!"

      Hence, Miriam brought death on her in the form of leprosy, by her tongue. Thus I'm remindful that James stated, "even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!" James 3:5

        Remember, we learned last week that the term "tamei," meant ritually unclean. A person became "tamei,"in several ways. One was by coming in contact with a dead body. Another way was by coming in contact with a person, who was already "tamei,"or ritually unclean.

            These individuals were liken unto a walking dead person. In that they were cut off from entering the present of G-d, in the tabernacle, and later on the temple. So, if you wanted to discern, what death is like? Then a study of a person, who was deemed as "tamei,"or ritually unclean, will reveal it to you. Not only was they forbidden to come into the present of holy G-d. They were forbidden to have contact, with society, for fear they might inflect them.

           They were walking dead persons in that their ritually uncleanness, forbidden them to come into the present of holy G-d, for example. When Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, in the garden. They became "tamei," in that no longer could they go within the presents of the Almighty, due to sins of disobedience. In turn the Lord cast them, out of the garden. Gen 3:23

         Back to the fact that leper, was forbidden to have contact, with society. I read, where a person cast into "she'ol," {hell} is isolated, or secluded from everyone, for all of eternity. If so then a person, who was deemed as "tamei,"or ritually unclean, is liken unto the rich man, who was cast into "she'ol" away from Lazarus, who is within the Lord's presents, for all of eternity. {Luke 16 } In turn the "metzora," or "the person infected with leprosy, was liken unto a walking dead person!

      Remember that white complexion, is an indication of leprosy, which was and is a sign of death. I mention this fact, because when the Lord inflected Miriam with leprosy. Miriam's complexion turned white as snow. {Num 12:10 } Aaron upon witnessing this said, "please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother's womb!" {Num 12:12 }

            Bearing in mind that the color white, is a sign of death. It should be pointed out, the white horse in the following verse, imply death.

           Returning to the text, Aaron upon witnessing Miriam white skin, no doubt detracting before his very eyes, quickly compared Miriam, with a walking dead person. So, Miriam demonstrated, "the tongue has the ability to speck, death and life." {Pro 18:21} Though in Miriam's case, it was death.

         Had Miriam guarded her tongue, she wouldn't have experienced this calamity. Because Solomon said, "whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles."{Prov 21:23 } No doubt Solomon learned this wisdom, from his father because David stated, "I will guard my ways, Lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, While the wicked are before me." Ps 39:1

        Remember after Moses interceded with the Lord, on Miriam's behalf. {Num 12:13 } Miriam was then banished from the camp, for seven days. {Num 12:15 }

            I mention this fact because before anyone, was banished for leprosy. The priest had to carefully examine the person twice. {Lev 13:2 - 28 } If it appeared the person, indeed had leprosy, the inflected person, was then pronounced as "tamei,"or ritually unclean. Then the inflected person, was isolated, or banish from the camp. {Lev 13: 11 }

            After the priest banished the inflected person, from the camp. The inflected person was required to wear mourning cloths, and cry "unclean." {Lam 4:16 } As long as the leprosy persisted, the inflected person was required to live outside of the camp. In turn they were isolated from society.

        I alluding to this fact, because having been born with Cerebral Palsy, people are quick to judge me, as being "tamei" or unclean. Not only strangers, but loves ones. Yes, loves ones, aren't exempt, from judging me as "tamei" ether.

         Now I didn't mention this fact, in order to gain any sympathy, because sympathy isn't worth a darn thing! I alluded to this, to make the following point. A normal person didn't judge, the inflected person, with leprosy. It was a priest who did so, {Lev 13:7 } and knowing the consequences of his judgement. He didn't make a rush judgement ether, because the priest was required to examine, the inflected person twice.

          I find this fact interesting, because I can walk through a door, and often I'm judged as being retarded and quite often I will play the role as such. Only to let them know, sometimes afterwards that I'm not, then witnessing them scream.

            Bearing in mind it was a priest, who rendered judgement on whether a person was inflected with leprosy or not, {Lev 13:34 } and in turn should be banish from the camp, or not. This is noteworthy, because being banish from the camp, was liken unto being banish to "she'ol" {hell.}

         Having said that, when we will stand before our High Priest, {Heb 5:5 } the Messiah, on judgement day. {Rev 20:11 - 12 }} Knowing the consequences of the Messiah's judgement, like a person with leprosy standing before the priest, in that no one there will want to be judge wrongfully. However these same people, in hast judge, someone else falsely.

           Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

            Can you think of a statement made by Yeshua that used the imagery that I presented to you that defines the "metzora," or "an infected person with leprosy," as a walking dead person? It's {Matt 8:23 } when Yeshua said, "follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."

          Who was Yeshua alluding to when He stated, "let the dead, bury the dead?" How can this be, "the dead, burring the dead? Sounds paradoxical, doesn't it? Well this event happens everyday, because "the dead, does bury the dead." This happens when lost individuals, buries their dead love ones.

         Hence Yeshua was using the language of "metzora," or the leper, who is liken unto a walking dead person to depicts, those who are alive, but spiritual dead. On that note, remember the color white, imply death.

            In light of this, remember when Miriam became inflected with leprosy that her skin turned white, implying death. {Num 12:10 } I alluded to this fact, because Yeshua in speaking to the scribes and Pharisees said, "woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness." Matt 23:27

         The Pharisees are liken unto whitewash tombs, in that the Pharisees' exterior, is thematically related to the white exterior of a leper. While the Pharisees' inner being, is thematically related to death. In short what Yeshua is saying then, the Pharisees were like lepers, in that outwardly they appeared to be alive, but in truth. The Pharisees were walking dead men.

         Moving on, Naaman was the commander in chief of the Syrian king, and was highly esteem by him. Then Naaman was suddenly struck with leprosy. However in Naaman's darkest moment, G-d had a plain. Because the Lord had placed a Hebrew maid servant, in Naaman's house. Thus the Hebrew maid servant, informed Naaman's mistress, of a prophet in Samaria, who could heal him. Upon hearing this, Naaman struck out for Samaria, with a note. {1 Kings 5:1 - 3 , 5 }

          Upon arriving Naaman presented the note which read, "I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy," to the king. As soon as the king read the note, he rented his cloths in dismay then asked, "am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy?" 2 Kings 5:7

       Now we all know, how the Almighty eventually healed Naaman. {2 Kings 5:13 -14 } The point that I want to make in recounting this event. There were only two individuals in the Old Testament, who were healed of leprosy, Miriam and Naahan.

       In turn when a person was stricken with leprosy. They were banished from the camp, to face a painful death, in solitude from their families.

      This shads light then on why, the king rented his clothing, upon reading the note, to cure Naaman of his leprosy. Because only the Lord could heal someone of leprosy.

       On this note, according to the sages, the coming Messiah would heal the "metzora," or leper. Because the sages taught the Messiah, would do the following things. 1} heal a person born blind. 2} raise the dead. 3} heal a person born deaf. 4} heal the "metzora."

        In light of this, when John the Baptist doubted Yeshua, was the Messiah. John in prison, sent a his disciples asking Yeshua, if He was the Messiah? {Luke 7:19 } In turn Yeshua replied, "go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them." {Luke 7:22 }

           John being a cohen priest, was very munch aware of the sages' teaching, concerning the Messiah. Consequently, what Yeshua is telling John is yes, have not I met all of the signs of the Messiah, for example?

            Yeshua was in a city in Galilee, when a man with "metzora," or leprosy, fell at His feet and said, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." {Luke 5:12 } Yeshua then stuck out His hand saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Then immediately the leper, was healed. Matt 8:3

       Yeshua then commanded him saying, "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded." {Luke 5:14 } Why, because when the Lamb of G-d, cleaned someone, they were clean. Though, Yeshua instructed him, to go and see a priest, in accordance to the law, written in Lev 14 .

         The reason Yeshua did so. Yeshua knew, the priests to a large extent, had corrupted themselves. However it was still, the law of His Father's, and like an obedient Son that He was, Yeshua sought to do, His Father's will. {John 5:30 } Proving Yeshua "didn't come to do away with the law, He came to fulfill it." Matt 5:17

         As I've said, rarely if ever, was a "metzora," healed of leprosy. It was unheard of though, during Yeshua's ministry. All of sudden, a large number of people, appeared before the priest, requesting, the purification procedure be preform. Guess who's name was mention, as the source of their healing? Yes, Yeshua!

              The word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

In turn seeing the evidence before their eyes, a large number of the priest believed, Yeshua was the Messiah.

          Remember the sages taught, that Messiah would heal individuals, who were born blind. I alluded to this fact, because upon leaving the temple. Yeshua came across a blind man, who was born blind. Seeing him, the disciples asked Yeshua, "who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Yeshua answered, "neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him." { John 9:2-3 } So, this man was born blind so, that works of the Almighty would be revealed in him and we are about to discern how?

          Remember G-d formed, man from the dust of the earth.{Gen 2:7 } I find this interesting, because Yeshua then spat in the dust of the earth, and made clay out of saliva. Then He anointed the eyes of the blind man, with the clay. Then Yeshua commanded him to go, and wash in the pool of Siloam. Upon doing so, the blind man returned, no doubt with 20/20 vision.  John 9:6 - 7

           Though, upon hearing that the blind man, was healed. The Pharisees brought this person, before them. To make a long story short, the Pharisees were outraged that Yeshua, had violated the Sabbath. Though, an underneath reason why, the Pharisees were outraged. They knew the sages' teaching, concerning the Messiah. Thus, the Pharisees sought to discredit Yeshua as being the Messiah, before the people appointed Him King.