In the final sedra of Vayikra (Leviticus), which begins on the 34th day of counting the Omer before Shavout, we are looking at the concluding thoughts of this book of Torah devoted to the pursuit of sanctity. The word of Torah itself leads one to God's holy way, as we read, "These are the mitzvot [commandments] which the Lord gave to Moses for the people of Israel at Mount Sinai" (Lev. 27:24). This closing verse corresponds with the beginning of Vayikra that says, "The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting: he said, 'Speak to the people of Israel'" (Lev. 1:1-2). The book is framed to show that the origins of its teachings are from the God of heaven and earth.

The Sages understood the importance of the Scripture, as they made a distinction between Torah Law (D'oraita) and Rabbinic Law (D'rabanan). D'oraita was to be followed because it came from the word of God, of which Shaul HaShaliach (Paul the Apostle) said, "So the Torah is holy; that is, the commandment is holy, just and good" (Rom. 7:12). This word is so powerful that it often reveals two sides of God's ultimate purpose. Let's consider Vayikra 26:3-6:

"If you will follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them, then I will provide your rains in their time, and the land will give its produce and the tree of the field will gives its fruit. Your threshing will last until the vintage and the vintage will last until the sowing; you will eat your bread to satiety and you will dwell securely in the land. I will grant Shalom in the land."

The alternative is found in Vayikra 26:14-17:

"And if you shall despise my statutes, or if your soul loathes my judgments, so that you will not do all my commandments, but that you break my covenant. I also will do this to you; I will appoint over you terror, consumption, and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart; and you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. And I will set my face against you, and you shall be slain before your enemies; they who hate you shall reign over you; and you shall flee when none pursues you."

Rashi comments on 26:6, "I will grant you peace," saying "Maybe you will say, ‘well, there's plenty of food and there's drink too,' but you should know that without peace
there is nothing." While the first passage, Lev. 26:3-6, seems more suggestive with its advice, the second section, Lev. 26:14-17, is direct in telling what happens when the suggestion is not followed. Think of the strong words about the sanctity of Shabbat and the penalty that will come upon those who dismiss it downright in Leviticus 26:35. "As long as it lies desolate it shall rest-for the time it did not rest on your sabbaths when you dwelt in it." In other words, after years and years that Israel desecrated the Shabbat, it finally caught up with her and the result was her banishment into the nations. Ah, but as ordained by God, the land got its rest as it was to be the case during yovel, or the year of jubilee.

Shaul writes in Romans 14:6, "He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.' Some Messianic Jews apply this teaching to the practice of Jews and the practice of Gentile respectively, but Shaul's teachings are  not to be taken casually or as a suggestion of choice. Shaul knew that God's ways are not just a good idea but a reality of life with Him.

The sedra teaches us this week that the Shabbat is the Shabbat, and when Israel disregarded it, the Shabbat of the land prevailed while Israel fell into the judgment of exile. The same is so with the Messiah. Yeshua is the Messiah, even if one disregards him, because the Scripture tells us so. Yeshua must be elevated to his rightful place regardless of what others around us think, or Messianic Judaism has no merit within our own borders. This is a simple word certainly, but in the midst of Jewish tradition, we must remember that the mitzvot of Torah speak of the Messiah. "These are the mitzvot which the Lord gave to Moses for the people of Israel at Mount Sinai" (Lev. 27:24). We need to rethink the power of the words of Torah, not only in what we believe but also in what we do.