The wondrous birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem is fairly well known around the world, however, some of the finer details of the Messiah’s birth are less well known. An example of some of the finer details, which are more obscure, is found in the following verses in the gospel of Luke:

And when eight days had passed, before His circumcision, His name was then called Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” – Luke 2:21-24

The details mentioned in these verses surrounding the birth of the Messiah are all in accordance with the Law of the Lord given to the Israelites by the prophet Moses. These four verses from Luke chapter two are filled with deep meaning connecting to the Law of the Lord which are not fully explained here, however, we will look at them in greater detail as we see how these verses connect to this week’s Torah Portion.

The Sign of Circumcision

The first detail from the verses quoted above reference the circumcision of Yeshua. Circumcision was commanded for the Israelites centuries before the Law was given to them. Circumcision was initially given to Abraham and his descendants as a sign of the covenant between Abraham and God (Gen. 17:9-14). Circumcision was also repeated in the Law to emphasize its importance, as we read in Leviticus chapter twelve: “On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Lev. 12:3) Starting with Abraham and continuing with Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve sons of Israel, all of the people of promise who were descended from Abraham were circumcised, including the Messiah as we read in the above verses.

It is fitting to read of the fulfillment of circumcision in Yeshua’s life because He literally fulfills the main spiritual promise spoken to Abraham: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” (Gen. 22:18) The nation of Israel and the Jewish people, being the physical line of Abraham, have been a blessing in the earth, however, the ultimate fulfillment of this promise to Abraham was realized in the life of One specific descendant of the nation of Israel, as we read in the New Testament:

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Messiah. – Gal. 3:16

It is only in the Messiah that we see how all of the nations of the earth are truly blessed and continue to be blessed through His life.

Tazria

We have already quoted one verse (Lev. 12:3) from this week’s Torah Portion which begins in Leviticus chapter twelve. This week’s Torah Portion is actually the combination of two Torah Portions: Tazria (Lev. 12:1-13:59) and Metzorah (Lev. 14:1-15:37). Both names are unique and meaningful but we will only focus on תזריע – Tazria as this word connects to our study. We see this word used in context in the following verses:

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: ‘When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean…’” – Lev. 12:1-2

The phrase “gives birth” is an attempt of the translators to interpret this unique Hebrew word, תזריע – Tazria. Translating this word literally is a challenge, but we will look at it in more detail to better understand its meaning.

The word תזריע – Tazria comes form the Hebrew root word זרע – Zerah which means seed or sperm. This Hebrew word is used in a verb form in the above verse and has the meaning of “bringing forth seed” or, in this context, “when she brings forth seed.” This is obviously used in a unique way since we know that a woman does not bring forth seed on her own but becomes pregnant by the seed of a man, having the egg within her fertilized by the sperm, and then brings forth delivery of a baby when the baby reaches maturity. Therefore, in this one Hebrew word, תזריע – Tazria, is the complete concept of a woman becoming pregnant by means of an egg within her being fertilized by sperm and thereby being with child. This is the only place in the Bible where this Hebrew word is used in this form.

The Impurity of Childbirth

According to the Law in the above verse (Lev. 12:2), a woman becomes unclean after giving birth to a child, whether the baby is a male or female, and remains physically and ceremonially unclean for a certain period of time:

Then she shall remain in the blood of her purification for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sanctuary until the days of her purification are completed. But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean for two weeks, as in her menstruation; and she shall remain in the blood of her purification for sixty-six days. – Lev. 12:4-5

A woman was considered unclean after giving birth: her uncleanness would remain for a total of 40 days (7+33) after giving birth to a son and for 80 days (14+66) after giving birth to a daughter. We are never told why there is a difference in length of the unclean state for giving birth to a female compared to a male.

In the context of the Messiah’s birth, as we return back to Luke chapter two, it is in direct fulfillment of this purification process after giving birth that we read that Mary and Jospeh went up to the Temple:

And when the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” – Luke 2:22-24

Since Mary gave birth to a son, her days of purification were 40 days in length. We then read how Mary and Joseph brought Yeshua to the Temple in fulfillment of the Law regarding two different regulations which are only vaguely referenced in the above verses.

Dedication of The Firstborn

The first of the two regulations, which are listed in the above account from Luke, recalls the commandment to dedicate all firstborn males to the LORD:

Now when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, you shall devote to the LORD the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the LORD. – Ex. 13:11-12

The dedication of all firstborn males, both of humans and beasts, started from the time of the Exodus. To read more about the dedication of the firstborn male, I recommend the following article: Redemption of the Firstborn

The Two Offerings

After properly dedicating and redeeming their firstborn son, Mary and Joseph continued to fulfill the regulations of the Law by offering sacrifices to the LORD: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” Although it references these particular birds for sacrifice it does not state in the gospel of Luke what they were for. Why did they offer these particular sacrifices to the LORD? We know the answer to this question based on the Law as detailed in this week’s Torah Portion:

When the days of her purification are completed, for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the doorway of the tent of meeting a one year old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female. But if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, the one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for her, and she will be clean. – Lev. 12:6-8

A woman who gave birth to a son or a daughter was required to offer two sacrifices after the days of her purification were completed: one offering was a burnt offering and the other a sin offering. She was supposed to bring a lamb and a bird but if her means were insufficient for this, she was required to bring two turtledoves or two pigeons. Mary fulfilled her obligation in order to be cleansed by bringing both sacrifices to the Temple.

Why The Sin Offering?

After giving birth, a woman was required to bring both a burnt offering and a sin offering to the LORD in order for atonement and cleansing. A burnt offering was an offering to the LORD which was consumed on the altar but the sin offering was an atoning sacrifice to cleanse from sin. It almost seems as if a woman is guilty for becoming pregnant and bearing a child. As a result of this thinking, the following question is commonly asked: Why does a woman have to bring a sin offering after giving birth? It is a good question that deserves an answer.

The verses in Leviticus chapter twelve begin to answer the question of why a woman needed to bring a sin offering after giving birth as we read in verse seven:

Then he shall offer it before the LORD and make atonement for her, and she shall be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, whether a male or a female. – Lev. 12:7

There is no sin in becoming pregnant or in giving birth, however, a woman was considered impure as the result of a flow of blood while giving birth. In fact, Leviticus chapters twelve through fifteen focus almost exclusively on various bodily discharges which make a person, both male and female, unclean. As a result of the blood and bodily fluids which are released during the birth process, a woman was considered impure or unclean before the LORD.

At the conclusion of this section of Scriptures, Leviticus chapters twelve through fifteen, we are given an even more definitive reason for the unclean state of individuals for various reasons, including a woman who gives birth:

Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them. – Lev. 15:31

In essence, the LORD is holy and must separate Himself from the sin and impurity of this world. It is only by means of an atoning sacrifice that we are able to be cleansed from our unclean state and be made right in His sight.

The Problem Became The Cure

The flow of blood from the body of any human being is a source of impurity and uncleanness in God’s sight. It is interesting to understand that the unclean state of the flow of blood was considered something that separated a person from God and demanded a sin sacrifice. It was by means of a separate flow of blood through a sin sacrifice that a person was made clean. By offering the sacrifice for sin, a woman who gave birth was made clean again and was able to come into the presence of God at His holy Temple.

As we return to the birth of the Messiah in Luke chapter two, it is amazing to read the verses that speak of Mary and Joseph coming to the Temple to offer the sacrifices for her impurity because of her giving birth to Yeshua, the Son of God. Mary carried the very presence of God in her womb for nine months and then gave birth to Him. Mary nursed and cared for the Son of God every hour of those forty days in which she was considered ceremonially unclean and was unable to come into God’s presence at the Temple. Yeshua, the Son of God, was then carried to the Temple by Mary and Joseph when Mary fulfilled her obligation to make atonement for her unclean state. We know that Mary and Joseph walked in the fear of God and did everything according to the Law of God as a way of fulfilling God’s holy commandments (Luke 2:39).

The Miracle of One Life

The beautiful irony in this whole scenario is that Mary was made ceremonially unclean because of the flow of blood from her body as a result of giving birth to the Son of God. Her cleansing only came as a result of the sin offering which she made at the Temple. It seems that Mary and Joseph did not fully grasp the symbolism of the sin offering and the flow of blood which was connected to their newborn baby at that time, however, God sent one of his servants to provide further insight into this matter:

And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, then he took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said, “Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed— and a sword will pierce even your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”– Luke 2:25-35

The special anointing on Yeshua’s life was clear to Mary and Joseph from His very conception, however, they still did not fully understand how their very act of bringing the sin sacrifice to atone for Mary’s unclean state mirrored the calling of Yeshua’s life to provide the cure for humanity’s unclean state.

The very reason that Yeshua came to this earth was to provide His life as a sacrifice to cleanse Mary, Joseph, and all of humanity from the impurity of sin. It is only as a result of His flowing blood that our sin is atoned for and we are able to come into God’s presence:

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. – Hebrews 9:22

Mary’s flow of blood made her unclean and separated her from the Father in heaven. Yeshua’s sacrificial flow of blood provides perfect atonement and forgiveness of sin so that we can be forever in the presence of the Father in heaven.

The Problem Is The Cure

There was a priest who stood between Mary and her purification on that day when she went to the Temple 2000 years ago. That priest offered her sin sacrifice and she was declared clean again. Yeshua’s blood sacrifice is so much greater than the one Mary offered because He offered His own blood:

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Yeshua, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:19-22

Being designated as a high priest forever over God’s house, we now have an eternal source of forgiveness in the perfect blood of Yeshua. It is only the cleansing blood of Yeshua that provides the cure for the sickness of the impurity and sin of this world.

Shabbat Shalom!

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**The Hebrew name “Yeshua” is used in the biblical quotations in place of the English name “Jesus” to give emphasis to the meaning of this name, salvation. The word “Messiah” is also used in place of the word “Christ” to bring clarity to the office of Yeshua.

Torah Portion: Lev. 12:1 – 15:33

Haftara: Isaiah 66

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The Problem Is The Cure – Tazria/Metzorah – April 25