每週一妥拉 2014/3/30-/4/5
從古時起，世界各地的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經，從摩西五經（妥拉）到先知的書（先知書）。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱，其出自經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節，耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂，讀了一段先知書（以賽亞書61章）。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容，不僅提供我們機會，與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容，在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上，聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。

這週的閱讀進度（3/30-4/5）被稱為『大痲瘋』（Metsora）：
妥拉：利未記14:1—15:33
先知書：列王記下7:3-20

前二週的妥拉閱讀聚焦在以色列被『分別出來』的重要性，將聖的、俗的，潔淨的、不潔淨的，分別出來（利10:10）─這週的妥拉閱讀會持續談到要如何在日常生活中行出來。

上週我們提到當一位母親生產時，她需要潔淨與贖罪，必須居家一段時間並檢視是否有爆發疾病（身體上與環境上），以及污染是否已經排出身體。這週則提到『長大痲瘋得潔淨之日的條例』，確保患者完全痊癒（14章），診斷並潔淨男女身體因漏症所帶來的不潔（15章）。人類（希伯來文意指亞當之子 bnei adam）在罪中而生，本注定死亡（創世記2:17），直到被神的恩典吸引，祂在我們身體動了善工。現在神以祂的聖潔住在祂以色列的百姓中間，因此需要『以色列人與他們的污穢隔絕，免得他們玷污祂的帳幕，就因自己的污穢死亡』（15:31）。在這裡提到一旦得醫治必須按著指示來恢復的方式。

當彌賽亞耶穌出生穩定後，祂的母親馬利亞照著同樣的指示來潔淨（路加福音2:22），當獻祭的時候到了，她和約瑟只能獻上這裡所提到的卑微獻祭（利12:8；路2:24）。耶穌來是為要『除去魔鬼的作為』，其彰顯在所有這些疾病當中，帶來贖罪、救贖性的醫治與潔淨。很有意義的是在祂的醫治神蹟中，特別提到祂醫治那些大痲瘋與『血漏問題』的婦人。 

請禱告：當猶太人這週安息日在會堂裡聽見這些話，其如此深動描繪出目前在我們中間的罪與結果，以及人們需要得醫治並宣告得潔淨─禱告聖靈會讓人為罪、為義、為審判自己責備自己，聖靈也會吸引猶太人尋求主的潔淨，唯有祂能將人洗淨白如雪。 

下週的閱讀進度（4/6-4/12）被稱為『死了以後』（Acharei Mot），讀經內容包括：妥拉─利未記16:1-18:30；先知書（大安息日）─瑪垃基書3:4—4:6。

馬汀和娜瑪‧賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis） 
於耶路撒冷


THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parashah) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

This week March 30—5 April 2014 the readings are called Metsora--“Skin Disease/Leprosy”:
Torah:  Leviticus 14:1—15:33
Haftarah:  II Kings 7:3-20

After a focus two weeks ago on the importance of Israel’s being ‘set apart’, of her distinguishing between the holy and unholy, the unclean and clean (Lev. 10:10)—this week’s Portion continues instruction on how this was to be worked out in everyday life.  

Last week dealt with the need for purification and atonement for a mother when bringing forth children; it dealt with measures for diagnosing surface diseases or blights (both on physical bodies and on dwellings), and for contaminating discharges from the body.  This week deals with “the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing” when it is certain that he or she has been made whole (Ch.  14), and diagnosis and purification for unclean discharges from the body of both men and women (Ch. 15).  Human beings (Hebrew: bnei adam—“children of adam”) are born in sin, and in our fallen state “death” (Genesis 2:17), until arrested by God’s grace, is at work throughout our bodies.  God in His holiness was now dwelling in the midst of His people Israel.  It was necessary  to “separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness lest they die in their uncleanness” when they defiled His tabernacle that was among them (15:31).  Here were ways prescribed for purification and restoration once healing had occurred. When Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus) came to be born in a stable, his mother Miriam (Mary) submitted to these same instructions for purification (Luke 2:22), and when it was time for the sacrifice, she and Joseph could only afford the humble offering prescribed in last week’s Portion (Lev 12:8; Luke 2:24).  

Yeshua’s coming was to “undo the works of the devil” manifest in all of these diseases, to bring atonement, redemption healing and cleansing--especially to those who were outcasts because of their infirmities. We find it of great significance that among his healing miracles, special mention is made of those involving lepers and a woman with an ‘issue of blood’.  

PLEASE PRAY:  as those in synagogues this coming weekend hear these words which so graphically picture the presence and result of sin in our midst and man’s need for healing and being pronounced clean—that the Holy Spirit will convict of sin and righteousness and judgment, and draw Jews to seek cleansing through the One who washes white as snow.  

Martin & Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Torah and Haftarah portions for next week 6-12 April 2014 are called Acharei Mot—“After the Death”:  TORAH: Leviticus 16:1—18:30; HAFTARAH (Shabbat haGadol): Malachi 3:4—4:6.]