Mitzvoth 35.
A teaching by Edri
35.
Not to give occasion to the simple-minded to stumble on the road (Lev. 19:14)
Leviticus 19
14 Thou shalt not revile a deaf person, and thou
shalt not put a stumbling-block before a blind one; but thou shalt fear thy
Elohim: I am YHWH.
In our world of dog eat dog, and Darwinian teachings of the "survival of the fittest" so polluting our land, one of the most simple commands has been ignored. People in this world, who have made themselves "god" and have rejected our Creators decrees, go about their day to day business with little regard for others, especially the weak and less fortunate in our world. We are so intent to get what we feel we need, that the less fortunate and weaker in society are given little regard.
In YHWH's kingdom, things are completely the reverse of the world we see around us. Contrary to the world that upholds the strong and gives accolades to those who seem "better" than others, YHWH resists such people and is a defender and caretaker of the poor, weak, and infirmed. This mitzvoth is a command which is designed to give us a view into the heart of YHWH and the kind of people He is a Mighty One to.
The Mitzvoth itself is a negative prohibition on doing things that will either directly or indirectly make the lives of the unfortunate harder. It also demonstrates how to treat people who are weaker in body or mind than us, in that to not revile a deaf person, infers that these kinds of people be given special consideration and extra patience. We can think of all kinds of people that fall into the category of the "weak" , or even a biblical term "little ones", simple minded, infirmed, aged etc.
Our Messiah echoed this Mitzvoth in the gospels -
Mt:18:6: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Mt:18:10: Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
Mk:9:42: And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
Lk:17:2: It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
The story surrounding these verses talks about how little children wanted to
come and see Yahushua, and the taught ones/disciples tried to hinder the
children (after all, does a King have time for little kids?) from coming to
Yahushua. Yahushua rebuked his disciples and spent time with the
"little ones" blessing them. The Messiah speaks very harshly
against those who would "offend" little ones, or do harm to them.
We serve a Creator who is truly interested in the welfare of even the weakest and seemingly least significant people in the world.
James, the apostle, says that "true religion" is giving extra care for these people in our world - Jms:1:27: Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Our attitude towards the poor, sick, those with disabilities, the simple minded should be one of Love, and extra special care. YHWH shows Himself to be tenderhearted, and the Messiah, Elohim in the flesh also demonstrated the fathers loving kindness towards even the weakest and most dispossessed. Our lives, our ministries, our service to humanity should entail extra effort given to these, of whom the Creator loves and cares for.