August 23, 2025: Torah Portion Parashat Re'eh - "See!"
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In this study, we will explore the Torah Portion Re'eh - "See!"
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:11-55:5
Brit Chadashah (New Testament): John 7:37-52
📜Torah Portion Re'eh - "See!"
The Blessing or the Curse...
Our Torah portion this week begins, with "See" ראְה,
26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, 28 and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way that I am commanding you today, to go after other gods that you have not known." Deuteronomy 11:26-28
We obtain God's blessing bracha בּרְכָה when we obey the LORD, and our decision to obey manifests the blessed state of walking before the Divine Presence of ADONAI.
Before the word "the blessing" alludes to the blessings of from "Aleph to Tav" that is from the beginning to the end, as described in Leviticus 26:3-13.
As King David said, "I have set the LORD always before me..." Psalm 16:8.
David made a choice to "set" the LORD before his eyes, for he understood that opening his eyes to reality was the only path of real blessing.
On the other hand, we obtain God's curse k'lalah קלְלָה when we close our eyes and "forget" that the LORD is always present....
Suppressing ADONAI's Truth invariably leads to idolatry, that is, to self exaltation. Note that the root word for the word "curse" (kalal) means to be treated as of little account, and therefore "ratifies" the rebellious heart's attitude toward ADONAI.
Therefore, we are ignored by the LORD as we ignore Him, just as we are seen by Him when we truly seek His face, as it states in Isaiah 55:6-7:
6 “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near;
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon."
So we see that the blessing or the curse really comes from our own inward decision, and God establishes the path we have chosen.
As King David said,
"The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; You hold my lot." Psalm 16:5
and Solomon wrote,
"The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9
A ceremony would later be held between the mountains of Gerizim and Ebal upon entering the Promised Land, during which the consequences of the blessings and curses would be declared (see also: Joshua 8:30-35):
12 “When you have crossed over the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. 13 And these shall stand on Mount Ebal for the curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali." Deuteronomy 27:12-13
The Concept of Arevut
Notice that the keyword re'eh is singular (you see!), whereas the pronoun lifneychem (before you) is plural.
Each person is to personally see that the blessing and the curse will affect the entire community of Israel. This value is called arevut ערֲבֵוּת, "mutual responsibility," and the idea of caring for the welfare of one's fellow Jew is expressed in the phrase kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, "all Israel is responsible for one another."
This is a foundational value in Judaism - to preserve and protect the Jewish community and to help each person maintain their Jewish identity and responsibility to one another. It involves the idea of offering correction to fellow Jews, to help them live in personal righteousness, as stated in Leviticus 19:17:
“You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him."
In one of the most infamous stories that appear near the beginning of the Torah, is the story of Cain and Abel.
Cain, son of Adam and Eve, had just killed his brother, Abel, after his brother made a better sacrifice offering to the LORD.
As Scripture tells us, in Genesis 4:9: “Then the LORD said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?”
Why does Cain ask, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Is he serious, or is his response as callous and sarcastic as it appears?
There are a few theories as to why Cain said what he said, but neither are good. One is that he was attempting to hide his evil behavior from God, and the other is that he knew ADONAI saw what he’d done, and his response was a deliberate challenge to the LORD.
What Does “Am I My Brother’s Keeper” Mean?
In this verse, God was asking a rhetorical question in an attempt to remind Cain of his responsibility. Although the world’s population was small at this time—Cain and Abel are the first children of Adam and Eve, the first people made by ADONAI!
Naturally, Cain would have known about God’s instructions that people are to care for all living things. Yet he’d just killed his brother in a jealous rage. By questioning God’s directive, he was declaring an uncaring indifference to God’s command. He was asking, “Why should I care?”
In this context, a “keeper” is a caregiver, a tender, one who looks out for and cares for another. We know by reading God's Word, that ADONAI wants us to care for and “keep” each other!
The Appointed Place
Because idolatrous practices were so common in the Land of Canaan (including the sacrifice of children to false gods), the people were commanded to destroy all objects related to idolatry.
They were not to serve the LORD in a manner that even vaguely resembled the abominable customs of the seven Canaanite nations with their altars upon hilltops and under trees.
Instead, the Jews were commanded to:
"But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go;"
Deuteronomy 12:5
Sacrifices were to be offered at the LORD's chosen place -- and no other!
The Giving of Tithes
Three types of tithes are mentioned in this portion of Torah:
1. Ma'aser Rishon: A tenth of a farmer's produce was given to the Levite (who did not have their own portion of land in Israel) as a tithe. This amounted to supporting the priesthood and Torah teachers of Israel.
2. Ma'aser Sheni: The land itself was tithed a second (additional) time (after separating the Ma'aser Rishon) on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th year of the seven-year Sabbatical cycle (shemittah). This produce was taken to the appointed place of worship (later, Jerusalem) and eaten there in celebration.
3. Ma'aser Anni: In the 3rd and 6th year, the ma'aser sheni was given to the poor instead of being brought to the appointed place. The poor could then glean from the crops and enjoy the good of the land.
It says in Deuteronomy 6:5 "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength."
This verse emphasizes the importance of loving ADONAI wholeheartedly, choosing to be obedient unto Him, to surrender and cast all of our cares upon Him, because He cares for us! These are foundational for us to understand how we are to conduct ourselves as we go about our day-to-day, choosing to live a blessed life, and a prosperous life, through MESSIAH YESHUA!!
📜 Haftarah Reading Overview
The weekly haftarah portion (reading from the Prophets) is usually thematically connected with the weekly Torah portion;
The Haftarah of Re'eh is called the third of the "Haftarot of Consolation," offering encouragement to all Israel, even in the face of exile.
Though Jerusalem is desolate, the LORD will one day "lay its foundation with diamonds" 1 Corinthians 3:12 and then "all your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great will be the peace of your children." Isaiah 54:13
This will be fulfilled when the nation of Israel comes to the waters of life freely given by YESHUA the MESSIAH:
"Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David." Isaiah 55:3
When the Jewish people finally turn to the LORD YESHUA and accept Him as Mashiach (after the Great Tribulation), the covenant promises given to Israel will be fulfilled during the 1,000 year reign of MESSIAH, and the nations of the world will be gathered to Him as their Prince and Commander! HalleluYAH!!!
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