Do not extinguish the fire on the altar

The Literal Commandment

The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it. It shall not go out, but the priest shall burn wood on it every morning; and he shall lay out the burnt offering on it, and offer up in smoke the fat portions of the peace offerings on it. (Leviticus 6:12)

 

The literal commandment is that the fire on the altar shall not be allowed to go out.

 

Messiah Says

Messiah implicitly affirmed this commandment when He spoke about the Law:

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19)

 

Pictures of Messiah

This commandment and the faithfulness required from the priests to keep the fire burning on the altar picture the faithfulness of Messiah in keeping the fire of His Spirit at work in our lives:

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

 

How Messiah Fulfilled

Messiah fulfilled this commandment by not extinguishing the fire on the altar.

 

Traditional Observance

Traditional observance of this commandment involved not extinguishing the fire that was on the altar.

It is interesting to note that while extinguishing any portion of the fire that was on the altar was punishable by lashes from the whip, extinguishing a portion of the fire that had been taken for use to burn incense, lighting the menorah, or other sacred use was not punished since it was no longer the "fire on the altar".

 

Other Notes

Absent the Temple, a functioning Levitical priesthood, and the bronze altar with fire on it we are unable to break this commandment today and so we automatically fulfill it constantly.

 

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Commandment Details

  • Mishneh Torah # 375
  • Mishneh Torah Book # 8
  • Mishneh Torah Book Service
  • Mishneh Torah Category 44- Perpetual Offerings and Additional Offerings
  • Reference Leviticus 6:9
  • Scripture Book Leviticus
  • Chapter 6
  • Verse 9
  • English Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law for the burnt offering: the burnt offering itself shall remain on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it.
  • Hebrew ב צַו אֶת-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת-בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר, זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָעֹלָה: הִוא הָעֹלָה עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כָּל-הַלַּיְלָה, עַד-הַבֹּקֶר, וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, תּוּקַד בּוֹ.
  • Greek (6:2) Ἔντειλαι Ααρων καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς αὐτοῦ λέγων Οὗτος ὁ νόμος τῆς ὁλοκαυτώσεως· αὐτὴ ἡ ὁλοκαύτωσις ἐπὶ τῆς καύσεως αὐτῆς ἐπὶ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου ὅλην τὴν νύκτα ἕως τὸ πρωί, καὶ τὸ πῦρ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου καυθήσεται ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, οὐ σβεσθήσεται.
  • Parashah 25- Tzav
  • Positive/Negative Negative
  • Sefer Hachinuch # 133
  • Sef. Hach. Command Not to put out any fire on the altar
  • Category Temple and Sacred Objects
  • We can fulfill today Yes

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