Tazria
She Conceives
“What Did Yeshua Do?”
Leviticus 12:1-13:59
2 Kings 4:42-5:19
excerpted from TorahScope, Volume I
One of the many blessings which today’s Messianic Believers receive in committing themselves to a consistent, weekly examination of the Torah portion, is the much fuller perspective which they naturally receive of the Scriptures. Too frequently, people who read the Apostolic Scriptures or New Testament, when reading references about the Mosaic Law, have very little idea about what is being talked about. This week as we encounter Tazria, “She Conceives,” we actually see some interesting commandments which directly relate to the birth of Yeshua and how Joseph and Mary were obedient to the Torah. Our parashah begins by saying,
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, saying, “If a woman conceives, and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days; as in the days of her monthly period she shall be unclean. In the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. She shall continue in the blood of purification thirty-three days. She shall not touch any holy thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed”’” (Leviticus 12:1-4, WMB).
In many years Tazria is coupled with the following parashah, Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33), as both of these selections continue to focus on Leviticus’ theme of holiness. In this section of the Pentateuch, we see various regulations regarding what it means for something to be “clean” (Heb. tahor), rather than “unclean” (Heb. tamei). Our previous parashah, Shemini, actually ended with God delivering instructions on clean and unclean meats, and how following them would contribute to His people being holy:
“For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten” (Leviticus 11:45-47, WMB).
Now that the Lord has laid out the restrictions on what was to be considered edible food, some further instruction was given regarding cleanliness and uncleanliness. The two specific sets of commandments given in Tazria, regard the blood of childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8) and the handling of leprosy (Leviticus 13:1-59).
Proper Parental Influence
While reflecting on Tazria, and how little I knew about postnatal care or the intricacies of various skin afflictions, the most dominant thoughts which came to mind were recollections from the Apostolic Scriptures on the birth of Yeshua and what His parents did. Joseph and Mary followed the Torah’s commandments with what were to be done with a newborn child. Examining Luke’s record of what took place after Yeshua was born, we see how Joseph and Mary followed the instructions we see in this Torah portion, having brought the infant Messiah to the Temple in Jerusalem for dedication:
“When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Yeshua, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. When the days of their purification according to the Torah of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Torah of the Lord, ‘Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord [Exodus 13:2, 12, 15]’), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the Torah of the Lord, ‘A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons [Leviticus 12:8]’” (Luke 2:21-24, WMB).
In this account, we note how Joseph and Mary were obeying the instructions regarding the circumcision of a male child, and his dedication before the Lord. Luke made some direct quotations from the Torah, detailing the commandments which Joseph and Mary were following:
“Sanctify to me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine…that you shall set apart to the LORD all that opens the womb, and every firstborn that comes from an animal which you have. The males shall be the LORD’s” (Exodus 13:2, 12, WMB).
“If she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons: the one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean” (Leviticus 12:8, WMB).
We can discern how Joseph and Mary were relatively humble in their means, because of the reference to the turtledoves and/or pigeons which were made. But, they did follow the Law of Moses, and they raised Yeshua—as well as their sons James and Jude—in a Torah-keeping environment. Luke later summarized the kind of home in which Yeshua was reared, noting how they went to Jerusalem on a regular basis to keep the appointed times:
“When they had accomplished all things that were according to the Torah of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast” (Luke 2:39-42, WMB).
Yeshua’s Torah Obedience
As you read through Tazria, you are given a very detailed account of instruction regarding how to deal with the disease commonly referred to as leprosy (Heb. tzara’at), although other forms of skin eruptions are also described. As I read these passages, my mind flashed forward to scenes where Yeshua healed lepers during His ministry. The ability to heal a leper would have been a sign of how the Messiah had come:
“Now when Yochanan heard in the prison the works of Messiah, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’ Yeshua answered them, ‘Go and tell Yochanan the things which you hear and see: the blind receive their sight [Isaiah 35:5-6], the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them [Isaiah 42:18; 61:1]. Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me’” (Matthew 11:2-6, WMB).
As Yeshua healed lepers of their illness, He instructed them to follow the Torah’s instruction—specifically so that those healed could testify of their cleansing:
“A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, ‘If you want to, you can make me clean.’ Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, ‘I want to. Be made clean.’ When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them’” (Mark 1:40-44, WMB).
“Behold, a leper came to him and worshiped him, saying, ‘Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.’ Yeshua stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I want to. Be made clean.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Yeshua said to him, ‘See that you tell nobody; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them’” (Matthew 8:2-4, WMB).
Yeshua knew the instructions which had been given in Tazria. Even though He knew that lepers had been completely healed of the debilitating disease, He upheld the Torah’s instruction so that the priests might inspect the cleansing:
“But if in his eyes the itch is arrested and black hair has grown in it, then the itch is healed. He is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean” (Leviticus 13:37, WMB).
As we read and reflect upon Tazria, we can be reminded how Yeshua, as well as His parents, followed the commandments in the selection which we are reviewing this week. It does not appear from these testimonies that Yeshua attempted to annul the importance of these commandments because of His ministry—even though the lepers who were healed would no doubt speak to the priests of the One who healed them!
WWJD?
Many of us in the community of faith are aware of the popular acronym WWJD which has been fashioned into bracelets, t-shirts, and a variety of other commercially viable forms for sale in the evangelical world. I do not at all want to belittle those who have used the simple admonition What Would Jesus Do? I am convinced that many people have been prompted to do many positive things from the WWJD acronym. It has been an easy way to promote holiness among many Christians, who need a visible reminder of the Lord we serve.
As Messianic Believers, though, our engagement level with who the Messiah is and how He lived—goes a little beyond the simple commands to love God and neighbor, as important as those are.[1] This week, many of us are taking a look at Tazria (Leviticus 12:1-13:59), a selection of text which for most people might seem pretty dry and boring, detailing things which are really not that applicable in the Twenty-First Century. Yet, in studying this part of Scripture, we can learn more of the details of how Joseph and Mary, and how the Messiah Himself, lived their lives in the First Century.
If I did not take the time to read and study passages like this from the Book of Leviticus, I might not know how God was concerned about mothers who gave birth to children, or those who were afflicted with leprosy. I would not have any idea what the commandments were which Yeshua directed healed lepers to follow, as they would go and testify to the priests at the Temple of the Messiah who had healed them. By not reading Tazria, I might not know of the simple fact of how our Heavenly Father is concerned about the hygiene of His people, and how He surely does not want them to contract diseases like leprosy.
In His Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua the Messiah was clear that He did not come to abolish, but to fulfill, the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17-18). He also stated how “Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:19, WMB). The commandments we read about this week in Tazria can largely not be followed today, because of the lack of a Temple in Jerusalem—but most importantly because of the fact that leprosy is not as rampant as it once was in past centuries (for which we should all praise God!). But not following largely inapplicable commandments is different than teaching against them, and how they instruct us as God’s people. By reading Tazria this week, I am sure that we have all learned some things about the character of our Heavenly Father which we have not known, or at least thought about, before.
Yeshua the Messiah came to fulfill the Torah of Moses, meaning that He came to show His followers how to live it properly. As Believers in Him, we can actually learn things about His life and His ministry in the Gospels by studying the Torah. Obscure parts like healed lepers going to the Temple, actually make much more sense.
Unfortunately, many Christians (but thankfully not all!) who wear WWJD bracelets, conclude that Yeshua “fulfilled and thus abolished” the Torah of Moses. From this vantage point, what we are considering in Tazria this week has largely nothing to do with Yeshua’s birth or with His ministry. As it is often said, “We as New Testament Believers do not have to be concerned with any of restrictions on our lives, imposed by adherence to an antiquated list of do and don’ts.” How far from the truth is this? The New Covenant actually involves God supernaturally writing the Torah’s instructions onto the hearts of the redeemed for their remembrance (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27). A view of holiness, emulating the Lord Yeshua the Messiah, which excludes any kind of obedience to the Law, has done considerable harm to the Body of Messiah. Simply look at all of the people who claim to be following the Messiah, but have very little concept of Biblical ethics or morality. To them, WWJD is just a cloth or rubber bracelet, but not really a committed lifestyle.
I am not trying to unfairly criticize those who are unaware about some of the finer details of the Torah as seen in readings like Tazria. There are plenty of things in the Torah which today’s evangelical Protestants and Messianics all agree need to be followed.[2] The high standard which Yeshua gave in His Sermon on the Mount—a teaching firmly rooted within Moses’ Teaching—is a place where we can come together with Christians, and learn what it means to fulfill the Law. When we get to areas like Shabbat, the appointed times, or kosher as detailed last week—how can we approach these areas in a constructive, investigative spirit? How can today’s Messianics demonstrate that emulating the Messiah Yeshua means not only treating others with love, but also deriving the blessings which other parts of the Torah will undeniably bring to one’s life?
Today’s Messianic Believers need to learn to demonstrate, as Yeshua instructed, a proper Torah obedience by good works (Matthew 5:16; cf. Ephesians 2:10). When evangelical Protestants who wear that What Would Jesus Do? bracelet witness our actions of faith, will they be able to really see some of the things which Yeshua did? What about Jewish people who need to know the salvation available in the Messiah Yeshua, and inquire of our good deeds? I certainly hope and pray that we can see a generation of Messianic Believers come forth who can provide answers to the question What Did Yeshua Do? in a manner which brings honor and glory to Him.
NOTES
[1] Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; cf. Mark 12:31; Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14; James 2:8.
[2] For a summary, consult Walter C. Kaiser, “The Law as God’s Gracious Guidance for the Promotion of Holiness,” in Wayne G. Strickland, ed., Five Views on Law and Gospel (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996), pp 177-199.
