Torah Portion Summary

Ki Tisa, the twenty-first reading from the Torah, literally means “when you lift up.” It comes from the first words of the second verse of the reading, which could be literally rendered, “When you lift up the head of the sons of Israel to reckon them” (Exodus 30:12). The phrase “lift up the head” is an idiom for taking a head count. The portion begins with instructions for taking a census, finishes up the instructions for making the Tabernacle, reiterates the commandment of Shabbat, and then proceeds to tell the story of the golden calf. The majority of Ki Tisa is concerned with the sin of the golden calf, the breach in the covenant between God and Israel, and how Moses undertakes to restore that covenant relationship.

The Sign of the Sabbath : The LORD then repeated His commandment regarding the sanctity of the Sabbath day. "Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you" (Exod. 31:13). According to the Talmud, the commandment to observe the Sabbath is so important that if all the Jews were to completely keep two consecutive Sabbaths, the Messiah would come.

Haftarh Portion Summary

The Haftarah of Parashat Ki Tisa is about the prophet Elijah's confrontation of the evil King Ahab and the subsequent power encounter between the LORD and the prophets of Baal. This is another case demonstrating the proclivity in human nature towards idolatry and the God of Israel's vindication.

B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary

The Brit Chadashah reading contrasts Moses' "ministry of condemnation" with the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the surpassing glory of the ministry of the Mashiach. The veil of Moses is indeed lifted and the revelation of the glory of Yeshua the Mashiach shines forth when we put our trust in Him! (For more on this, see "The Surpassing Glory.")

"...our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Cor. 3:6-18)


All Portions this week (LINK)
Torah Haftarah B'rit Chadashah
Exodus 30:11-34:35 1 Kings 18:1-39 2 Corinthians 3:1-18
COMMENTARY
Fruits of TorahTorah ResourceHebrews for Christians
Ardelle -ver1 Tim Hegg -part1 Torah Table Talk
Ardelle -ver2 Tim Hegg -part2 Sign of the Sabbath
Ardelle -ver3 Tim Hegg -part3 Can God Change His Mind?
Ardelle -ver4 Purim - Celebration of Deliverance
AUDIO COMMENTARY (Nehemia's Wall)
PortionTorah PearlsProphet Pearls
Ki Tisa