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Parashah 26: Sh'mini (Eighth)

Parashah 26: Sh'mini (Eighth) - Leviticus 9:1 through 11:47.


Haftarah (Writings and Prophets): 2 Samuel: 6:1 - 7:17.
B'rit Hadasha (New Testament): Mark 7:1-23; Acts 5:1-11; 10:1-35; 2 Cor.
6:14 - 7:1; Galatians 2:11-16; 1 Peter 1:14-16.

Summary & Overview


TORAH
o Leviticus 9:1 | Aaron's Priesthood Inaugurated
o Leviticus 10:1 | Nadab and Abihu
o Leviticus 11:1 | Clean and Unclean Foods
o Leviticus 11:24 | Unclean Animals

Last week we looked at the Sacrificial System and why it is so complicated.


Within the detail of the Sacrificial System, we discovered the Restoration Plan
of YHVHs Creation and how the Sacrifice of Messiah Yshua, is a collective
expression of all these sacrifices, together represented the Work of the Messiah
in the spiritual. We being currently in a fallen state, form part of this Restoration
Process, where YHVH will fill the voids and restore us inwardly while removing
the curses that came upon humanity.
The Festivals gave us an overview and picture of the Restoration Work of
Messiah, and each of these Fests had a different set and combination of
sacrifices that represent the work that is done behind the scenes, in the
spiritual. This week we will look at this Restoration work that needs to happen in
the physical and involve the Commandments. Just like the sacrifices are
combined as in a recipe to do address a certain aspect of the Work Messiah did
for us in relation to a specific Feast, in the same way, are the Commandments
revealed and applied to a human to address certain areas that need restoration.
If you reject these Commandments, then you do not allow YHVH to work on you
with your permission. Every Commandment asks of you to submit to Him and
trust Him that He will do a perfect work within you so that at the end, you will be
in a perfect restored state. To do this inward work, He had to send His Spirit
Who will assist you along the way and help you in every step of re-creating you
back to His initial plan He has for Humanity before the fall.

The Eight Day


The name of this Torah Portion is shmini and
comes from the opening verse in Lev 9:1; It
came to pass on the eighth day (shmini) that
Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of
Israel. What is this 8th day related to? Is it part of
the seven-day cycle, or is it part of the Feast of
Sukkot? Sukkot is the only Feast with an 8th day,
that is a Sabbath called Simchat Torah, where the
Torah Scroll is turned back, and the new cycle
begins, just like the 1st day of the weekly cycle, that is the 8th day of the previous
week, as well as the 1st day of the new week or cycle, connecting the two.

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Spiritual insight: The eighth day is the time in between cycles or phases in
your life and is associated with Passover, that starts with the Biblical year
and Feast Cycle as well as Sukkot, that ends the Torah Cycle, starting afresh
in the Book of Genesis. The eighth day connects these two Feasts that
allows it to become a cycle or circle as well as the week, connecting the one
weeks last day to the new weeks first day. This emphasises the principle of
cycles and that YHVH works in cycles restoring His Creation. Most of us,
coming from a Western Culture, are more comfortable and familiar with a
liner timeline, where you progress along this line and gain knowledge and
character as you live, and when you are at an old age, reached maturity, and
hopefully an elevated spiritual state as well. Yshua taught that people should
become like little children, when He addressed adults, making them
understand the concept of the spiritual cycles. We should become like
children, not only the time of your conversion but in every new cycle, like the
Feast Cycle, starting at Passover, becoming humble and teachable like
children, so that He can do the restoration work in us for the next year. Then,
coming next Passover, we become like little children again, starting the
process all over, allowing Him to take us through these cleansing cycles of
the washing with the water of His Word (Eph 5:26). Remember, when Paul
wrote these words to the believers in Ephesus, the New Testament
component of the Scripture was not compiled yet, and what He is referring to
is the TaNaK (Torah + Prophets + Psalms and Writings). The sign of
someone becoming like a little child before Him is the act of embracing the
whole Scripture (TaNaK) and washing yourself with it on a yearly cycle,
covering all aspects of the restoration process He wants to take you through.
There is another minor Feast that also has eight days, that is the Feast of
Chanukkah, which is about the rededication of the Temple. The reason why it
is celebrated over 8 days is not because of the oil miracle, it was actually the
Feast of Sukkot and was to dedicate the Temple that took 8 days, that is in
line with the 8th day, after the seven-day inauguration of the Tabernacle in the
desert described here in the Book of Leviticus.
Connecting these two ideas relating to the 8th day; the cleansing cycles and
the inauguration of the Tabernacle teaches us that the cleansing cycles we
go through every year, the Feast Cycle and Torah Cycle, is to inaugurate
your body as a living Tabernacle.

Requirements for the Priesthood and the Congregation


This Torah Portion starts with the Inauguration of
the Priesthood who will facilitate and teach the
Commandments to the people. In todays terms, it
would be appointing the Leadership in the
Assembly who will facilitate, teach and lead
YHVHs people.
This Torah Portion starts with Moses instructing
Aaron to offer up a Sin Offering (calf) and a Burnt
Offering (ram) unto YHVH, to make atonement for
the Priesthood. After that, he offered two Sin
Offerings (Calf and Lamb), two Peace Offerings (Bullock and Ram) and a Meal
Offering on behalf of the Children of Israel.

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Then the glory of YHVH appeared to all the people, 24 and fire came out from
before YHVH and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When
all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. (Lev 9:23-24). Let us
apply what we learned last week to see the building blocks required for the
Presence of YHVH to be in our midst.
The Leaders of the Congregation needs an Olah or Burnt
offering that symbolises them to be covered with Torah Scroll
skin (see last weeks teaching). This means that they must
know the Torah and make the Word of YHVH visible through
their actions, living out the principles and Commandments of
YHVH.
The Priesthood required a sin offering as well. This offering was
to act as a covering because of the fallen nature of man. The
sin offering has to do with repentance and forgiveness and is
symbolic of the Leaders within a Congregation, that they are
required to live in forgiveness towards one another, not holding
any grudge, as well as living in repentance before YHVH if they
stumble and fall. They are covered by the Blood of our Sin Sacrifice, Yshua.
Who allows us to enter His presence even if we are not 100% restored yet.
The Members of the Congregation need two Sin
offerings. They are required, similar to the Leaders,
to live in forgiveness towards fellow believers and
repentance towards YHVH if they stumble and fall,
so that they can grow spiritually and be restored.
Q - Why two sin offerings?
The members have to function between fellow
believers and the people they connect with in the
world through their everyday life.
They also required two Peace Offerings and one Meal Offering. The Peace
Offerings symbolise the peace that is required to function in a good
relationship with fellow Believers as well as with people in the world with the
help of YHVHs Spirit. The Meal Offering symbolises the regular gathering of
Believers in unity, gathering around the table, sharing a meal discussing the
Word of YHVH (see last weeks teaching for detail).
In these meetings, the Leader/Teacher needs to bring the main course, but
the members need to bring the side dishes and the dessert, speaking from their
experience and how they understand the Truth. The reason for this is to ensure
that the Congregation can learn and grow together and share the same
foundation of the Truth and all be on the same page regarding the Word. These
gatherings should be conducted in peace under the guidance of YHVHs Spirit,
so that people will walk out of the meeting edified, not upset of confused.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering
(patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses, self-control.
If the Leaders as well as every Member operate with the fruit of YHVHs Spirit,
then their meeting will be a Minchah Offering that gives a sweet savour to the
Father that is well pleasing to Him.

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If the members do not operate in the fruit of the Spirit, then these assemblies,
will be a defiled Minchah (meal offering) unto YHVH that will upset Him.
If someone chooses not part of a group or
Assembly, but rather study on their own, they are
at risk of going into unbalanced truth, and they
will not be part of the Body of Messiah where
they can exercise the fruit of His Spirit. If you are
offended, being impatient or irritated by fellow
Believers, only reveal the areas in your life that
need to be restored, these areas are highlighted
by other peoples weaknesses. This makes that
person become your greatest blessing because
your impurities will feature in their presence and now you need to deal with your
issues, not theirs. It is not your job to change someone else, YHVH work inside
each and every one of us, you need to work on you with the help of His Spirit
inside of you. Pray for those who upset or irritate you so that He can change
them, but in the same breath, pray that YHVH will change you so that the
fulness of His fruit can be seen in your life.
Lev 9:23-24 And Moses and Aaron went into the
tabernacle of the congregation, and came out,
and blessed the people: and the glory of YHVH
appeared unto all the people. 24 And there came a
fire out from before YHVH, and consumed upon
the altar the burnt-offering and the fat: which
when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on
their faces.

The Glory of YHVH will only came after these offerings have been offered in a
Congregation. They are to teach us to strive towards holiness, forgiving one
another, repent when you make a mistake and strive towards peace and unity
within the Congregation with the help of the fruit of the Spirit. Then YHVHs
Glory will appear in the midst of that Congregation or Assembly.

Outside the Camp


Lev 9:11 And the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the
camp.
Flesh is the word basar that also means, to announce or preach, as in
the Good News or Gospel of the Kingdom. How pleasant upon the
mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace,
who brings good news, who proclaims deliverance, who says to Tsiyon, Your
Elohim reigns! (Isaiah 52:7)(Nahum 1:15)
Hide is the word owr which also means, arouse, awaken, raise up, as
from slumber, to provoke, as to provoke to jealousy (Ephriam/Christians to
provoke Yehudah/Jews). It also means, to be made blind and to be made
naked (aware of sin) and to rejoice (be glad). All reference to the Gospel of
the Kingdom.

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Burned with fire or burning fire is the phrase, saraph aish. This is
where the word for seraphim comes from. Seraphim ,yprs literally means
burning ones.
Spiritual Insight: After our altar experience, or your chattaah offering unto
YHVH, you are to go outside the camp and basar, announce the Gospel of
the Kingdom, arouse Ephraim/Christians from his slumber, provoke
Judah/Jews to jealousy, and help remove the blindness of both houses. Then
you shall rejoice with your brothers and light their fire. The people cried
aloud and fell on their faces. A better translation for; they cried aloud
(ranan), would be, they sang out with joy, as they fell on their faces. This is
the sign that YHVHs Presence and Glory came upon His people.

Strange Fire Offerings


Lev 10:1-2 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them
his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered
strange fire before YHVH, which he commanded them not. 2 So fire came
out from the presence of YHVH and consumed them, and they died before
YHVH.
The two sons of Aaron died during the task of conducting an offering unto
YHVH. They were both from the Priesthood, serving in the Tabernacle of YHVH
and is similar to Leaders facilitating YHVHs Word and Worship to His people.
Q What does this teach us regarding Leadership and service unto YHVH
today?
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers,
because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Nadab means generous; it comes from a root word that means to incite, to
impel, spontaneous, liberal, willingly and to volunteer. This word is first used in
Gen 25:2 where Israel brought gifts willingly to aid with the construction of the
Tabernacle. This is a good thing, except if the gifts are used to support a
Tabernacle that allows strange fire, or foreign worship.
Nadab is also found in 1 Kings 15:25; Now Nadab the son of Jeroboam
became king over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he
reigned over Israel two years. 26 And he did evil in the sight of YHVH, and
walked in the way of his father, and in his sin by which he had made Israel
sin.
Jeroboam, king of the Ten Northern Tribes (Christians + Nations), was at war
with King Rehoboam, king of Judah Benyamin and Levi (Jews). We see these
two kings at war even today; Christians being anti-semitic and Jews not
accepting Christians and Yshua as the Messiah. Nadab represents Christian
leaders, represented by the Ten Lost Tribes scattered into the nations, and he
is the picture of Leaders in Congregations who preach messages that will entice
people give willingly, that will get them to volunteer themselves so that the
construction of this Tabernacle or Church can be finalised.
Q - Does this sound like prosperity teachings that are preached in many
Churches today?

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What makes this kind of offering wrong, is that
YHVH never asked them to follow their protocols,
but His, His way of constructing and conducting
meetings. YHVH is offended by man-made
traditions and ways of twisting His Word for
financial gain. This is seen as offerings done with
strange fire and is dangerous. This is a message
to Leaders to make sure they teach only from the
foundation of the Word of YHVH, that can only be
in its purest form when seen as a whole,
embracing the wisdom of YHVH that starts in
Genesis, right through to the Book of Revelation. This is also a message to the
members of Congregations, to test every word that comes out from the mouth
of any modern day Prophet or Teacher, just like the Bereans.
Act 17:11 Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the
Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness
and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were
true.

Abihu means he is my father and is made up of two words av


that means father and huw that is a pronoun that means himself. This
reveals to us that Leaders that appoint themselves and give themselves the title
of father. These are leaders who are self-appointed and prone to bringing
strange offerings or foreign service unto YHVH. Huw is first used in Scripture
in Gen 2:11 where it talks about the river Pison where there is gold. Gold is the
colour that represents deity or kingship and they are the ones who are the
false teachers, prophets who sometimes revel themselves as Christ or as Gods.
There is a teaching out there today where they teach that we are like gods
when we accept Jesus and this is contrary to the truth that we are
Bondservants, subject to YHVH, not at the same level as Him. Some of these
leaders who gave themselves the title of father believe they have the authority
of YHVH here on earth whereby they can change the times and laws, as
prophesied in Daniel 7:25. This is done by the Catholic Church where they
changed laws, changing eth Word of YHVH, and changed times, taking away
the Sabbath and the Festivals, substituting it with man-made traditions.
Both these types of leaders have wrong motives why they lead or want to
control YHVHs people. They are working in the hand of the enemy and are
deceiving those who are not learned or instructed from the Scriptures and are
now open arguably for the deceiving lies of the enemy.

The Meal and Peace-Offerings - How to Eat


The first sin that was committed had to do with eating, and this is one of the
main topics we will address in this Torah Portion. Last week we saw the
importance of the Meal & Peace Offerings and how these Offerings restores the
peace and the Truth in the midst of a Congregation.
The Meal Offering is connected to food and what we eat. This connects the first
sin committed in the Garden of Eden with the same sin that is committed in the
House of YHVH today, eating what we want.

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This section of the Torah Portion elaborates a bit more on the requirements of
the Meal Offering or what we are supposed to eat so that you do not hinder
the fullness of the restoration work He wants to conclude in you.
The Commandments regarding food is part of the Meal Offering Restoration
we discussed last week, and its purpose is to reverse the curses brought upon
humanity as well as on the ground (produce), because of what Adam and Eves
disobedience. There are a lot of confusion regarding eating clean food (food, as
defined in the Word of YHVH), and Believers think that Jesus liberated us from
the dietary restrictions written in the Torah. They are taught that the Law is
abolished and by believing this, contradict Matt 5:17 where Yshua said that He
did not abolish the Torah, but came to give it meaning, taking away confusion
and man-made traditions.
The major issue with this belief is that the Torah forms part of the Restoration
Process in the physical, that we need to be released from its fallen state and
curses. We will now look at some of the most popular verses quoted by many to
support the idea that we can now eat what we want.

Misinterpreted Scriptures
It is not what goes into your mouth that makes you
unclean
Mat 15:11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that
which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
People use this verse to proof that you can eat anything because it is only your
words that make you unclean, not food. Reading the context of this passage
tells a different story.
Mat 15:2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For
they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.
The context of this verse is found where Yshua addressed the Pharisees after
His Disciples have been accused of defiling themselves eating food without
washing their hands. This caused them to break the tradition of the Elders,
who were the Pharisees. The Pharisees said that if you eat a meal without
washing your hands, then the food (any food defined by Scripture as clean), will
become unclean to you.
The issue Yshua addressed was not about food, as defined in Scripture. The
issue at hand was the words that came out of the mouths of the Elders,
creating new definitions for clean and unclean food, that made them unclean,
not the food as such (that was clean food I believe). They added to YHVHs
Word/Torah and replaced His definition of clean and unclean with their
traditions and teachings. Adding or taking away from His Word is what makes
the person unclean if they teach others their man-made tradition. These
Traditions are known as the Oral Torah, that is handed down from their Rabbis
over the generations. These traditions or teachings of the Elders are recorded in
a Book known as the Talmud.
Most Rabbis believe that the Talmud carry just as much authority as the Torah
because it is Oral Laws that were written down, similar to the oral instructions
Moses received in the Tabernacle, in the Presence of YHVH, and should be

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obeyed as if they came directly from YHVH. The Pharisees believe that they
have the authority to change YHVHs Law (just like the Pope) by adding or
taking away from it. These traditions within the Talmud are known as Takanot,
and the hand washing ritual is one of these Takanot Yshua spoke against.

Takanot of the Washing of the Hands.


Takanot is the term describing the
Pharisaic Laws created by them, and
handed down as Laws the people
had to obey to be righteous. This is
called the Tradition of the Elders.
YHVH said in His Word that you are
cursed if you add or take away from
His Word (Deut 4:2, Deut 12:32, Rev
22).
To obey this Takanot of the hand washing, you had to have a special jug
which you pour over your left hand three times, while resting a blessing, and
then over your right hand, three times, resting the blessing; Blessed are you
Adonai, King of the Universe, Who gave us the Commandments, and Who
commanded us to wash the hands. You had to do this before you could eat
otherwise your food will be unclean to you. Note: YHVH did not command us
to do this, but within this prayer, they say He did.
This is why Yshua got upset and confronted the Pharisees and is not in the
context of Him abolishing the Food Laws found in Leviticus. Most Christians are
ignorant of the Traditions of the Elders and the main issues addressed by
Yshua, twisting His words or putting words in His mouth, making Him unclean,
claiming He said things He never did.
Here is an example where Yshua spoke out against the Traditions of the
Elders or Oral Laws of the Pharisees:
Mat 15:3 But He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress
the Commandment of YHVH by YOUR TRADITION?
Think about it, Yshua never spoke against the Torah or the Commandments of
His Father, He always spoke against the traditions and commandments of man,
the traditions of the elders and the laws they added that caused a burden on
YHVHs people.

Eating clean food is a doctrine of demons


1Ti 4:1-5 But the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some
shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and
teachings of demons, (2) speaking lies in hypocrisy, being
seared in their own conscience, (3) forbidding to marry,
saying to abstain from foods which Elohim has created to
be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and
know the truth. (4) For every creation of Elohim is
good, and nothing to be refused if it is received with
thanksgiving. (5) For it is sanctified by the Word of Elohim and
prayer.

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The context of this passage is that there are teachings that infiltrated the
Believing community through seducing spirits which are defined as the
doctrines of demons. The first of these teachings forbid someone to marry. We
know that YHVH never said that and it is definitely from a seducing spirit.
The second doctrine that surfaced was to abstain from food Elohim created.
Those who believe to eat anything use this verse to say that if you do not eat
unclean animals or fish, you are following a doctrine of demons. Interesting
conclusion. Lets see how logical this assumption is. The place in Scripture that
defines food is in this Torah Portion (Lev 11) as well as in Deut 14:3-2. We
know that YHVH gave the Torah to Moses so this assumption accuses Moses
of receiving information regarding food from a seducing spirit and ultimately
accuse YHVH of being a demon? If they do not believe this, then they believe
that YHVH changed His mind regarding food and revealed His new position
through Jesus by abolishing the Torah that includes the food laws. This is
contradicting YHVHs Character that says in Mal 3:6-7, that YHVH never
changes.
If you still believe you can eat anything, then you indirectly say that the people
who adhere to the food laws in Lev 11 and Deut 14 are doing so through the
influence of seducing spirits and demons. This place you in the position of
accusing Yshua of being seduced by demons because He clearly states in Matt
5:17 that He did not come to abolish the Torah.
Having the interpretation that those who keep the food laws are being seduced
by spirits and demons, indirectly accuse both YHVH and Yshua to either be
deceived, or they are the seducing spirits behind this clean food thing. This is
ridiculous, and you paint yourself into a corner if you believe these foolish
assumptions. We will now look into what Paul actually meant.
First of all, YHVH specified what food is in His Torah, in this Parashah in Lev
11. He specifically said that pigs are not to be eaten and is not created or
classified as food. They are scavengers that clean the land, the same as
shellfish. You can pray over and anoint a pig as much as you like, it will not be
sanctified and become clean, it will just be an oily pig. Paul spoke highly of the
Torah (Scriptures), that He referred to in his second letter to Timothy as
profitable, to be used for teaching and instruction into righteousness; what is
right and what is wrong, what is food and what is not. Its that easy.
2 Tim 3:16 Every Scripture [is] divinely inspired, and profitable for
teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
When Paul wrote this, the New Testament did not exist, and he was referring to
the TaNaK, the Torah, the Prophets and the Psalms. You must be aware of
these concepts to stop you from making foolish assumptions regarding YHVHs
Word or His Character.

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YHVH defined clean and unclean animals before
Moses time when He told Noah in Gen 7:2 and Gen
7:8, to gather two pairs of unclean animals and
seven pairs of clean animals to take into the Ark.
Q - Why do you think He specified seven pairs of
clean animals?
It is because the clean animals were to be used for
sacrifices and be as food. You are the Temple of
YHVH with His Spirit indwelling you and you should not bring unclean animals
into His Temple. Secondly, if Noah decided to eat a horse or pig, they would
have died out and not exist today.
Later in Gen 9:3 YHVH states that we can eat all animals and every green
plant. Ah, now I have a verse from the Old Testament to back me up so that I
can eat anything I want. Not really, if you make this assumption, you will eat not
only all animals, but also all plants of which some of the, are very poisonous. If
you obey this verse to the letter, then you will surely die from consuming poison.
What Paul referred to here as the teaching of demons, is the doctrine of not
to marry and the doctrine of not to eat certain foods (clean animals). Rom
14:21 gives us more context to this issue at hand where Paul teach them not to
eat meat (clean meat) if it causes your brother to stumble. There is nothing
wrong with being a vegetarian but do not make it a Commandment and say it is
wrong to eat meat because of the killing of innocent animals. YHVH will never
contradict Himself in His Word and tell Paul to teach things different to what He
told Moses in the first place. Remember, the Torah (first five Books of the
Scripture) is the foundation of the House and the Prophets are the walls and
windows with the work of Messiah, as revealed through the Berit Chadashah
(NT) is the roof or covering for the House that contains the Presence and
Character of YHVH. Just like a roof is different to a wall and different to a
foundation, so are the Scriptures, but they all describe the same thing but will
never contradict each other. If it does, then the House will be fill of cracks,
without a foundation, and the roof will be coming down. Pauls teachings should
always be read within context so that you do not stumble and twist Pauls
words. His letters and writings are hard to be understood if you do not have the
same foundation as Paul, which is a very good understanding of the Torah and
the Prophets.
2 Pet 3:15-16 Bear in mind that our Lords patience means
salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom
that God gave him.16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in
them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to
understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the
other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Lastly, verse 5 confirms that all creatures mentioned as food are set apart by
Elohims Word (Torah Lev 11) and prayer, not OR prayer. It is not the one or
the other but both. We pray and thank YHVH for the food, not pray over the
food to define it and declare it clean, that is YHVHs job, not yours!

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Let no one judge you in food or in drink
Col 2:16-17 Therefore let no one judge you in
food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the
new moon, or of the sabbaths. (17) For these are
a shadow of things to come, but the body is of
Messiah.
This verse can be used to prove both views:
The Law is abolished let no one judge me in
food or in drink, I can eat what I like, pig,
prawns calamari, etc.or in respect of a feast, or
of the new moon, or the Sabbaths, I do not have
to do them any more, so dont judge me, For these are a shadow of things
to come, but the body is of Messiah, they all are shadows, and Christ has
replaced them because He is the real thing.
The Torah still stands let no one judge you.but the body of Messiah.
Only the people inside the body of Messiah may judge (direct) me
regarding food or feasts or the Sabbath because the people outside the
Body do know the Scripture and do not understand these things.
If you believe the Feasts, the Sabbaths, new moon and the food laws still stand,
then you can use this verse to defend your faith; let no one judge me in food,
drink, Feasts, new moons and Sabbaths
If you believe the Law is abolished, then you can use this verse to defend your
faith saying; let no one judge me For these are a shadow of things to come,
but the body is of Messiah You have the Real (Messiah), and He replaced
the shadows (Law, food laws, Feasts, Sabbaths).
This verse needs a second witness to confirm the truth, it is currently standing
on one leg and can swing both ways. My second and third and fourth and fifth
witnesses are; The food laws are listed in Lev 11 & Deut 14, YHVH change not
(Mal 3:6-7), Yshua said the Torah is not abolished (Matt 5:17). I rest my case.
Lastly, the translators have printed certain words in italics; these are words they
inserted that is not in the original text to make it easier to read in the English
language. In this verse, it is the word is was inserted by the translators and if
you remove it, changes the interpretation of this verse.
Col 2:16-17 Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in
respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbaths. (17) For these
are a shadow of things to come, but the body (is) of Messiah.

The term judge is sometimes misunderstood, and people tend to forget that
Solomon was a Judge that judged the people of Israel. To judge someone is to
direct or teach them, not to condemn them.
This confirms that only the Body of Messiah can judge (teach and direct) you
regarding these things, including what food is according to Scripture, because
they know and understand YHVHs whole Word.

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All food are declared clean where God showed Peter all
animals in a vision and told him to kill and eat
Act 10:9-16 On the next day, as these went on
the road, and drawing near the city, Peter went
up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10
And he became very hungry and desired to eat.
But while they made ready, an ecstasy fell on him.
11 And he saw the heaven opened and a certain

vessel like a sheet coming down to him, being


bound at the four corners and let down to the
earth; 12 in which were all the four-footed animals
of the earth, and the wild beasts (thrion -brutal,
savage, venomous beasts), and the creeping things (herpeton - reptiles,
serpents), and the birds of the heaven. 13 And a voice came to him, saying,
Rise, Peter! Kill and eat! 14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never
eaten anything that is common (koinos - defiled, unholy) or unclean. 15
And the voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has made
clean, you do not call common. 16 This happened three times, and the vessel
was received up again into the heaven.
This chapter in Scripture is the evidence that is mostly used to proof and justify
the eating of unclean animals. This evidence is based on the vision YHWH
gave Peter. In this vision, YHVH showed Peter clean and unclean animals
together and told him; kill and eat.

What does it mean?


Act 10:17 And while Peter doubted within himself what the vision
which he had seen might be,
As we read from verse 17 that Peter thought about this vision, what it
possibly could mean. Peter had a problem with this because he knew and
obeyed Lev 11. The other challenge he had was the kind of unclean
animals he saw; they were made up of probably unclean animals like
pigs, horses, dogs, etc. but the Greek words for wild beasts and
creeping things also means wild dangerous animals and serpents.
This relates to the enemy who works through nations to harm
Israel, and in this case, the Jews. Let's read on.
Act 10:17-28 even behold, the men who were sent from Cornelius had
asked for Simon's house and stood on the porch. 18 And they called and
asked if Simon whose last name is Peter was staying there. 19 And while
Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are
looking for you. 20 Therefore arise and go down and go with them
without doubting, for I have sent them. 21 And going down to the men,
those sent to him from Cornelius, Peter said, Behold, I am the one you are
seeking. For what reason have you come? 22 And they said, Cornelius the
centurion, a just man and one who fears God, and one of good report
among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel
to send for you to come to his house and to hear words from you. 23 Then
he called them in and lodged them. And on the next day, Peter went away
with them, and certain brothers from Joppa went with him.

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24 And the next day they entered into Caesarea. Guidelines regarding
And Cornelius was waiting for them, and had Doctrines: A Doctrine can
called together his kinsmen and near friends. 25 only be confirmed by Scripture
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him with two or more witnesses
and fell down at his feet and worshiped. 26 But (verses confirming the same
Peter took him up, saying, Stand up! I also am a truth). This means that you
man myself. 27 And as he talked with him, he have to find more than one
went in and found many who had come together. verse that says the same thing
28 And he said to them, You know that it is an for it to become a doctrin or
unlawful thing for a man, a Jew to keep foundational truth. Secondly,
company with or to come near to one of another Scripture cannot contradict
nation. But God has shown me not to call any Scripture, and everything
needs to harmonise throughout
man common or unclean.
Scripture, from the Torah right
Peter thought on this vision. Peter knew that what he through to Revelation. This
saw in the vision was not to be taken literal and he passage, if misinterpreted
wrongly, contradicts Lev 11
wondered what the interpretation of this vision might
and Deut 14.
be. Visions are sometimes figurative and should not be
taken literally, just like dreams. While thinking about If you find any contradictions,
the translation or interpretation
this three men appeared before him, three non-Jews.
is wrong. Any contradiction will
YHVH used the example of eating unclean to get only bring confusion and starts
Peters attention because He wanted to teach him another Denomination. Thirdly,
something very important. YHVH does not change (Mal
Q - What is YHVH revealing here because He will 3:6-7), anything that changes
throughout Scripture that
never go against His own Word?
cannot be explained or fit His
Verse 28 states that it was unlawful or against the Restoration Plan, cannot be
law for a Jew to come near or keep company with accepted because it
Gentiles or people from other nations, who are the contradicts His Character.
ones depicted by all these ravage and dangerous Lastly, there are grey areas;
this is where something stands
animals and reptiles. This law is not in the Torah, but
on its own in Scripture or is a
a man-made law or Takanot, that came from the very broad concept that is
Pharisees. YHVH showed Peter in this Vision to break open to interpretation. These
the commandments of the elders, not His Torah eating grey areas cannot become
unclean so that Peter and believing Jews could mix Doctrines just for the fact that
with Gentiles and other nations to bring the Gospel they can have multiple
message to them. interpritations. If it is not a clear
Commandment found in more
Q If Peter had not received the Vision, would he than one passage, then it is
have opened up to them and lodged them? not wise to use it to define a
No, it was unlawful for a Jew to keep company with Doctrine.
Gentiles, let alone invite them into your home and eat
with them. The Hebrew mind probably linked the
number three with the number of times the vision was repeated with the number
of Gentiles at his door. He also would have made the connection of kill and eat
with lodging and eating with these Gentiles (unclean dangerous animals).
Peter only understood the Vision after he was confronted with the Gentiles and
acted on the vision by inviting them in. Please note that he lodged them and this
implies that he prepared food and probably at with them (kill and eat) before
meeting Cornelius the following day.

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Kill and eat: The word "eat" is used metaphorically in Jer 15:16; Ezek. 3:1;
Rev. 10:9. In John 6:53-58, the terms "eating and drinking," metaphorically
means to believe in Yshua the Messiah. This is no different to YHVH using the
term eat, in this case, to eat together or fellowship, as we learned from the
meaning of the Minchah (Meal) offering last week. The symbolism of the
unclean animals represents Gentiles because Gentiles were seen to be
unclean and the Jews were not permitted to mix with people from the nations.
YHVH called the Gentiles clean and fit to receive salvation, just like the Jews.
This Mystery of the Food became the Mystery of the Gospel that Paul taught
in his letters.
The context of this passage has to be bent out of shape to confirm the
justification to eat unclean animals as stated in Leviticus. This new Doctrine is
not founded on concrete evidence that you can eat what you want. You do not
have to interpret Peters Vision, YHVH gave him the interpretation, just read on
from verse 28, and everything will be revealed to you.
What we can and cannot eat is found more than once in Scripture and is
explicitly listed as a Commandment that came from YHVH. If you bring in
another Doctrine that contradicts a Commandment YHVH gave, then you add to
His Torah that is not permitted and cause yourself and other people to break
His Commandments as well. If you do this, you will be called least in the
Kingdom. Yshua explaining this concept in the Book of Matthew:
Matt 5:19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these
Commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called
least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches
them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.

Clean and Unclean in the Torah.


This passage in Deut 14 is the second witness to what Lev 11 states and therefore can
be used to define the Doctrine regarding Clean and Unclean food.
Deu_14:3-21 Do not eat whatever is abominable. (4) These are the
living creatures which you do eat: ox, sheep, and goat, (5) deer, and
gazelle, and roebuck, and wild goat, and mountain goat, and antelope,
and mountain sheep. (6) And every beast that has a split hoof divided in
two, chewing the cud, among the beasts, you do eat. (7) But of those
chewing the cud or those having a split hoof completely divided, you do
not eat, such as these: the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit, for they
chew the cud but do not have a split hoof, they are unclean for you. (8)
And the pig is unclean for you, because it has a split hoof, but does not
chew the cud. You do not eat their flesh or touch their dead carcasses. (9)
These you do eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and
scales you do eat. (10) And whatever does not have fins and scales you
do not eat, it is unclean for you. (11) Any clean bird you do eat,

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(12) but these you do not eat: the
eagle, and the vulture, and the black
vulture, (13) and the red kite, and
the falcon, and the buzzard after their
kinds, (14) and every raven after its
kind, (15) and the ostrich, and the
nighthawk, and the seagull, and the
hawk after their kinds, (16) the little
owl, and the great owl, and the white
owl, (17) and the pelican, and the
carrion vulture, and the fisher owl,
(18) and the stork, and the heron
after its kind, and the hoopoe and the
bat. (19) And every creeping insect
that flies is unclean for you; they are
not eaten. (20) Any clean bird you
do eat. (21) Do not eat whatever
dies of itself. Give it to the stranger
who is within your gates, to eat it, or
sell it to a foreigner. For you are a
set-apart people to YHVH your
Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in
its mothers milk. (do not follow pagan tradition)

In the last verse, we see that YHVH forbids us to eat goat cooked in its mothers
milk. This was a pagan tradition, and YHVH do not want us to follow the
traditions of the Pagan Cultures, and one of them is to eat whatever we want.
YHVH created enough animals that is defined as food for us to eat and we
should not fall into the same trap Eve did when Satan told her that she could eat
from the things YHVH forbid them to eat from, so that they can become like
YHVH, deciding on what is good and what is evil. Eating what you want makes
you in a sense like YHVH where you have the power over your life and do not
need to submit under His authority.

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