Spiritual sight

 This weeks Torah portion is called “Re’eh” which means to see. It initiates a time of introspection before we get into the High Holy-days. The Torah portion starts with Deuteronomy 11:26-

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse“

The Hebrew word Re’eh is singular as though Moses was writing this for each individual to see for himself. But what exactly are we supposed to see?

God sets forth both the blessing and the curse within his word. Curses for disobedience and blessings for obedience. These are the consequences of his Law. He wants us to see past the letter or the duty of the Law. To see both the blessing and the curse of our actions. 

The curse of the Law is death upon all those who have disobeyed it. Which includes all of us. We’ve all sinned and failed to meet the righteous requirements of the Law. But our Messiah became a curse for us and hung on the tree in our place. So that the Blessings of God’s promises might be given to those of us which believe. At the heart of the Law is the Gospel. Behind the letter is an image: 

“Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.  Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

The veil of the flesh Is removed by the Spirit of God, and when we look into the “Old Testament” Law we see the image of Christ. The Law is a schoolmaster leading us to Christ. It reveals the gospel of Christ unto us. And when we see that image we are conformed unto that image by the Spirit of God. We don’t see a checklist of do’s and don’ts, we see the Spirit of the Law which writes itself on our hearts and transforms us. 

Let David’s prayer be ours, who said:

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” (Psalm 119:18)