We had a break in the series so I could cover Halloween, but now we’re picking it back up starting with number 39. If you have not read the first two parts I recommend you do.
39. Rambam has, “Do not save an idolater from execution.”
“When your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own being, entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other mighty ones’– which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, of the mighty ones of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth – do not agree with him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pardon him, nor spare him or conceal him,” (Deuteronomy 13:6-8)
The literal commandment is that we should not pardon, some translations say pity, a person who attempts to entice us into idolatry. This falls under love Elohim and cannot be fulfilled today as we do not live in a country that abides by the Torah. Although you could certainly not pity them, as that is not dependent on a Judicial system that has its base founded in Torah. Does that mean we do not try to show them the error of their ways? I personally would attempt to help them repent but if they refused then I would wash my hands of the matter. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not pardon/pity an idolater.”
40. Rambam has, “Do not say anything in an idolater's defense.”
“do not agree with him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pardon him, nor spare him or conceal him,” (Deuteronomy 13:8)
The literal commandment is that we should not spare a person who attempts to lead us into idolatry. The penalty for idolatry is death. This falls under love Elohim, and like the one above there is no Judicial system operating based off Torah, so this commandment is rather mute at the time. However, if we were to live in such a place, then absolutely we would fulfill this command. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not spare the one attempting to lead you into idolatry.”
41. Rambam has, “Do not refrain from incriminating an idolater.”
“do not agree with him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pardon him, nor spare him or conceal him,” (Deuteronomy 13:8)
The literal commandment is that we should not conceal a person who attempts to persuade us into idolatry. This falls under love Elohim and while this commandment is given with the context of a judicial process, I believe it could also be implemented in the following way. Say someone in the congregation is attempting to lead you or others into following another faith, you could inform the assembly leader of what is happening. In that sense you did not hide the idolater, I also suppose the same example could be used for commandment number 40. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not conceal the one attempting to lead you into idolatry.”
42. Rambam has, “Do not prophesize in the name of idolatry.”
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My Name, which I have not him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other mighty ones, even that prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:20)
Rambam highlights the portion of this scripture that states a prophet speaking in the name or authority of other gods, should be put to death. The literal commandment is that the prophet who speaks in the name of other gods (idols) should die. This falls under love Elohim and we are not able to fulfill certain aspects of this commandment today, we are currently in the dispersion and thus lack the proper judicial process to properly carry out judgment and penalty. When Yeshua returns as a conqueror he will take care of these people. We can, however, fulfill it in a sense by not being a prophet for another god. I titled it in my notes as, “The prophet who speaks in the name of other gods shall be put to death/ Do not prophesize in the name of idolatry.”
43. Rambam has, “Do not listen to a false prophet.”
“When there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he shall give you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder shall come true, of which he has spoken to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other mighty ones – which you have not known – and serve them,’ do not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for יהוה your Elohim is trying you to know whether you love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart and with all your being.” (Deuteronomy 13:1-3)
This commandment is clear, we should not listen to false prophets or dreamer of dreams. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today, I titled it in my notes as, “Do not listen to a false prophet or dreamer of dreams.”
44. Rambam has, “Do not prophesy falsely in the name of Elohim.”
“But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My Name, which I have not him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other mighty ones, even that prophet shall die.” (Deuteronomy 18:20)
The literal commandment is that the prophet who presumptuously says something in Elohim’s name (authority), which He did not command him to speak should die. There are a lot of preachers out there saying they have a message from the all mighty, but these false prophets are storing up wrath for themselves on the day of judgement. This falls under love Elohim, in one aspect we can fulfill this by not being a prophet who unjustly speaks in the authority of YHWH, when He has not told us so. The other part of this commandment cannot be fulfilled. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not prophesy falsely in the name of Elohim/ The one who does shall die.”
45. Rambam has, “Do not be afraid of killing the false prophet.”
“when the prophet speaks in the Name of יהוה and the word is not, or comes not, that is the word which יהוה has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)
The literal commandment is that we should not be afraid of a false prophet, remember when people were saying the world was going to end in 2012? Some people really took that to heart and were terrified about what would happen. Likewise, if we have to combat a false prophet, we shouldn’t be worried. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not be afraid of a false prophet.”
46. Rambam has, “Do not swear in the name of an idol.”
“And in all that I have said to you take heed. And make no mention of the name of other mighty ones, let it not be heard from your mouth.” (Exodus 23:13)
The literal commandment is that we should not mention the name of other gods. Does this mean when we read the Bible and another god’s name is mentioned we just skip over it? One Rabbi I talked to said the commandment is meant in the form of worship, I will let you use your own discernment on this one. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not mention other gods (worship, swear by).”
47. Rambam has, “Do not inquire of spirits.”
“Do not turn to mediums, and do not seek after spiritists to be defiled by them. I am יהוה your Elohim.” (Leviticus 19:31)
The literal commandment is that we should not seek out spirits through the use of mediums and spiritists. Either way do not seek out spirits by yourself or with someone who practices such arts. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it the same in my notes.
48. Rambam has, “Do not consult magicians or seers.”
“Do not turn to mediums, and do not seek after spiritists to be defiled by them. I am יהוה your Elohim.” (Leviticus 19:31)
This is a repeat of number 47, Rambam has just broken it up to add additional identifiers such as magicians and seers. I always thought of mediums as people who do séances, but I see how that is a type of magic, making them magicians. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not turn to mediums.”
49.Rambam has, “Do not pass your children through the fire to Molech.”
“And do not give any of your offspring to pass through to Moleḵ. And do not profane the Name of your Elohim. I am יהוה.” (Leviticus 18:21)
The commandment is clear, we should not be offering up our children to Molek(a Phoenician god), from this I gather any type of offering of children to other gods is wrong. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled in my notes as, “Do not give your children to Molek.”
50. Rambam has, “Do not erect a pillar in a public place of worship.”
“And do not set up a pillar, which יהוה your Elohim hates.” (Deuteronomy 16:22)
The literal command is that we should not set up a pillar for ourselves, the type of pillar in context is one used in the worship of other gods. Not necessarily a pillar that supports a structure. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not set up a pillar which Elohim hates.”
51. Rambam has, “Do not bow down on smooth stone.”
“Do not make idols for yourselves, and do not set up a carved image or a pillar for yourselves, and do not place a stone image in your land, to bow down to it. For I am יהוה your Elohim.” (Leviticus 26:1)
For the portion of the text that Rambam highlighted, the literal command is we should not place a stone image(figure) in our land and bow down to it. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not place a figured stone in our land to bow down to it.”
52. Rambam has, “Do not plant a tree in the temple courtyard.”
“Do not plant for yourself any tree as an Ashĕrah near the slaughter-place of יהוה your Elohim that you make for yourself.” (Deuteronomy 16:21)
The literal command is that we should not plant trees as an Asherah near the slaughter place of YHWH. Asherah was a Canaanite fertility goddess in which an Asherah pole was her symbolic image. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today, no we don’t have the temple, but we can make sure we don’t have any objects associated with other gods. Since the Ruach Hakodesh has made it’s home in us, then our bodies are the temples and we are living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), therefore we should not have any idols around us. I titled it in my notes, “Do not plant trees as an Asherah near the slaughter place of YHWH.”
53. Rambam has, “Destroy idols and their accessories.”
“Completely destroy all the places where the nations which you are dispossessing served their mighty ones, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. And you shall break down their slaughter-places, and smash their pillars, and burn their Ashĕrim with fire. And you shall cut down the carved images of their mighty ones and shall destroy their name out of that place.” (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)
The literal command is that we should destroy idols and their accessories, that is in the land of Israel our home. However, we cannot perform thus action today, even if we march over there, we would be arrested for vandalizing and destruction of property. The political state of Israel, that exists where our future home will be when Yeshua returns, does not care about keeping the Torah. So, for the sake of their traditions and political agendas they have made null the commandments of Elohim. This falls under love Elohim and unfortunately cannot be fulfilled today, but when Yeshua returns he will make right the wrongs. I titled this in my notes as, “Destroy idols and their accessories in the land of Israel.”
54. Rambam has, “Do not derive benefit from idols and their accessories.”
“The carved images of their mighty ones you are to burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to יהוה your Elohim. And do not bring an abomination into your house, lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for it is accursed.” (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)
The literal command is we should not bring an abomination into our house, in this context its referring to idols. Though, we shouldn’t be bringing abominations of any kind into your house, to include pork. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not bring an abomination (idol) into your home.”
55. Rambam has, “Do not derive benefit from ornaments of idols.”
“The carved images of their mighty ones you are to burn with fire. Do not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it, for it is an abomination to יהוה your Elohim. And do not bring an abomination into your house, lest you be accursed like it. Utterly loathe it and utterly hate it, for it is accursed.” (Deuteronomy 7:25-26)
The literal command here is that we should not take the gold or silver from an idol for ourselves. Picture coming across and idol decorated with precious jewels and metal, we might be tempted to take the treasure and destroy the idol but even the gold and silver is abomination to YHWH, because it was used for idol worship. This falls under love Elohim and can be fulfilled today. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not covet the silver or the gold that is on idols nor take it for yourselves.”
56. Rambam has, “Do not make a covenant with idolaters.”
“When יהוה your Elohim brings you into the land which you go to possess, He shall also clear away many nations before you: the Ḥittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Kena‛anites and the Perizzites and the Ḥiwwites and the Yeḇusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you. And when יהוה your Elohim gives them over to you, you shall strike them and put them under the ban, completely. Make no covenant with them and show them no favor.” (Deuteronomy 7:1-2)
The literal commandant is that we should not make a covenant with the nations that were deposed by Israel when they entered into the land. Now, the nations that were cleared away were idolaters, so I understand how Rambam got the commandment he did. I do think it would be good practice to not make covenants with idolaters, even though this commandment to me is very specific to the nations mentioned. This falls under love Elohim and theoretically could be fulfilled today, meaning don’t make a covenant with those nations and or idolaters in general. I titled it in my notes as, “Do not make a covenant with the nations deposed in the land by Israel and or idolaters.”
This is as far as we'll get today brothers and sisters, I hope you’re making notes for yourselves and writing them down, so you have your own copy. Continue to test all things, including this, and may the Ruach Hakodesh lead you into Truth. Shalom.
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