Guiding the Perplexed

In 32b we complete Rambam's understanding of Jeremiah's claim that God did not command us regarding the sacrifices on our way out of Egypt. Then in 33 and 34 Rambam describes two more principles we will need to understand before we can explain the reasons for the commandments of the Torah.

Rambam describes why God commanded us to bring animal sacrifices in the Temple even though this is clearly not His end goal for the type of worship He wants us to achieve.

In 29b Rambam finishes his description of the beliefs of the Sabians and discusses the dangers of magical thinking and of interpreting literally the metaphorical parts of the Torah. In 30 Rambam discusses how the Torah leads us away from these beliefs and toward belief in god. In 31 Rambam emphasizes why it is so important to understand that every commandment has a logical reason.

Rambam describes the pre-Abrahamic world of the pagans and why destroying any remnant of paganism is so important.

In 27, Rambam describes that the purpose of the Torah's commandments is first to perfect our society so that our needs are taken care of. This allows us to achieve our primary purpose which is spiritual and intellectual perfection. In 28 Rambam describes how every teaching of the Torah teaches us one of three things; a true idea, a prohibition against actions that cause strife, or a commandment that makes us a better society.

Rambam describes that just as every part of creation has a purpose and is important, so to all the Mitzvot (God's commandments) each has a logical and useful purpose.

Rambam describes the meaning of the goodness of God and His creation. Everything He created is for a meaningful purpose, as an end in itself. Nothing is just a whim or fancy.

We complete Rambam's discussion of the meaning of "tests" with our continued discussion of the meaning of the story of the binding of Isaac. We also read excerpts from Rambam's "Letter on Apostasy" and the limits of what the love and fear of God calls upon us to sacrifice.

Rambam explains what the Torah means when it says that God is "testing" us. We begin to explain the extremely difficult chapter of the Akeidat Yizchak (The Binding of Isaac) according to Maimonidean thought.

Rambam describes how knowledge of God's truth leads to love, and thru love one achieves true happiness no matter what he or she must endure.