- VaYikra / Leviticus 22:26-23:24
- B’Midbar / Numberes 29:13-16
- Zekharyah / Zechariah 14:1-24
- Hitgalut / Revelations 22:1-24
Vayikra {22:26} HaShem spoke to Moshe (Moses), saying, {22:27} When a bull, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the hen; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for the korban (draw near offering) of a korban made by fire to HaShem. {22:28} Whether it be cow or ewe, you shall not kill it and its young both in one day. {22:29} When you korban a sacrifice of thanksgiving to HaShem, you shall korban it that you may be accepted. {22:30} On the same day it shall be eaten; you shall leave none of it until the morning: I am HaShem. {22:31} Therefore shall you keep My mitzvoth (commandments), and do them: I am HaShem. {22:32} You shall not profane My Kadosh (Holy / Separate) Name; but I will be made Kadosh among bnei Yisrael (children of Israel) : I am HaShem who makes you kadosh, {22:33} who brought you out of the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt), to be your G-D: I am HaShem.
This Shabbat there is a special Torah Parasha reading. The reason is that this Shabbat is the first day of Succoth. Succoth is a feast of thanksgiving; it represents, agriculturally, the end of the fall harvest season and, therefore, the giving of thanks for the bountiful harvest and provisions that HaShem supplies to His children. Spiritually, Succoth is a picture of Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) tabernacling with us on the earth.
Follow along with me as I explain the chain of events portrayed through the Feasts of the L-rd. The spring Feasts that represented the death and resurrection of Yeshua are over. These were pictured through Pesach (Passover) and Hag HaMatzah (Unleavened Bread). The Feast of Yom HaBikkurim (First fruits), which pictured us as the first fruits of Yeshua’s resurrection, has also passed. The Feast that pictured the inauguration of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) being poured out on all flesh had begun as it was pictured through Shavuot (Pentecost). The Feast that pictures the Judgement of the earth is pictured through Yom Teruah (The Day of the Blowing of the Shofar) and, while the picture that this feast portrays has not happened in the physical yet, the celebration of it has already passed us by this biblical year. The Feast that represents the triumphant return of Yeshua HaMashiach as the King of Yisrael as well as the world is behind us this biblical year, as pictured through Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). Now all that remains this year is the Feast that pictures Yeshua HaMashiach, now our King, finally establishing His Kingdom on the earth and tabernacling with us for one thousand years during His Messianic reign. This is what Succoth is all about.
It is because of Sukkoth that this portion of Vayikra is read on the first day of Succoth. Why? First, because the beginning portion that I quoted above describes the thanksgiving offering, Sukkoth is a thanksgiving Feast. Second, because the last portion of the reading describes all the biblical Feast Days and end with the Feast of Succoth, the Feast we begin to celebrate this Shabbat.
However, in reading the portion of Scripture that I quoted above, I noticed something very interesting. Let me quote for you again the portion of Scripture that caught my attention:
Vayikra {22:29} When you korban (draw near offering) a sacrifice of thanksgiving to HaShem, you shall korban it that you may be accepted. {22:30} On the same day it shall be eaten; you shall leave none of it until the morning: I am HaShem.
When I was growing up I remember that my mother never fed us leftovers, in other words food left over from the previous days’ meals. She would always throw whatever was not eaten on the day she made it away. So, of course, I grew up thinking that this is the way things are; people do not eat leftovers. However, when I grew-up, left my home and started living on my own I used to find it very wasteful throwing out perfectly good food, which I could eat the following day, especially now that I had to cook my own meals. It was purely logic; it saved me both time and money. However, on occasion, when I went back to reheat some leftovers I used to find that it had spoiled; it became corrupted.
After reading our passage above I wondered to myself, “Does HaShem not like leftovers?” Has my mother been right all these years and I wrong?
The fact is neither of us was right or wrong, we just had different likes and dislikes. The reason is that this passage in our Parasha reading this week has nothing to do with leftover food, but everything to do with Yeshua HaMashiach.
The thanksgiving offering was a free will offering. Each person was to give it of their own free will. Considering that Yeshua HaMashiach has become all of the offerings since after His death and resurrection and before the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash (Temple), this Korban spoken of in verse 29 above, represents the Father’s free will Korban of His Son and the Son’s free will to be offered.
Ivrim (Hebrews) {12:2} Looking unto Yeshua the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of G-d.
It was Yeshua HaMashiach’s joy of offer Himself for us. Therefore, it is for this reason that this offering must be eaten the same day, leaving no opportunity for it to spoil, for it to become corrupted.
Our Mashiach did not see corruption. He rose from the dead and is now at the right hand of the Father in heaven, interceding on our behalf.
Mizmor Psalm {16:10} For You will not leave My soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
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