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| Metzorah - Leper Torah - Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33 Haftarah - II Kings 7:3-20 Apostolic - Luke 12-13 |
| Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. © Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2008 |
In this sidra we see the Torah concerned with the well being of the
community of believers. It describes in great detail the laws for diagnosing
and quarantine anyone with a skin disorder. Leper is this portion of
Scripture is not dealing with just the disease we know as Leprosy. It was
dealing with tumors, scabs, spots and rashes. Communicable diseases
could spread rapidly in a community and the priest served as medical
personnel to assist in keeping the community healthy.
The Sages also make spiritual applications between leprosy and evil
speech using the story of Miriam in Numbers 12. The Sages inferred that
leprosy was a punishment for the sin of an evil tongue. It was taught that
the word metzora which means leper was derived from the combination of
the word motzi (wellspring or source) and ra (evil). Evil springs forth from
the tongue. From the mouth issues for the things of the heart. We are told
there is life and death in the tongue. Therefore, anyone who speaks evil
becomes a spiritual metzora. In James 3:10-11, James compares the
tongue to a wellspring which speaks forth blessings and cursing. Is your
wellspring fresh or bitter?
community of believers. It describes in great detail the laws for diagnosing
and quarantine anyone with a skin disorder. Leper is this portion of
Scripture is not dealing with just the disease we know as Leprosy. It was
dealing with tumors, scabs, spots and rashes. Communicable diseases
could spread rapidly in a community and the priest served as medical
personnel to assist in keeping the community healthy.
The Sages also make spiritual applications between leprosy and evil
speech using the story of Miriam in Numbers 12. The Sages inferred that
leprosy was a punishment for the sin of an evil tongue. It was taught that
the word metzora which means leper was derived from the combination of
the word motzi (wellspring or source) and ra (evil). Evil springs forth from
the tongue. From the mouth issues for the things of the heart. We are told
there is life and death in the tongue. Therefore, anyone who speaks evil
becomes a spiritual metzora. In James 3:10-11, James compares the
tongue to a wellspring which speaks forth blessings and cursing. Is your
wellspring fresh or bitter?