Parsha 49: Ki Tetzei (‘When you go out’)
DEUT. 21:10-25:19: Isa. 54:1–10; N.T. Luke 23:1–25; 1 Cor, 5:1–5
By Raphael ben Levi
This week’s parasha, Ki Tetze,i focuses upon a range of domestic and civil laws within the community and covers many items. For some it might appear laborious to plow through these things some which appear obscure with little relevance for us today. For example, it speaks about loans and interest (23:20) that on first glance doesn’t seem to hold any great importance for us today.
And yet on a deeper level everything listed is in fact deeply relevant for us, covering items such as trans-gender and gay lifestyles, regarded as being ‘detestable’ in the sight of God (22:5): or protecting the weak and vulnerable from the evil of human trafficking and abortion. How we respond is important and constitutes an indication of who we are and the moral and ethical things we stand for as believers.
God is intricately concerned about even the smallest details of His Creation, as illustrated, for example, where He instructs the Israelites “…If, while walking along, you come across a bird’s nest with young birds or eggs in it, in any tree or on the ground, and the mother bird is sitting on them, you shall not take away the mother bird along with her brood. You must let the mother go, taking only her brood, in order that you shall prosper and have a long life.” (Deut.22:6–7)
74 commandments are contained in this Parasha. Some are clear and others need to be interpreted, and still others are a ‘chok’ (‘mystery’). In addition to the things already mentioned, they include inheritance rights: laws for rebellious children: returning a lost object, and the various forms of ‘kilayim’ (mixed species that are forbidden). Kilayim is mentioned only twice in the Bible, once in Lev19:19 and here in this parasha in Deut.22:9–11: “Don’t plant your vineyard with two kinds of seed. If you do, everything that grows there will not be pure, both what grows from the seeds and what grows on the vines. 10 Don’t plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. 11 Don’t wear any material made of both wool and linen.” (sha’atnez) It connects with Yeshua’s Parable of the Wheat and the Tares.
Each commandment has a direct spiritual application for our lives that awaits to be uncovered. This was clearly understood by the Sages who taught that every single word in Scripture needs to be teased out because not one of God’s words are obsolete. In fact every jot and tittle holds relevance that are applicable to our lives. Yeshua Himself stated: “ …I say to you that until Heaven and earth will pass away, one Yodh or one Taaf and will not pass away from The Written Law until everything will happen.” (The Aramaic Bible)
Additionally, the parasha contains legal procedures for various obscure procedures such as for the wife of a deceased childless brother, should the brother-in-law not wish to marry her (which he was duty-bound to do – known as ‘Orchalitzah’ – removing the shoe)
An instance of this can be found in the Book of Ruth. Boaz [type of Messiah] desired to marry Ruth [type of the Bride of Messiah] but the only legal way he could do so was to purchase the parcel of land owned by Elimelech [Ruth’s mother-in-law’s deceased husband]. By purchasing the land, he also obtained all that was attached to the land which included Ruth [the treasure, or bride].
The right of buying back the property was in every sale so when the time came to “redeem” the land back to its original family, a relative could step in to purchase it who was referred to as “the kinsman redeemer” [relative]. Only the kinsman redeemer could purchase back the land and the person was responsible to pay the price.
It’s a beautiful picture of Yeshua who is our kinsman redeemer (relative) and “paid the price” to regain ownership of the earth. In order for Him to be a kinsman redeemer he had to come to the world [in the flesh] as a man and pay the price [his death]. Yeshua became did this to obtain the legal right to redeem the earth from Satan so that He could take for Himself His bride from the earth who He purchased (paid the price) through the shedding of His blood.
The earth was originally given to Adam, but its ownership was transferred to Satan through Adam’s sin. Satan ruled the world, and the land deed was wrapped up in a scroll with seven seals that Yeshua took from the Father’s hand in Heaven and opened to reclaim the earth Rev.5:
5 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [a]and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and [b]to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.”
To better understand the significance of this passage are two important things. The first is well explained with an extract from an article in ‘One Path Research’:
“… in biblical times proper legal documents were prepared and sealed for the Redemption. After the necessary price was paid (Jer.32:6-9) the proper legal documents of two identical scrolls were prepared with the particulars written on the inside and witnesses on the outside. One is sealed for sure evidence and given to another for safekeeping. One is used for reference until final redemption takes place in the future when the sure evidence of redemption (held in safekeeping by an absolutely trustworthy source) is opened for the final return of the land (Jer 32:10-14). Then at the Jubilee Year, the original owner shall have the land returned to him to lease out, performing legal contracts again, as he pleased before (Jer 32:41-44). Only the kinsman redeemer had the legal right to take the scroll and open the seals to redeem the land.
In Revelation, God the Father was holding the sealed scroll in safekeeping, and only Messiah Yeshua, our kinsman redeemer had the legal right to take it and open the seals and retake possession of the earth. But this possession would only be taken in the Year of Jubilee. At that time Yeshua will take possession and expel the usurpers from the earth (Acts 3:21). If Yeshua did not come in the flesh to be our kinsman redeemer then He would not be able to claim us from the Earth as it would always remain in Satan’s possession. This is why John was weeping before Yeshua came forward to claim his status and authority to open the scroll in Revelation.
Even though Yeshua will have the right to the Earth and all in it, He will not take what is not His and only those that follow Him are His. The Bible provides God’s plan of salvation and the manner in which we should live our lives to serve him, and if we do, we will become his adopted children and live in Heaven with him eternally.”
The second thing comes from a parable which Yeshua told of The Pearl of Great Price in Matt.13:44: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure (the Bride of Yeshua) hidden in a field, (the earth) which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys (pays the price) that field.”
This parable describes how Yeshua died to pay the price to regain rights to the earth in order to obtain treasure (His bride) in the earth. His goal wasn’t to obtain the field itself but the treasure within it.
Contained in this parasha is a curious phrase which speaks of the ‘curse and death on a tree’ ‘Etz’ which refers to the death of a person as a result of hanging on a tree or gallows who was considered to be cursed of God.
Under Roman rule the person was placed on a wooden cross-beam and was known as death by crucifixion. This barbaric and slow, torturous death was preceded by flogging Deut.251-3. up to 39 lashes. It comprised of 13 strikes to the chest and 26 to the back – many times the victim died from the beating even before they had been crucified. When Pilate wanted to release Yeshua with a flogging (cf Lk.23) he was not letting Yeshua off the hook lightly. But Yeshua endured it and took the punishment that we deserved. Here is a brief extract which describes the brutality of Roman flogging:
“… flogging consisted of 39 lashes with a whip made up of multiple leather straps, 18-24 inches long that had small metal balls woven into them. There were also pieces of sharp metal, bone or glass attached to these straps. After repeated blows, the metal balls would bruise and eventually open the victim’s skin. The pieces of metal and bone would become embedded into the skin and then rip outwards as the whip was recoiled. The lashes would target the entire back, buttocks and the back of the legs of the victim. Sometimes, the bowels would be opened up and most often blood vessels and veins would be severed. This led to tremendous blood loss and dehydration. This condition led to hypovolemic shock, which leads to the following bodily reactions: The heartbeat will become rapid in order to try to pump more blood throughout the blood-starved body. Of course, it pumps in vain. Blood pressure drops drastically. The kidneys shut down so to save fluids for a now fluid starved system. `due to the loss of fluids the victim will thirst, can faint, and go into shock. Lastly the heartbeat becomes erratic and eventually goes into cardiac arrest. Many died simply from the flogging.”
Following the flogging Yeshua was compelled to carry the crucifixion stake He would be crucified on. Crucifixion one of the most painful deaths ever devised by man is described in some detail Isa.53 and Ps.22.
The Jewish leaders saw Yeshua’s crucifixion as “proof” that He blasphemed God by claiming to be the Messiah; in their interpretation, no true Messiah would “hang on a tree” and become a curse of God although the reverse was true (Isa.53:3-5).
According to the Jewish historian Josephus they provided a burial site for criminals located just outside the city known as “pauper’s graves.” (cf.Jos.Ant. v. 44)
However, under Roman law, the bodies of criminals would sometimes be handed over to their next of kin as was the case with Yeshua as prophesied in Scripture that the Messiah would be buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isa.53:9). The Messiah would be put to death as a criminal (Isa.53:3-4), among criminals (53:9), and yet He would also be buried with the rich (53:9) in a new tomb that up to that time had never been used, which is exactly what happened in Yeshua’s case. “…Christ purchased our freedom and redeemed us from the curse of the Law and its condemnation by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs [crucified] on a tree (cross)” Gal.3:13-14
Every believer is called to walk in close fellowship with the Lord who broke the curse of the Law by becoming a curse for us through His shed blood on the Cross for our sins. When our response is to follow in the Master’s footsteps, we change who we are and we decide who we are to become. The measure we act upon God’s word is equal to how much of Him we want to reflect in our lives. As we choose to place our trust in God and walk in obedience to His commands all things are possible because God sets no limits for our lives when we allow Him change us from glory to glory. Each one of us has the potential to be a history maker!
Yeshua came to earth and became the Suffering Servant to redeem us from our sins, but He will soon return again but this time in judgment as the Conquering King. This is our blessed hope as we eagerly await the return of our Messiah accompanied by the sounding of the shofar. 1Cor.15:51-53, “51 Stay close because I am going to tell you a mystery—something you may have trouble understanding: we will not all fall asleep in death, but we will all be transformed. 52 It will all happen so fast, in a blink, a mere flutter of the eye. The last trumpet will call, and the dead will be raised from their graves with a body that does not, cannot decay. All of us will be changed! 53 We’ll step out of our mortal clothes and slide into immortal bodies, replacing everything that is subject to death with eternal life.”
During Temple times, the silver trumpets were blown on each new moon but following the destruction of the Temple a custom during the month of Elul throughout the 30-day period has been to blow the shofar as a declaration that God reigns and dwells in our midst and as a reminder that the shofar will be sounded when Yeshua returns to gather His elect from the four corners of the earth with the Tekiah Gedolah, the long, unbroken sound blown on the last day of Elul described as the ‘last trump.’ And at that precise moment He will receive His bride pure and spotless to Himself to rule and reign forever.
In these days, we are seeing the jigsaw pieces coming together with Israel as centre stage. We have entered perilous times in these last days where we are called to stand up for righteousness and fight all appearance of evil and deception, employing the full resources He has made available to us.
In closing, here are some interesting thoughts from the Babylonian Talmud, (Tractate Shabbath 153a) that are relevant for us in the times we live in:
Rabbi Eliezer said: “Repent one day before your death.” His disciples asked him: “Does one know on what day he will die?” He replied: “Then all the more reason that he repent today, lest he die tomorrow, and thus his whole life is spent in repentance.”
Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai explained it with a parable: There was once a king who summoned his servants to a banquet without appointing a time. The wise ones adorned themselves and sat at the door of the palace enquiring: “Is anything lacking in a royal palace?” The fools went about their work, saying: “Can there be a banquet without preparations?”
Suddenly the king desired the presence of his servants. The wise entered adorned, while the fools entered soiled. The king rejoiced at the wise but was wroth with the fools saying: “Those who adorned themselves for the banquet, let them sit, eat and drink. But those who did not adorn themselves, let them stand and watch.”
Does not Scripture say: ‘Therefore, thus saith the Lord God: ‘Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart.’” (Isa.65:13ff).
The righteous were commended by the king because they had prepared themselves well with garments that were undefiled, living righteous and pure lives as they eagerly awaited the fulfilment of the king’s promise with patience and expectancy. They echoed the sentiment of the psalmist who declared. “I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Ps.84) However, the fools soiled their garments by pursuing their own self-interests and agendas convinced there would be sufficient advance warning to prepare themselves when it was time. They were wrong…
The amazing love of God is demonstrated in a Divine reversal as Yeshua now stands at the door of our ‘palace’ seeking to make good the deficit in our lives whilst there is yet time. Let’s pursue Him as never before in these last moments of time surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us: “So since we stand surrounded by all those who have gone before, an enormous cloud of witnesses, let us drop every extra weight, every sin that clings to us and slackens our pace, and let us run with endurance the long race set before us. 2 Now stay focused on Jesus, who designed and perfected our faith. He endured the cross and ignored the shame of that death because He focused on the joy that was set before Him; and now He is seated beside God on the throne, a place of honor.” (Heb.12)
