Tim Johnson
Feb. 28, 2026
This week’s portion has to do with all the ordinances surrounding the new Tabernacle, but there’s also a lot in there regarding the priests. This is the portion where you have the description of the ephod, the breastplate, the robes, turbans, tunics… all of that. It also outlines the sacrifices the priests, or kohanim, are to make in order to sanctify themselves.
This is a little overwhelming to me to read sometimes, because I don’t understand the why of everything. I’m sure all these details have to do with heaven, though. Or at least the heavenly perspective of how things are to be done on earth. These things, I suspect, are copies, or representations of heavenly things. And even if not, they are things that are specifically commanded by the God of the Heavens for the priests of His people to do.
I believe things are different today. Yeshua has come, and changed everything. He is a priest, not according to Aaron, but according to Melchitzedek. He is now our high priest, whether Jew or Gentile. If you are a believer in Yeshua, he is your high priest.
So, yes, things are different. There is no longer a temple standing in Jerusalem, and there hasn’t been for about two thousand years. I believe this is the will of God. Things are different now.
But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. I thought I would bring up the tongue again today. Well, I say again, because I’m pretty sure I’ve talked about this before, but I can’t find it in my notes. So maybe this is new.
I believe this is by direction from on high, but I am a fallible person. I do the best I can. The tongue is a subject in scripture that is found in many places. It is linked with wisdom, and with blessing and cursing. This teaching is not aimed at anyone… other than me. We all need this. This is just Bible, and we can all benefit. Probably the section of scripture that pops to mind for most of us when thinking about the tongue is James chapter three. And that’s just where we are to begin. I’ll read first, and then talk about it afterwards.
Scripture quotations are from the NJV Bible (New Jerusalem Version).
Copyright © 2022 by Hineni Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
James 3
1 My brothers, let not many become teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. Anyone who does not stumble in word is a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. 3 Indeed, we put bits into horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and we guide their whole body. 4 Behold, the ships also, although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 So the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things.
See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehinnom. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and sea creature, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind; 8 but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. 12 Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in shalom by those who make shalom.
Remember that James, or Ya’akov, is Yeshua’s brother. This man James has seen some stuff. I don’t know when he believed in Yeshua as the Messiah, whether as a boy, or later, but he was definitely The prominent believer, or leader, in Jerusalem some time after Yeshua’s resurrection.
The first thing we read here, is not to be in a big hurry to become a teacher. There is responsibility for being in that position. That makes it scary if you realize it. I want to bring forth the truth when I teach, and not just my own will. This is not always easy. We live in fleshly bodies, you and I. God will judge us, and a teacher is even more subject to that judgment than a regular person, because they are representing God to people.
So yes, be not in a big hurry to become a teacher. God will hold you accountable. Then he says: we all stumble in many things. Ain’t that the truth? Iniquity is in us, we can’t get away from it. But any of us who does not stumble in word… James says he’s a perfect person, able to bridle the whole body also. Wow. Self control is not easy, so, I guess if we are able to bridle our tongue, we have really gotten there.
He uses the analogy of the bit in the horses’ mouth. Just a small bit, but a large horse. He uses the analogy of the ship. Huge ship, small rudder. That’s how it is with the tongue. Small tongue, big consequences.
This is not easy. When a person is talking, they just want to say what they want to say. But if we would use wisdom, there are things we should not say. But even when we recognize this, it’s hard to resist. That’s why he’s talking about these things. The tongue is a rudder, or a bit.
Words can really stir up a fire. And remember, once a fire is kindled, it’s not so easy to put it out. Especially once it gets big. That’s the way it is with words, too. Once the problem gets started with people, it’s hard to fix it.
James calls the tongue a world of iniquity among our members. He says it “sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehinnom.” Large things can get stirred up by small words. And when he says it is set on fire by Gehinnom, the King James says it is set on fire of Hell. This means that if the enemy can get us to say nasty things to each other, we are doing his work. Stirring up trouble. Making problems.
Our mouths should be full of blessings towards each other. First of all because it’s the right thing to do, and second of all because we all need to hear blessings.
No spring yields both salt and fresh water. Let us be the ones who send out blessings.
Psalm 5
9 Lead me, YHVH, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before my face.
10 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth;
their heart is destruction.
Their throat is and open tomb; (or sepulcher)
they flatter with their tongue.
11 But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them always shout for joy.
Because you defend them,
let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
12 For you, YHVH, will bless the righteous;
you will surround him with favor as with a shield.
Romans 12.
1 Therefore, brothers, I urge you by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing and perfect will of God.
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil; cling to that which is good. 10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honor preferring one another; 11 not lagging in diligence; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope; enduring in troubles; continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 contributing to the needs of the holy ones; given to hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own conceits.
17 Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. 19 Do not seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to wrath. For it is written, “VENGEANCE BELONGS TO ME, I WILL REPAY, says the Lord.” 20 Therefore
“IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM;
IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK;
FOR IN DOING SO, YOU WILL HEAP
COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Also, here is a warning from Yeshua:
Matthew 23
25 Woe to you, Torah teachers and Pharisees; hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and unrighteousness. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and the platter, that its outside may become clean also.
27 Woe to you, Torah teachers and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
By this we can see that it’s not enough just to say good things, but we need to get our hearts right as well. Then we will truly say the right things. Remember that God looks on the heart, and we will each appear before him one day for judgment.
Psalm 12
1 FOR THE CHIEF MUSICIAN;
UPON AN EIGHT-STRINGED LYRE.
A Psalm of David.
2 Help, YHVH, for the godly man ceases;
for the faithful fail from among the children of men.
3 Everyone lies to his neighbor;
they speak with flattering lips,
and with a double heart.
4 May YHVH cut off all flattering lips,
and the tongue that boasts,
5 who have said,
“With our tongue we will prevail;
our lips are our own;
who is master over us?”
6 “Because of the oppression of the weak
and because of the groaning of the needy,
I will now arise,” says YHVH.
“I will set him in safety from those who malign him.”
7 The words of YHVH are pure words,
as silver refined in a clay furnace,
purified seven times.
8 You, YHVH, will keep them;
you will preserve him from this generation forever.
9 The wicked walk on every side,
when what is vile is exalted among the sons of men.
I will conclude today with the powerful charge that Moshe gave the children of Israel. I know it’s not the same situation here, as it was then, but the truth is, it is still just as important for us to choose rightly today, in this time, in our lives…
Deuteronomy 30
19 I call the heavens and the earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your descendants, to love YHVH your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him; for he is your life, and the length of your days, that you may dwell in the land which YHVH swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
I love you, Shabbat Shalom.