Cg – The Test of M’tsora 14: 1-32

The Test of M’tsora
14: 1-32

Tsara’at is a general term for skin diseases, which could include boils (to see link click Bz), burns (Ca), head sores (Cb), white spots (Cc), sores on bald spots (Cd), stains (Cf), or mildew (Ck). The term m’tsora (14:2) is translated leprosy, which we will explore here. M’tsora conjures up exaggerated images of stubby fingers, ulcerated wounds, missing legs, and distorted facial features. It is indeed cruel. Most modern English speakers think of a leper as a person who has what is known as “Hanson’s Disease.” It was the most feared disease in the ancient world, and even today it cannot be totally cured, though it can be kept in check with proper medication. Although some ninety percent of people in modern times are immune, it was much more communicable in ancient times. Although advanced leprosy is generally not painful, because of the nerve damage it is disfiguring, debilitating, and can be extremely repulsive. One ancient rabbi said, “When I see lepers I throw stones at them lest they come near me.” Another said, “I would not so much as eat an egg that was purchased on a street where a leper had walked.”

The disease generally begins with pain in certain areas of the body. Numbness follows. Soon the skin in those spots loses its original color. It gets thick, glossy and scaly. As the sickness progresses, the thickened spots become dirty sores and ulcers due to poor blood supply. The skin, especially around the eyes and ears, begins to bunch, with deep furrows between the swellings, so that the face of the afflicted begins to resemble that of a lion. Fingers drop off or are absorbed; toes are affected in the same way. Eyebrows and eyelashes drop out. By this time one can see the person in this pitiable condition is a leper. By a touch of the finger one can also feel it. One can even smell it, for the leper emits a very unpleasant odor. Moreover, in view of the fact that the disease-producing agent frequently attacks the larynx, the leper’s voice acquires a grating quality. The throat becomes hoarse, and you can now not only see, feel, and smell the leper, but you can hear his or her raspy voice. And if you stay with a leper for some time, you can even imagine a peculiar taste in your mouth, probably due to the odor.²³⁸

Beginning with the previous Torah portion (see Bc – On the Eighth Day), and continuing with this one, we have been examining the concepts of being ritually clean and ritually unclean in terms of what they can teach us about two kingdoms: the kingdom of sin and death (see Bv – The Test of Tsara’at), and the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness (and here The Test of M’tsora). It is now time that we offer biblical proof for this Second Kingdom and explain it in greater detail.

The Kingdom of Life and Righteousness: Fortunately Romans 5:12-21 describes another kingdom. Whereas Adam is the first person in the kingdom of sin and death, Messiah Yeshua, according to Romans Chapter 5, is the head of the Second Kingdom. In fact, in First Corinthians 15:45, Yeshua is called the last Adam. Here, in Romans 5, Paul declares that the first Adam was a type of Messiah. Thus, Yeshua and Adam were meant to be compared with each other. Just as Adam was the key person who brought in the kingdom of sin and death to planet earth, so the last Adam, Yeshua would bring in the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness to all who would be in Him. This Second Kingdom also has an important sequence of characteristics as did the first kingdom. This Second Kingdom can be described like this: All who are in Messiah’s grace, and righteous justification, have eternal life.

Grace: Adam passed sin on to all who were in Him – all mankind. But the Second Adam passed on His grace to all who are in Him – all who put their trust in Him. Grace can be defined as “God giving sinners what they don’t deserve.” We all deserve condemnation, but ADONAI acted out of grace toward us. It could have been no other way. We all truly deserve to die. We owe our very life solely to the One who, for reasons of His own, decided to hand us grace. The grace of YHVH takes many forms. First, was the grace where we received the gift of being delivered from the penalty, the punishment, the power, and ultimately the presence of sin. Accordingly, the Bible declares: For by grace you are saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

God also showed His grace upon us by providing us with a written record of who He is, how we relate to Him, and how we can relate to others. In the written Word of God, whose foundation is the Torah, we have the plan where all of the separations which sin has caused can be mended. Is it any wonder, then, that Deuteronomy 32:47 declares concerning the Torah: For it is not an idle word for you; it is your life.

Righteous justification: In Adam, condemnation arose from man’s sin. But in Messiah, because of His face, all who are in Him are justified, acquitted of their sin (Romans 5:16)! In both the Hebrew and Greek, the words justify and righteous share the same roots respectively. To be righteous is to be legally declared by ADONAI that sin is pardoned and the sinner is acquitted. By God’s grace a sinner can be declared righteous.

However, this declaration is not merely divine paperwork! In order for God to declare a sinner righteous He justly needs to change the sinner from being a sinner into a righteous person. This is the thrust of Romans 5:19. In Adam’s kingdom, the kingdom of sin and death, verse 19 says that all in Adam were made, or constituted as “sinners.” That was their basic spiritual identity. However, the inhabitants of Messiah’s Kingdom are constituted “righteous,” according to verse 19. This is the basic identity of all who trust in Messiah. We are no longer sinners, but saints: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (First Corinthians 1:2).

Eternal life: Finally, in Adam, death ruled through one man. But how much more will those receiving the overflowing grace, that is, the gift of being considered righteous, rule in life through one man in Yeshua Messiah (Romans 5:17)! Yeshua’s work constitutes a complete reversal to the work which sin attempted to accomplish. The ultimate end of sin is death – death on several levels. The ultimate end of Messiah’s atonement is life – life on all levels. Everyone in the kingdom of sin and death, ultimately must endure an eternal death, or separation from their Creator, ADONAI. But those who are in Messiah have eternal life according to Romans 5:21. Moreover, even though most in this kingdom will experience physical death, nevertheless, there will be a glorious resurrection where they will be given a wonderful new kind of body – one suitable for eternal life in the glorious kingdom of righteousness and life (First Corinthians 15).

No middle ground: Romans 5:12-21, therefore, provides us with a very clear description of the two kingdoms about which I have been hinting. It tells us that these are the only two spiritual kingdoms that exist. A person is either in one or the other. He either has life or he does not have life. He is either justified or he is condemned for his sins. Moreover, he is either a sinner or a justified righteous one. There is no middle ground (see the commentary on Romans Bn – The Contrast to Adam). To be sure, there may be times when a person from the kingdom of sin and death may appear to demonstrate some of the characteristics of Messiah’s Kingdom. And there may be moments when one from the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness may demonstrate characteristics of the other kingdom. But, in reality, those are just momentary occurrences. They do not make the person part of either kingdom. A person is born into the first kingdom (see Romans Az – The Need for Justification); a person is born again into Messiah’s Kingdom (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Bv – Jesus Teaches Nicodemus). When he enters into it, he is a completely new and different person from the inside out (see the commentary on Second Corinthians Bd – A New Creation). He is now a personal property of the King of kings, Who has chosen him to be there before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4).

For the Israelites then: Given the critical importance of making a distinction between the two kingdoms – and there are only two kingdoms, we can now see why YHVH placed these vital teaching tools in the Torah to help His people be prepared for, and understand the nature of, the two kingdoms. And as such, they are part of God’s progressive revelation, culminating in Yeshua Messiah. There is no middle ground. This, then, is the primary reason for the ritually clean and ritually unclean distinctions (see Bj – The Mitzvot of Purification), they represent the two kingdoms.²³⁹

For us today: People ask, “Why study Leviticus? What application is the Torah in my life?” Well, here it is! The study of the tsara’at and m’tsora in Leviticus Chapters 13 and 14 teaches us about the two kingdoms competing for the attention of believers and unbelievers today. For believers, there is no condemnation for those in Messiah Yeshua (Romans 8:1). Those in Christ are eternally secure (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer). For unbelievers, however, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). This understanding should shape the way we view evangelism. Again, there is no middle ground. There is no such thing as just being a “good” person (see the commentary on Romans Ao – The “Good” Person) as far as the eternal destiny of the lost is concerned. There is no works righteousness. Most people in the world do not understand this. We are not all called to be evangelists, but we are all called to evangelize. When we understand that if someone is not in the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness, then they are in the kingdom of sin and death, that should motivate us to reach out, build a relationship, nurture a friendship, earn the right to be heard, then introduce them to Yeshua Messiah. God will not violate their free will to choose or reject Him. But we must plant the seeds.