Pastor as a purger

Pastor as a purger

 Purge is a verb, and it is used 31 times in the scripture, representing 7 different Hebrew words and 5 different Greek words. It is retained by modern translations in the three cases where it means what the term still means in a political sense: Josiah purged the land of idolatry (2 Chronicles 34:3, 8) and the word of the Law to Ezekiel was that he would purge out the rebels (Ezekiel 20:38). It is retained also in the great penitential psalm of David (51:7): “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

In nearly all other cases “purge” has a moral sense or refers to a ceremonial ritual of moral significance. Nine times it represents the Hebrew word for “forgive,” “atone for,” or “expiate” (1 Samuel 3:14; Psalms 65:3; 79:9; Proverbs 16:6; Isaiah 6:7; 22:14, 27:9, Ezekiel 43:20, 26). Twelve times in scripture it means, “Cleanse” or “purify.” Twice the underlying Hebrew terms are figures of speech drawn from the refining of metals (Isaiah 1:25, Malachi 3:3. “Thoroughly purge his floor” (Matthew 3:12; Luke 3:17 KJ) contains the old spelling “thoroughly” for “thoroughly” and is misleading because it may be taken to mean that the floor is in need of physical cleansing or ceremonial purification.

The Hebrew word Tahor rOhot ritual purity and Tamei xmt ritual impurity are definitions of our hopelessness as physical beings. They graphically represent the separateness of YAHVEH and Man. They also make us aware of the depravity of our fleshly state. YAHVEH is pure and we are impure, YAHVEH is clean but we are unclean. For this reason, ultimately every believer before going to Heaven will be given a glorified body.

Corinthians 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Some examples of being ritually unclean are, when spouses have sexual relations, touching a dead, menstruating woman act. In order to become Tahor, ritually clean, one must be immersed in water. In other case such as touching a dead body, a korban (draw near offering) is required. This tells us ever so clearly that the states of Tahor and Tamei has nothing to do with salvation and are apart from the saving works of Yahushua Mashiach, Jesus Christ hywmh fOwy who was our Mwaaxa asham-trespass offering. These are strictly a state of ritual purity, which allow or disallow one from accessing the temple.

Today we are the Temple. Whenever we attempt to approach YAHVEH for praise and worship, we must see to it that we are ritually pure.

I Corinthians 6:¹⁷ But he who is joined to YAHVEH is one spirit with Him. ¹⁸ Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from YAHVEH, and you are not your own? ²⁰For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify YAHVEH in your body and in your spirit, which are YAH’S.

The rendering of this scripture seems to illustrate that; if we as believers want to glorify YAHVEH we must present our body as a living sacrifice.

My understanding of these terms pertaining to the redeemed community who become Tamei because of either certain skin eruptions or bodily emissions. Example:

Seeit txw a swelling, a boil, or a mole.

Sapahat thgs a rash breaking out of the skin.

Baheret trhb a discoloration, a white shiny spot.

Nega Zfgn an affliction from YAHVEH, a plague, a diseases.

Tsaraat tfyrzt a scaly affliction

These are difficult words to translate from Hebrew to English, so a generic word leprosy is used. Leprosy is really just an undefined human skin disease. When we compare the Torah description of a metzora with the commonly rendered leper we will find that there is a vast amount of difference between them. In the English sense a leper is a person who has Hanson Disease, a severe nerve disease.

Leviticus 14 teaches us about the cleansing process for a metzora leper. Here is a brief summary of the process: To begin, a Pastor is should be called into the case to examine the metzora.

1.               If there was no healing or repentance from the tazria.

§     The Pastor conducted a closer examination.

§     If no healing had occurred, repentance, the person remained Tamei.

§     The Tamei person was to dwell apart from the rest of the community.

§       He was to dwell outside the camp until he was healed.

2.               If there was healing.

§     The person would be taken back to the Laver where the Blood and water of Yahushua was applied to the individual.

§     The metzora was now free to enter the community, but not allowed to participate in any activity for seven days

§     On the eighth day a public repentance by the person, followed by a public sin and guilt offering. Then the Pastor was to anoint their right ear, right thumb, and right toe of the person who was being cleansed.

§     The Pastor would finally pray for that person.

§     The metzora, the person was finally declared to be Tahor by the officiating Pastor.

What does this all mean? The first thing to note is the wording which introduces this process in Leviticus 14:1 Then YAHVEH spoke to Moses, saying, ²“This shall be the law (Torah) of the leper (Metzora) for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest. This text indicates that the following instructions for the procedure for cleansing a Meper metzora - unclean person, are to be considered instructional material for the (Cohen) Priest. We see this is specified by the use of the word Torah hrOt in the first verse.

Some English translations use the word law or ritual, however, the use of the word Torah in the Hebrew stresses the fact that this procedure is not to be considered primarily a law, nor is it describing the components of a ritual, but rather these words were originally meant to constitute part of the contents of the priest’s training manual, as the book of Leviticus is.

Another picture that can be seen in this process is painted by the use of the water. The first thing to note about the water is that the scriptures describe the water as living water mayim hayim Myym Mym.. This phrase refers to water, which is running, fresh water as opposed to stagnated water.  Living water is the kind of water, which the Torah required to be used for any cleansing which involved the use of water.

Mayim hayim is a picture in itself, of some beautiful spiritual truths. The Torah is the Word of YAHVEH, it is often referred to as mayin hayim because it revives us and keep us fresh and spiritually clean. Yahushua uses the phrase mayin hayim living water as a synonym for the Spirit of YAHVEH in John 7:38.

In regard to the water ceremony in the cleansing of the metzora, the living water used in the cleansing was combined with the blood of the sacrificed bird. The blood was part of the atonement process and symbolized that no cleansing for a metzora could be accomplished apart from the blood and water of a sacrificial victim.

John 19: ³⁴But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

I John 5:²  By this we know that we love the children of YAHVEH, when we love YAHVEH and keep His commandments. ³For this is the love of YAHVEH, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ⁴For whatever is born of YAHVEH overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

⁵Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of YAHVEH? ⁶ This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. ⁷For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. ⁸And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

The immersion in water signifies a return to the state of purity that existed at the start of Creation. Since the dawn of time, immersion has been the symbol of regeneration. Indeed, the mikveh (ritual bath) not only effects a physical cleansing but it also implicitly provides a purification of the moral being. The act of immersion signifies the shedding of one’s physical nature and there by brings about a true moral change in the person.

Therefore the act of using the water and the blood mixture to help cleanse the metzora is a highly symbolic act similar to the Laver experience, which picture the atonement and subsequent cleansing that YAHVEH through implied repentance had already accomplished.

The seven day waiting is symbolic of the seven day anointing process of the priest. Yahushua had to go through the same process when He returns to heaven seven days before Pentecost. These seven days was not to purify the metzora, but to prepare Him for the rite of consecration, just like the Levites had to do.

What then are some of the sources between these afflictions and unconfessed and unrepentant sin? It is not stated anywhere in the scripture that these skin diseases were caused by particular sins. Indeed, the fact is that inanimate objects like garments and houses could be also affected, rules out any connection with sin. But the presence of an unclean spirit could also affect the person and the house.

As I interpret it, there are two possibilities as to why the Holy One would afflict someone. The first is when the person has entered into a state of Tamei uncleanness and has failed to take the necessary step to repentance. This does not necessarily involve sin on their part, but it would be considered negligence.

If a man accidentally or out of necessity touches a dead animal, this person did not sin, but it does render him Tamei. He is in a situation where he is ineligible to participate in the Miskan the Temple. The Torah prescribes the process through which he could be declared Tahor instead of Tamei. However if he simply chooses not to follow that teaching, this could turn an unfortunate sinless act into a matter of rebellion. It is incumbent upon all redeemed person to worship YAHVEH in Spirit and in truth.

But if we refuse to take the proper steps deemed necessary to facilitate this, that is when YAHVEH would inflict such a person with Tazia (Leprosy), in order to discipline them.

The second possible reason for these horrible afflictions might be sin. The first line of evidence is by the use of the guilt and sin offerings in the restoration process. These sacrifices were not given just for ceremonial purposes. If a metzora was required to bring such offering it was because there was truly sin and guilt, which occurred. The affliction was sent by YAHVEH as a discipline action for not repenting of that sin.

The second evidence is based on the severity of the discipline it the metzora continued in his or her sinful ways. It is never a pleasant thing to have any of these skin disease, nor was it a happy occasion to have one house condemned, or to be excommunicate from society. This could only have been unrepentant sin, which would have brought such a condition upon the redeemed.

Matthew 18, I Corinthians 5 and 11 indicates that sin is the ultimate reason why a person is either expelled from the holy community or may be afflicted with a disease. YAH’S people are disciplined; He never punishes them.

The ancient manuscripts of Luke 3:17 read, as rendered in RSV: “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” The cleaning up of the threshing floor is not preliminary to the threshing, but part of the process of maturity.

In John 15:2 “purge” means “prune”. In the sixteenth century men spoke either of purging or of pruning a tree or vine, and except for this one verse KJ uses “prune” and “pruning hooks.” The translation of Mark 7:19 is mystifying. Fortunately, the most ancient Greek manuscripts of Mark’s gospel, as well as the writings of Oregon and Chrysostom, are more intelligible. Pruning causes a vine to produce better and larger fruits. The unfruitful vines are removed, so that the fruitful vine can receive more.

Like so many sound structures in the natural, the church must have a well-planned, carefully organized blueprint, if it is to survive the strain of time.

Exodus 25^:8 “And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. ⁹“According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it. The Tabernacle of Moses in the wilderness is a type and shadow of the perfect pattern in heaven. One of the goals of Pasturing is to empowering members to maturity. There are times when the parent/pastor must change the diapers of the children until they are old enough to do it for themselves.

My view of a Pastor is like this. If a sheep under his care, breaks a leg, the Pastor must first repair that break, secure it in a cast, and carry that sheep on his shoulder until that sheep is well enough to walk for itself. During that period of time in which the sheep is being carried to new pastures, that sheep will eventually want to go to the washroom. Sheep do not know how to ask for permission, they just do it right where they are. If this is during the time when it is been carried, it will fall on the Pastor’s garment. The pastor cannot drop the sheep and say look what you did to me! He must still carry that sheep and expect that sheep to do whatever comes natural until it is well enough to walk for itself.

The office of the pastor is the second step in the stage towards maturity. It is symbolized by the Altar of the Laver in the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon's Temple. It is the only Altar that does not have a specific measurement. When any one come to The Messiyah he or she must just accept the Blood, but at the Laver the Word of YAHVEH applies the water that flows from our savior’s side through counseling.

Every individual requires a different amount of water to break our dependence on this world system. It is the responsibility of the Pastor to walk each and every new believer through this experience personally.

Titus 3^:5 not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration,

I John1^:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yahushua The Messiyah His Son cleanses us from all sin.

John 19:³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

This water that flowed from the Side of Yahushua is applied at the Laver that cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 5:³⁶ that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. I keep hearing believers say that it is the Blood that washes away our sins It is not so. The Blood covers us so that we can appreciate a Holy YAHVEH, then the water that flow from His side washes us.

We are not a part of the Church until we are cleanse of all unrighteousness. The Children of Yisrael could no go into the wilderness unless they go through the Red Sea. What got destroyed in the Red Sea? That which kept the Children of Yisrael captive in Egypt.

I Corinthians 6:¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but the Spirit of our YAHVEH justified you in the name of YAHVEH Yahushua.

 Zechariah 13:¹ “In the future there will be a fountain, where David's descendants and the people of Jerusalem, can wash away their sin and guilt.  It is the water that breaks the bondage of sin that is why the Laver was the only Altar that did not have any dimension. Some may take a cup, others still, a bucket, and some several buckets, whatever the amount, there is enough for everyone, the well that will never run dry.

This fountain is illustrated in the Alter called the Laver and the office of the Pastor.  The next stage of development is at the Altar of the Golden Lamp stand. However if the new convert, fails to move on the following scripture shows what will happen.

Matthew 12:⁴³ “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. ⁴⁴ “Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ “Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Move on.