Epistle Shelach LeCha

Epistle Shelach LeCha

John 9:24-41

Recall, Yeshua healed a man blind from birth by spitting on the ground and making a poultice of clay and putting it on the man’s eyes.  The Pharisees claimed this was doing “work” since by their definition, mixing two ingredients together constitutes “work” on Shabbat.  Of course, there is no such prohibition against medical care on Shabbat in the actual written Torah.  But their traditions and precedents in the Oral Law often have little or nothing to do with Elohim’s actual commandments.

John, continued:

Joh 9:24  So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to Elohim. We know that this man is a sinner.”

Joh 9:25  He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

Joh 9:26  They said to him again, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

Joh 9:27  He answered them, “I told you already, and you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don’t also want to become his talmidim, do you?”

Joh 9:28  They insulted him and said, “You are his talmid, but we are talmidim of Moshe.

Joh 9:29  We know that Elohim has spoken to Moshe. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”

Joh 9:30  The man answered them, “How amazing! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.

Joh 9:31  We know that Elohim doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of Elohim, and does his will, he listens to him.

That’s an important caveat – Elohim’s will is very clear, it was written out for us in the Torah.  The Pharisees could not do such miracles precisely because they had substituted their Oral Law which they made up themselves for Elohim’s written Torah.

John, continued:

Joh 9:32  Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.

Joh 9:33  If this man were not from Elohim, he could do nothing.”

Joh 9:34  They answered him, “You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?” They threw him out.

As it is to this day, followers of Yeshua HaMashiach are thrown out of not just their synagogue but also their own family when they are discovered in any Rabbinic community.

John, continued:

Joh 9:35  Yeshua heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Elohim?”

Joh 9:36  He answered, “Who is he, Adonai, that I may believe in him?”

Joh 9:37  Yeshua said to him, “You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you.”

Joh 9:38  He said, “Adonai, I believe!” and he worshiped him.

Joh 9:39  Yeshua said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”

Joh 9:40  Those of the Perushim who were with him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”

Joh 9:41  Yeshua said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.

Exactly.  Had their sins been in ignorance, they would not be held liable for them until the time came that they knew better, as the Torah Portion says.  But they know the Torah, and they claim to be interpreting it correctly, and indeed force others to adopt their interpretations  – so their sins are willful and arrogant!  They are not repentant, they do not approach their students and say with humility, “I think this is the correct way, but I could be wrong.”  No, they lord it over their students and their communities, and their sins, therefore, remain.

Next:  Kollel Shelach LeCha.