Eyes on Yeshua, Nose on Torah

Click HERE to return to main site

Eyes on Yeshua, Nose on Torah

Most rabbis today do not wear clothing which identifies them as clergy. They certainly wear nothing like the breastpiece, the long vest (ephod) and the headdress which distinguished the Kohen Gadol [high Priest] from the rest of the Israelites. In part, this is because of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE left the Kohanim no significant role to play in Jewish ritual life (and hence no special garments to distinguish them). Yet, despite the difference of religious leadership roles in life, there remains today a distinction between rabbis, ministers and lay people. Though they sport no breastpieces, long vest or headdress, leaders are often held to a different religious and moral standard from the rest of the population. The Torah teaches us, just before the giving of the ten commandments, that we are all to be a "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6), yet it seems that many people are content to let their rabbis & ministers embody that "priestliness" and "holiness" while they watch from the sidelines. This is not the way our lives were meant to be. The Talmud (Zevahim 88b) seems to suggest that the priestly garments were designed to protect all human beings from the sins to which they are prone.

Thus, the "the breastpiece - called the breastpiece of judgment' was meant to prevent miscarriages of justice. The jacket (m'il, similar to the word for betrayal, ma-al) would discourage gossip. The ephod (a coat also used to decorate idols, as in Hosea 3:4) would protect against the danger of succumbing to idolatry. The tunic would protect against bloodshed." The breeches would protect against sins of unchastity, and the headdress, against arrogant thoughts. None of these sins - injustice, gossip, idolatry, bloodshed, unchastity or arrogance - is unique to ministers or rabbis. These are sins which all human beings are susceptible to, which seems to be telling us that though these garments were worn in ancient days by the priests, their symbolism is for all of us. Rabbis & ministers may serve as role models and teachers for the holy and moral life we all aspire to, but they are not to live that life on their own. The entire community should be following in their footsteps as they don the "priestly garments" of a moral and committed life. But most of all, as individuals, let us all look to Yeshua & the Torah above everything and everyone else as our moral compass to go by in life. Men are not perfect to look to, whether they be Rabbis, ministers or any other type of leadership. So keep your eyes on Yeshua and your nose in the Torah and you will be an overcomer!