The mitzvot of Tetzaveh

The commandment of arranging lights in the Temple

Positive · Exodus 27:21

A light burning in the Temple adds to the honour and splendour of the House in the eyes of those who see it, just as people honour their own homes with lit lamps. And all the glorifying of the House is meant to bring awe and humility into a person's heart when he sees it, for the soul is refined by good deeds.

The commandment of wearing the priestly clothes

Positive · Exodus 28:4

A person is shaped by his deeds and by the thoughts and intentions that accompany them. The emissary who atones for the people must focus all his thought on the service, so it is fitting that he wear garments set apart for it, so that whenever he looks at his body he remembers before Whom he serves. This is like tefillin, which everyone puts on as a reminder of right thought, and because of the greatness of the kohen's task, this too was added for him.

That the breastplate not move from on top of the apron

Negative · Exodus 28:28

God wished to give us the merit of glorifying the holy House, so that everything in it would be properly ordered and fixed in its place - the vessels, and also the garments of those who serve during the service - in perfect completeness and beauty. And part of that beauty is that the breastplate not shift about on the kohen's heart but stay fixed in its place.

To not tear the coat of the priests

Negative · Exodus 28:32

Tearing is a disgraceful and destructive thing in our eyes, even at the collar of a garment. So we were warned against it, so that the kohen would wear the robe with awe, calmly and respectfully, and take care not to tear it or damage anything in it.

The commandment of eating the meat of sin offerings and guilt offerings

Positive · Exodus 29:33

All the acts of the offerings are meant to prepare our thoughts for good, to humble the craving soul and strengthen the soul of reason. So we were commanded to conduct all the affairs of the Temple and the offerings with grandeur and honour, so that awe and humility would rest in our hearts. And part of the honour due to an offering on which atonement depends is that it be eaten by the kohanim themselves, in a holy place and within a short time, and not be given to their servants or sold to any buyer.

The commandment of burning the incense

Positive · Exodus 30:7

The incense too is meant to increase the honour of the Temple and the awe of it upon every person. Something can be made great in people's hearts only through things they regard as grand and in which they find delight, and a good fragrance is something the soul enjoys and is drawn after. The fragrance of the incense was the finest that human hands could make, so that the sages said it could be smelled from Jericho to Jerusalem.

To not burn incense and not to bring sacrifices upon the gold altar

Negative · Exodus 30:9

The Sefer HaChinuch writes that one should not search for a reason behind every detail of the Temple, just as one does not ask why the menorah has seven lamps and not eight. Once we were commanded to build a House and make vessels for it, each detail was fixed in one of the possible ways, and once fixed it must be kept so forever, without adding or subtracting, for adding to or taking from something complete spoils it. He adds that he has heard that the masters of the tradition have wondrous reasons and deep secrets for every detail.