Torah Portion Summary
In last week's parashah (Devarim), Moses began his personal speech summarizing Israel's 40 year history of wandering in the wilderness, leading up to the conquests of Sihon (Deut 2:24-37) and Og (Deut 3:1-11). The Israelites were now in the land of Moab, just east of the Jordan, waiting to enter the Promised Land.
This portion of Torah includes some of the most fundamental texts of the Jewish Scriptures, including the Ten Commandments, the Shema (the duty to love God and study His Torah), and the commandments of tefillin and mezuzot. Please see the links for each of these vital topics in the commentary below. In addition, this portion includes Moses' prediction of the galut (exile) and the eventual redemption of the Jewish people in acharit hayamim (the prophesied "End of Days").
Haftarh Portion Summary
The Haftarah for Parashat Va'etchanan (Isaiah 40:1-26) is called the "First Haftarah of Consolation," so named because of the opening words: Nachamu, Nachamu, Ami, "Be Comforted, Be Comforted, My People." According to the Jewish sages, this is the first of the Seven Haftarot of Consolation that were spoken to the Jewish People by the LORD. Rashi says that this Haftarah refers mainly to the Messianic future, when the Jewish People will be comforted after all the exiles and punishments of history are over.
During Tishah B'Av, the book of Lamentations is chanted during the minchah (afternoon) service. The exiles had mourned that they lacked anyone to comfort them (Lam 1:2, 9, 16, 21), but here we read, Nachamu, Nachamu, Ami, "Be Comforted, Be Comforted, My People," marking a significant shift in perspective. In that coming day, Jerusalem will be exalted and the people of God regathered and comforted. The suffering of the exiles will have been completed, and all Israel will be saved from her enemies. (May it happen speedily, and in our day.)
As Messianic believers in our LORD Yeshua the Messiah, we believe that the ultimate comfort coming to the Jewish people will finally be realized when the Lord Jesus returns to set up His kingdom at the time of the Second Coming. Indeed, He is coming soon to Zion and His reign will have no end. May it be speedily, in our day... Amen.
B'rit Chadashah Portion Summary
Matthew 23:31-9 provides us a glimpse of the LORD' jealous heart for Jerusalem. Zion is the symbol of God's rule over all the earth, representing the consummation of His love for mankind. Called the city of the great King (Matt 5:35), the place of Malki-Tzedek, the restoration of paradise lost, Zion is the goal of God's redemptive work in human history.
In this passage Jesus denounces the religious leaders of Israel for rejecting Him - and thereby hindering the ultimate restoration of Jerusalem. Poignantly He cries, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord' (baruch haba b'shem Adonai). In other words, Zion will remain without comfort until the Messiah Jesus is received by Israel as the rightful King (may that day come soon!)
In the reading from Mark, the LORD Jesus was asked which of the mitzvot of the Torah is the most important of all? Or, to put it another way, what is it that God requires of us? What is the purpose of our lives, and how can we fulfill that purpose? Jesus answered this question by reciting the Shema (with the v'ahavta) as the greatest commandment and added the commandment from Leviticus 19:18, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" as the second great commandment (Mark 12:29-31).