The 613 Mitzvot: 46-50
We are often asked to do teachings on the 613 commandments found in the Jewish faith. Understandably, such a teaching or teaching series would be an immense undertaking. However, we thought we may be able to go through it, at least in part, in our blogs. This is an ongoing blog series that we will do at different times without any real schedule planned. We will not be going into great depth in this series.
The format for these blog posts will be simple. We will cite a traditional rabbinic commandment as found in the AENT (Aramaic-English New Testament), provide the Scripture that it is supposed to be based from, indicate if we agree that it is a commandment we can do today or if it is one that cannot apply today and then why or why not. Then we will give a few notes or thoughts as to why believe it can or cannot be applied today. Last time we looked at commandments forty-one through forty-five, this week we will take a brief look at five more.
Commandment: On the Two Loaves of bread Wave offering on Shavuot
Leviticus 23:17 (ESV)
“You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to YHWH.”
Notes:
This is another commandment that we do not believe can be properly obeyed today. A built temple does not currently exist till the 1000 year reign. The criteria will exist again (Ezekiel 40-48) to carry out this commandment. An established Earthly priesthood is not currently organized and available to carry out this commandment. For us to attempt to do so as things are would be doing them our own way and not His way.
Commandment: On the Rosh HaShannah additional offering
Numbers 29:1-2 (ESV)
“On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets, and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to YHWH: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish;
Notes:
As before, we agree this is a commandment to be followed, however it is not one that can be done at this time. There currently does not exist an Earthly Levitical priesthood to carry out this commandment nor is there a temple and altar for it to be done. The criteria will exist again (Ezekiel 40-48) to carry out this commandment.
Commandment: On the Yom Kippur additional offering
Numbers 29:7-8 (ESV)
“On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves. You shall do no work, but you shall offer a burnt offering to YHWH, a pleasing aroma: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old: see that they are without blemish.
Notes:
As before, we agree this is a commandment to be followed, however it is not one that can be done at this time. There currently does not exist an Earthly Levitical priesthood to carry out this commandment nor is there a temple and altar for it to be done. The criteria will exist again (Ezekiel 40-48) to carry out this commandment. Perhaps this is only to be carried out in the Heavenlies from this point on after the cross? Satisfaction of this commandment must be completed as no commandments are abolished, but something is operationally different in the 1,000 year reign that still satisfies this commandment.
Commandment: On the service of Yom Kippur, Avodah
Leviticus 16:1-34 (ESV)
Notes:
As before, we agree this is a commandment to be followed, however it is not one that can be done at this time. There currently does not exist an Earthly Levitical priesthood to carry out this commandment nor is there a temple and altar for it to be done. The criteria will exist again (Ezekiel 40-48) to carry out this commandment. For more on the Yom Kippur, please see our teaching: The Mo’edim: Yom Kippur (click to view teaching).
Commandment: On the Sukkot, musaf, offering
Numbers 28:26 (ESV)
“And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to YHWH, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;”
Notes:
As before, we agree this is a commandment to be followed, however it is not one that can be done at this time. There currently does not exist an Earthly Levitical priesthood to carry out this commandment nor is there a temple and altar for it to be done. The criteria will exist again (Ezekiel 40-48) to carry out this commandment.
We hope this has helped bring a little clarity to the tenth set of 5 commandments and their applicability to our lives today, at least as we currently understand them. Aside from ourselves, keeping the cultural understanding and Scriptural context are our greatest obstacle to understanding, and thus obeying, the ways of our Creator. Each day we must choose whether to obey or disobey thereby choosing whom we are serving.
Shalom