Emor - May 1, 2021

Torah Portion:
Emor - May 1, 2021
Torah: Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

Portion Summary:
—Laws for priests and Levites are given.
—The commanded festivals are detailed.
—Laws on keeping the lampstand lit and on the showbread are given.
—The blasphemer is judged.
—Penalties for crimes and “an eye for an eye” are spoken.

Devotional by Janet Cothrell:

“Then you are to count from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the omer of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot.” Leviticus 23:15 (TLV)

The first wave offering of the omer is brought on the first Sunday after the start of Passover. It has great significance for us, for on the Passover Sunday after Yeshua was crucified, He arose, and presented Himself in the open as a wave offering. It was the first day of the week, after Israel observed two consecutive Sabbaths. The first was on Friday, a special Shabbat for the first day of Passover, and the second was a regular Saturday Shabbat. In the Greek in Matthew 28:1 the word for Shabbat is pluralized.

This clears up the mystery of how Yeshua could say, ”For just as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.” (Matthew 12:40). Christianity calculates two nights and only one full day between crucifixion and rising from the dead. Christian leaders at the time the traditions of Easter were decided had disregarded or were ignorant of the cycles of the Jewish calendar and condensed the time.

Rav Shaul wrote, “But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (I Corinthians 15:20). Two offerings were given at that Passover: one for remission of sins, and one for firstfruits of those who have died and will die and will rise to meet with Yeshua in the sky!

My Savior,
I thank You that You have not only provided a way for me to come be with You when the time comes, but You have followed the pattern You set up from the beginning. You do not mean for all things You do to be a mystery but have set up Your Torah to reveal the plan. Thank You for Your clarity in these most important things!
In Yeshua’s name, amen.