Emor (אֱמֹר) “Speak” #559

Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Ezekiel 44:15-31
Luke 14:12-24

This portion starts with the instruction concerning priests (Kohanim, כהנים, #3548). Why is the priestly law important for us to understand?

But you are a chosen people, the King’s Kohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.  1 Peter 2:9 Complete Jewish Bible

This is the revelation that God gave to Yeshua the Messiah so that he could show his servants what must happen very soon. He communicated it by sending his angel to his servant Yochanan,

who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Yeshua the Messiah, as much as he saw.  Blessed are the reader and hearers of the words of this prophecy, provided they obey the things written in it! For the time is near!  From: Yochanan To The seven Messianic communities in the province of Asia: Grace and shalom to you from the One who is, who was and who is coming; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne;  and from Yeshua the Messiah, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the earth's kings. To him, the one who loves us, who has freed us from our sins at the cost of his blood, who has caused us to be a kingdom, that is, Kohanim for God, his Father - to him be the glory and the rulership forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:1-6 Complete Jewish Bible

The mitzvot (Instructions) in this Parsha (and all of scripture) are an expression of Elohim’s character, and guidelines for his faithful to live a life of obedience and holiness that is pleasing to Him. We should look at all instruction in the scripture and remember that we (as His saints in Messiah) are both B’nei Yisrael (children of Israel, grafted in) and Kohanim (Priests) and ask ourselves how should this instruction inform the way I live my life, remembering that we have the grace of Messiah looking forward to the time when our LORD will complete our sanctification, only then will we be able to live fully and shamelessly before the face of our LORD. For now, we can only practice and strive towards his perfect character.

Next week

Behar
Leviticus 25:1-26:2
Jeremiah 32:6-27
Luke 4:16-21

Bechukotai
Leviticus 26:3-27:34
Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
Matthew 22:1-14