Parashat Tazria-Metzora

Torah: Lev 12:1-15-33

Haftarah: 2 Kings 7:3-20

Brit Chadashah: John 6:8-13, Matt 8:1-17

Main Points:

Childbirth and purification.

Laws concerning leprosy.

The cleansing of the leper.

Laws for diseased houses.

Laws about bodily fluids.

The biblical prohibition against speaking evil, slander, and gossip does not sideline other parts of the word of God that encourages right-spirited communication. We can make righteous judgment. We can confront our brother and speak honestly about our leaders. The difference is that our grievances are settled with the offender. Our goal in communication is the healing of relationships not damaging, slandering, demeaning, or character assassination of the person (all of which are intentional sins). We can sin with our mouths even if the information is true, because we are still talking behind someone's back and not dealing directly with the person in love. In dealing with normal interpersonal relationships, if our words are intended to damage another person (or has that result), and does not have the love and mercy of God directing it, we can easily end up in sin. Keeping our spiritual home in order has a lot to do with our confession and the covenant we make with our mouths. Our mouths can be a viper’s pit of poison or it can be a wellspring of life.

Cleansing of the Leper

The priest would go to the leper outside of the camp and reexamine him/her. If there was no sign of leprosy another examination was scheduled seven days later. If the person was still clean the purification process began that included: A bowl filled with living water or spring water, two birds of the same type either turtledoves or pigeons, a stick of cedar wood, a branch of Hyssop, and a scarlet thread.

The bird was killed over the bowl of water, mixing the blood and water. The living bird, stick of cedar, and hyssop were tied together using the scarlet thread then dipped into the water/blood of the earthen vessel and sprinkled over the metzora. The second bird was set free. Afterward the person shaved his body, was baptized (mikvah), and could return to the general congregation. After another seven days he could return to his home and would be directed to bath again and offer his/her offerings. (note: It was from the guilt offering that the blood of the sacrificial animal was mixed with oil and applied to the ear, thumb, and foot of the person.) Oil from a meal offering was sprinkled seven times toward the Sanctuary, and then the person was pronounced clean (tahor).

Sounds random, right? Upon closer examination it is not random but very intentional. The hyssop was from Pesach (Passover). David acknowledged the cleansing idea of hyssop in Ps 51:7 when he stated “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” The two birds (one killed and one set free) was a part of Yom Kippur. Mikvah or baptism was a part of the crossing of the Red Sea. The application of the blood and water was used to dedicate priests for service.

There is also a correlation in the blood and water used to cleanse the leper and the work of Yeshua. Remember at the cross, Yeshua was crucified and when the spear of the centurion pierced his side, blood and water flowed (Jn 19:34). This blood/water combination is also seen in 1 Jon 5:6, “This is he who came by water and blood – Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit if the truth." The idea of two sacrificial animals (doves by implication) occurred at Yeshua's Baptism in Matt 3:13-17, one was free, one was sacrificed.

The cleansing of the leper depicts God's cleansing of our sin. Yeshua died, rose again, and his message constantly resounds in our hearts, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink." God can change the hardest life. He can heal any sickness. He can mend the most broken life.

Rav Calev

Apostolic Messianic International

Next Feasts:

We are in the counting of the Omer.

Shavuot begins the evening of May 21st and ends the evening of May 23rd.

Words to know:

Sefirat HaOmer- Counting of the Omer

Omer- A measurement of grain, or sheaf.

The Daily Blessing: Blessed are you Adonai, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer. Today is the ___ day of the Omer.