What Do Jews Think About Jesus

What Do Jews Believe About Jesus?

Christian tradition holds that Jesus is the major character of the religion, and that he is also the messiah, the son of God, and the second member in the trinity. What, on the other hand, do Jews believe about Jesus?

  • For some Jews, the name alone conjures up images of pogroms and crusades, accusations of deicide, and centuries of Christian anti-Semitism
  • For others, he has recently gained recognition as a Jewish teacher. The fact that they do not believe in his resurrection or that he was the messiah, as Christians do, does not imply that they support him.

Among some Jews, the name alone is practically associated with pogroms and Crusades, accusations of deicide, and centuries of Christian anti-Semitism; among others, he has recently gained renown as a Jewish teacher. ” To be clear, this does not necessarily imply belief in his resurrection from death or that he was the messiah, as Christians do.

Who Was Jesus?

Most of what we know about the real Jesus comes from the four New Testament Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John — which historians think were written many decades after Jesus’ death and are thus the most reliable sources. However, despite the lack of archaeological or other tangible proof for his existence, the majority of experts accept that Jesus did live and that he was born somewhere before the Common Era and crucified sometime between 26 and 36 CE, according to the most recent estimates (the years when the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, ruled Judea).

The period was also characterized by unrest, with some people expressing dissatisfaction with Roman policies as well as with theTemple’s high priests, while others hoped for a messianic redeemer who would drive out the foreign rulers and restore Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.

(Taken from the novel “At Home,” written by Grace Stebbing and published by John F.

Was Jesus the Messiah?

The question of whether or not Jesus was the messiah. necessitates the consideration of the preceding question: “What is the definition of messiah?” They (the Prophets, or Nevi’im), who wrote hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, saw the coming of the messianic age as a period of worldwide peace in which violence and famine would be banished and mankind would recognize God’s authority over all things. According to tradition, a global resurrection of the dead would take place during the messianic period, as well as a reunification of all Jews, including the ten lost tribes, in the land of Israel, as well as ultimate judgment and worldwide peace.

The Dead Sea Scrolls refer to two messiahs, one of whom is a military commander and the other of whom is a religious leader.

Stories in the Gospels about Jesus healing the sick, reviving the dead, and declaring the imminence of the kingdom of heaven imply that his disciples viewed him as the one who had been chosen by God to usher in the messianic period.

The sage Maimonides observed, “And it is well known that he is not the one who was promised by the Torah if he is unsuccessful in this endeavor or if he is dead.”

What About Jews for Jesus?

Jews for Jesus is an acronym that stands for Jews for Jesus. is a subset of a larger movement known as Messianic Jews, which includes a number of other groups. Members of this organization are not recognized as Jews by the larger Jewish community, despite the fact that some members may have been born Jewish and that their ritual life involves Jewish customs, among other factors. Individual Jews might embrace Jesus as the messiah and still be considered Jewish under the law — rejection of any essential Jewish belief or practice does not automatically exclude one from being considered Jewish — but the ideas of messianic Jews are theologically irreconcilable with Judaism.

Did the Jews Kill Jesus?

No. The Romans executed Jesus on the cross. Crucification was a Roman method of death rather than a Jewish one. For the majority of Christian history, Jews were deemed culpable for the murder of Jesus and were punished accordingly. Due to the fact that the New Testament places the responsibility particularly on the Temple leadership, as well as more broadly on the Jewish people, this is the case. A sequence from Mel Gibson’s controversial 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ” prominently depicted the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who was reluctant to murder Jesus but was compelled to do so by bloodthirsty Jews, according to the Gospels.

These words, along with others, were used to legitimize centuries of Christian anti-Semitism against Jews.

In many ways, this document cleared the path for the first time in history for a historic reconciliation between Jews and Catholics.

The crucifixion of Jesus is shown on a mosaic at Jerusalem’s Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension.

Why Was Jesus Killed?

Some have argued that Jesus was a political rebel who sought the restoration of Jewish sovereignty and was executed by the Romans for his actions — an argument advanced in two recent works: Reza Aslan’s Zealot and Shmuley Boteach’s Kosher Jesus — while others have argued that Jesus was a religious revolutionary. This concept, on the other hand, is not universally accepted by scholars of the New Testament. if Rome had recognized Jesus as the head of a revolutionary group, it would have apprehended and executed his disciples as well.

A more plausible explanation is that the Romans considered Jesus as a threat to the peace and executed him because he was attracting followers who saw him as a messianic figure, according to this theory.

Did Jesus Reject Judaism?

Several passages in the Gospels have been read as rejections of Jewish religion and practice, according to some. Jesus is claimed to have declared banned foods “clean” in the Gospel of Mark, a statement that has come to be taken as a repudiation of traditional Jewish dietary regulations. However, this is Mark’s inference, not necessarily Jesus’ purpose. When Jesus and his early Jewish disciples returned to their homeland, they continued to obey Jewish law. Additionally, the New Testament has multiple lines that affirm Jesus as being equal to and divine with God, a concept that is difficult to reconcile with Judaism’s stress on God’s oneness.

Others, such as the “Angel of the Lord,” who appears in Genesis 16, Genesis 22, Exodus 3 (in the burning bush), and other passages, could have seen Jesus as an angel, as did others before him.

Are There Jewish Texts that Reference Jesus?

Yes. Despite the fact that the Jewish historian Josephus mentions Jesus in hisAntiquities of the Jews, the principal reference in his work appears to have been modified and extended by Christian scribes in the first century. Many sources believe that the term “Yeshu” is a reference to Jesus in the Talmud, which has a few references to him. Yeshu the Nazarene was hanged on the eve of Passover, according to the Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin, for the offense of leading Jews astray, according to the original report.

The Toledot Yeshu, written during the medieval period, gave an alternate narrative of Jesus that was in opposition to traditional Christian beliefs.

In his Mishneh Torah, Maimonides sees Jesus as the failed messiah foretold by the prophet Daniel, and as such, he is condemned to death.

We would like to express our gratitude to Amy-Jill Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences, for her support in the preparation of this piece.

Join Our Newsletter

Yes. Despite the fact that the Jewish historian Josephus mentions Jesus in hisAntiquities of the Jews, the principal reference in his work appears to have been modified and extended by Christian scribes in the first century A.D. Many sources believe that the term “Yeshu” is a reference to Jesus in the Talmud, which has a few mentions of him. Yeshu the Nazarene was hanged on the eve of Passover, according to the Talmudic tractate Sanhedrin, for the offense of leading Jews astray, according to the original account.

The Toledot Yeshu, written during the medieval period, gave an alternate narrative of Jesus that was at odds with traditional Christian beliefs and was widely circulated.

Similarly, Maimonides sees Jesus as the failed messiah foretold by the prophet Daniel in his Mishneh Torah (Second Book of the Torah).

We would like to express our gratitude to Amy-Jill Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences, for her support in the preparation of this essay.

The following article, “What Do Jews Believe About Jesus?” may be read in Spanish (leer en Espanol):

Ask the Expert: Who Was Jesus?

Question: I realize this may appear to be a ridiculous question to you, but I’m asking it in all seriousness. According to Jewish tradition, who do they believe Jesus to be? Were you looking for a normal man, a prophet, or a rebel who was stirring up trouble? –Trish, United StatesAnswer:Trish, your query does not come off as ridiculous at all. Approximately one-third of the questions submitted to the Expert are from Christians who seek to get a better understanding of the Jewish perspective on a particular issue, with many of these inquiries being specifically to Jesus.

When Jews have lived under Christian monarchies and governments, the tone of their experiences has often colored their responses to the church as a whole and to Jesus in particular.During the Middle Ages, when many Jews throughout Europe were experiencing rampant persecution, Toledot Yeshu, a series of derogatory and inflammatory legends about Jesus’ life, became popular within some Jewish communities.

Because of the relative harmony that Jews and Christians are experiencing today, most Jews regard Jesus with respect rather than religious reverence.This attitude is reflected in Rabbi Irving Greenberg’s book, For the Sake of Heaven and Earth: The New Encounter Between Judaism and Christianity, where he refers to Jesus as a “failed messiah,” rather than the more commonly used term “false messiah.” The American Jewish Committee’s Midwest area director, Emily Soloff, responded to my question about Jesus with these words: “Jesus was definitely a historical figure.

a charismatic community leader who was deeply troubled by what he perceived as the failures of his society and spoke eloquently about those failures in the hope of bringing about change.” A writer to this blog and a professor of New Testament studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School, Amy-Jill Levine, reminded me that, as with any issue, there are many different Jewish responses.

Levine, “Just as there is no single Jewish view on most matters, there is no single Jewish view about Jesus of Nazareth: some Jews regard him as a wise rabbi, others regard him as a heretic; some find inspiration in his teachings, others take offense at his claims.” She also brought up two important points: a lot of Jews are unaware of New Testament scholarship or Jesus himself.

Levine also brought up two important points: As well as varied perspectives of Jesus within Christianity, there are many other things that the world’s main faiths have in common.

However, when it comes to referring to Jesus as a prophet or messiah, Jews draw the line. That’s where we’re going to start from. Beyond that, you’re likely to encounter a wide range of interpretations of Jesus’ life and activity among members of the Jewish community.

Join Our Newsletter

Encourage your Jewish exploration on a daily basis.

BBC – The Passion – Articles

Ed Kessler contributed to this article. That Jesus was a Jew is one of the few things that can be said with certainty about him. He was born into a Jewish family, raised in a Jewish household, and brought up in the traditions of the Jewish people. Throughout his life, Jesus was surrounded by Jews, and many of his disciples were also Jews. There has never been any Jew in history who has come close to Jesus in terms of the enormity of his influence. Many millions of men and women have been and continue to be inspired by the teachings and acts of Jesus the Jew, who lived and died almost 2,000 years ago.

  • Although this is accurate, it is so because the Christian followers of Jesus came to have ideas about his life that no Jew could share.
  • It is a sad truth of history that the disciples of this great Jew have inflicted tremendous sorrow onto the Jewish people, to the point where it has been extremely difficult for any Jew for generations to even think about Jesus without trouble for decades.
  • Now, we are experiencing a sea change, and while Jewish indifference to Jesus has by no means evaporated, the indicators are positive for the future.
  • However, while the Gospels record disagreements regarding Jesus’ interpretation of a handful of these, the concept of a Christian Jesus, who did not live by Torah or simply by its ethical precepts, does not correspond to historical fact in any way.
  • Those who follow Jesus believe that he is the Lord Christ, God Incarnate, and the only begotten Son of the Father – a claim that Jews find incredible and reject out of hand.
  • Jews believe that all humans share the divine spirit and are marked with the divine image, and that no one – not even the best of all people – can achieve the perfection of God in their own lives.
  • Jesus did not spend his life as a Christian, but rather as a Jew who was faithful to the Torah (with just a few deviations).
See also:  What Did Jesus Look Like On The Cross

Judaism, like Islam after it, is deeply anchored in religious law; Christianity, on the other hand, has lost this ground.

The Christian faith became to appear less and less like a genuine, though quirky, variant of Judaism, and increasingly like a wholly new religion, as the centuries progressed.

Were people allowed to either accept or resist Roman occupation under the rules of their religious faith?

Clearly, these must have been common discussions, as evidenced by the stories in the gospels of Jesus’ disagreements with religious leaders of the day.

He does not appear to be concerned with the specifics of what the dietary regulations mandate Jews to eat and drink, as reported in Mark’s gospel, and his attitude toward them reflects this.

A further point to note is that while Jesus’ teaching of the kingdom of God was plainly in line with mainstream Jewish tradition, the Christological allusions to him and the significance of his message are not.

However, this is not the case with the assumption that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah.

Simon Bar Kochba, who lived in 132 CE, and Shabbetai Zvi, who lived in 1665 CE, are only a few of instances.

The situation is the same even inside the New Testament, and by the time of the full-blown Trinitarianism of the 4th century creeds, the chasm had become unbridgeable.

Jesus made it obvious to Peter (Mark 8:29) that he considered himself as the Messiah, just as he did to the High Priest (Matthew 23:23).

Some Jews saw Jesus as the Messiah, thinking that he would save them from the terrible burden of Roman rule and usher in the messianic period on earth.

Other Jews were not convinced by the allegation.

Because Jesus repudiated his Jewishness, abandoned the Scriptures, or disowned his people, he was killed, not because of these things.

Whether or not proclaiming oneself to be the Messiah constituted an offense against Judaism at all, it was definitely not an offense against Jewish law for which Jesus might have been put to death, as the Gospels suggest.

Jesus didn’t do anything like that.

Although some Jews believe that Jesus was following in the footsteps of the historical prophets, others believe that he was not (cf.

“Can you tell me which commandment is the first of all?” He was approached and questioned.

The second is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord is One.

The second commandment is this: You are to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

The well-known instruction of Leviticus 19:18 is also a fundamental rule of Judaism, according to the tradition.

“Thus says the Torah,” the rabbis would declare in their sermons and teachings.

It is highly unlikely that Jesus instructed his followers to disregard the Torah; rather, he emphasized that “the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), i.e., that you should follow the deepest instinct for truth and love that you have in your heart because salvation can only be found there, not through Torah.

  • Christian scholars Geza Vermes and Ed Sanders are two scholars who, in recent years, have drew widespread attention among Christians to Jesus’ Jewish ancestors, though Christians earlier in the twentieth century (such as R.
  • Herford and George Foot Moore) had also investigated this trend, which has now become widespread and crucial within the field of Jesus studies.
  • Many people displayed anti-Semitic tendencies out of pure instinct.
  • Based on the notion that post-exilic Judaism had ossified and forsaken the prophetic faith of Israel, this viewpoint was taken.
  • Jesus was a Jew, not an invading foreigner in 1st-century Palestine, as some have claimed.

For Jews, the value of Jesus’ life, rather than his death, must be found in his life of faith in God, rather than in his death. For Jews, it is not Jesus who is Lord, but rather God who is Lord. The fact that Jesus was born, lived, and died as a Jew is becoming increasingly popular among Jews.

Why Do Judaism and Christianity Differ on Beliefs about the Messiah?

Jews and Christians both share the same Old Testament, albeit we refer to it by various titles, and Judaism contains extra works that Christians do not have. What distinguishes Christians from Jews is their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah and their personal Saviour, whereas Jews reject Jesus as Messiah and personal Saviour. Because we believe God established a new covenant via Jesus, Christians believe this to be the case. The New Testament, which we believe to be God’s Word, reveals the unfolding of this new covenant, which we believe to be the culmination of the covenant portrayed in the Old Testament.

Judaism rejects all of this and continues to wait for the coming of the Messiah.

Here are a few illustrations.

Jews believe the Messiah will be a political leader who expels their enemies from their land

They believe that the Messiah will re-establish the Jewish country and restore peace and prosperity to God’s chosen people in the world today. Those who adhere to Judaism do not think that the prophesied Messiah will come and die in order to free humanity from the consequences of sin. Christians, on the other hand, believe that Jesus’ mission on earth was to bring about personal harmony between humans and God. Even more stunning to Jews is the belief among Christians that peace is extended to Gentiles in the same way that it is extended to Jews.

As soon as they saw that Jesus was not going to comply, they turned against Him, accusing Him of being a blasphemer for claiming to be one with God and demanding that He be nailed on a cross.

The Jews reject Jesus as Messiah because it is inconceivable to them that God came down as a man and dwelt among them

According to them, it is impossible for God to exist in a corporeal form, and it is heresy for any man to say that he is God. Many Jews now accept that Jesus was a brilliant teacher, and some even believe that he was a prophet. They, on the other hand, maintain that Jesus was merely a man and not God.

Another stumbling block for Jews is Jesus’ teaching itself

Jesus taught that He has the ability to forgive sins. According to Jewish belief, forgiveness of sins is a considerably more extensive procedure than simply accepting a man’s word for it. Others feel that if misdeeds are forgiven readily, it would just encourage people to commit more sin. Jesus also taught us to love our adversaries and to pray for them, which is a commandment from the Bible. The long-suffering Jews, who have been oppressed so severely by so many people, would find this unfathomable.

The Jews were under the impression that He had come to reestablish national policy. Jesus taught that we should treat others with love and mercy in our personal interactions.

Jews also do not accept Jesus’ teaching that He is the only way to God (John 14:6)

Because Jews follow a religious system based on restitution and real repentance, they do not require the assistance of a middleman in order to contact God. They also have a misunderstanding of what forgiveness and salvation are all about. Their belief in the absence of a sin nature means that they do not believe that any rational, attentive individual can transgress to the point that they will be unable to achieve forgiveness via their own efforts and diligent following of the laws.

Finally, the Jews reject Jesus because God has blinded them to who He is and so the Gospel could go to the Gentiles

From the time of their liberation from Babylon, the Jews have been devout worshippers of the Almighty. They are aware of the law and adhere to it. They are looking forward to the arrival of God’s Messiah, a military commander who would usher in a new period of prosperity. Their enthusiasm for the law causes them to lose sight of the One who is the law-Giver. “Because they do not comprehend God’s method of reconciling people to himself,” says Romans 10:3, They refuse to accept God’s way of doing things, and so they cling to their own method of becoming right with God by attempting to follow the law.” Throughout Romans 9:30–32, Paul asks, “What does all this mean?

And it was only through faith that this was accomplished.

What’s the harm in trying?

This caused them to trip over a large boulder on their route.

Other Articles You May Like

  • Do you want to be a good man or the God-Man? The Case for Jesus’ Deity by Insight for Living Ministries
  • Son of Manby Insight for Living Canada
  • Son of Godby Insight for Living Canada
  • Christby Insight for Living Canada
  • The Case for Jesus’ Deity by Insight for Living Ministries
  • The Case for Jesus’ Deity
Sermons You May Enjoy
  • There are several more signs. There are many more things that come from exalting Christ. The Lamb of God: A Study of John 15-21
  • The Claims of the Christ from the Perspective of Beholding Christ The Son of God: A Study of John 1-5
  • Hebrews: Jesus Christ, Our Superior SaviourfromGod’s Masterwork, Volume 7: The Final Word—A Survey of Hebrews-Revelation
  • The Son of God: A Study of John 1-5

Why Jews Don’t Believe In Jesus

Jews have been rejecting the Christian notion of Jesus as the promised Messiah for more than 2,000 years. Why? “Why don’t Jews believe in Jesus?” is one of the most often asked questions we hear here at Aish.com. Let’s take a look at why – not to discredit other religions, but rather to clarify the Jewish viewpoint on the matter. Jews do not recognize Jesus as the messiah for the following reasons:

  1. Jesus did not bring about the fulfillment of the messianic prophesies
  2. In fact, Jesus did not possess the personal criteria for being the Messiah. Verse in the Bible that are “referring” to Jesus are mistranslations. Jewish religion is founded on the revelation of the nation

But first, some background information: What is the Messiah’s actual identity? Mashiach is a Hebrew term that literally translates as “anointed.” The word “Messiah” is an English translation of the Hebrew wordMashiach, which literally translates as “anointed.” It is most commonly used to refer to a person who has been anointed with oil and therefore introduced into God’s ministry. Exodus 29:7, 1 Kings 1:39, 2 Kings 9:3; 1 Kings 1:39; 2 Kings 9:3;

See also:  Why Did The Romans Crucify Jesus Of Nazareth?

(1) Jesus Did Not Fulfill the Messianic Prophecies

What is it that the Messiah is expected to achieve? In biblical prophecy, one of the most important themes is the promise of a future period of perfection, marked by worldwide peace and the acceptance of God as Creator.

(Isaiah 2:1-4, 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34) (Isaiah 2:1-4, 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah He will, according to the Bible, do the following:

  1. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28)
  2. Bring all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6)
  3. And bring all nations back to the Land of Israel. Bring about a new period of world peace by putting an end to all forms of hatred, oppression, suffering, and sickness. “Country shall not pick up sword against nation, nor shall man study war any longer,” the Bible declares. (See Isaiah 2:4) Disseminate worldwide knowledge of the God of Israel, which will bring all of mankind together as an one family. According to Zechariah 14:9, “God will reign as King over all the earth — on that day, God will be One, and His Name will be One” (God will be One, and His Name will be One).

If a person does to meet any one of these requirements, he or she cannot be considered the Messiah. Because no one has ever come close to fulfilling the Bible’s depiction of this future King, Jews continue to look forward to the Messiah’s arrival. All previous Messianic claimants, including Jesus of Nazareth, Bar Cochba, and Shabbtai Tzvi, have been disqualified from the position of Messiah. Christians argue that Jesus will fulfill these prophecies at the Second Coming of Christ. According to Jewish sources, the Messiah will completely fulfill the predictions; the Bible does not mention a second coming of the Messiah at all.

(2) Jesus Did Not Embody the Personal Qualifications of Messiah

The Messiah will surpass Moses as the greatest prophet in history, and he will be the greatest prophet of all time. In accordance with Targum (Isaiah 11:2; Maimonides – Teshuva 9:2), Prophecy can only exist in Israel if the country is occupied by a majority of world Jewry, which has not been the case since 300 BCE, and it has not been since then. Prophecy came to an end during the reign of Ezra, when the bulk of Jews remained in Babylon, with the deaths of the last prophets — Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi – marking the end of the Old Testament.

B. Descendant of David

In a number of prophetic prophecies, it is said that a descendant of King David will rule Israel during the era of perfection. It is necessary for the Messiah to be descended on his father’s side from King David, as stated in the Scriptures (Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-10, 33:14-16; Ezekiel 34:11-31, 37:21-28; Hosea 3:4-5). (see Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:17; Ezekiel 34:23-24). As a result of the Christian belief that Jesus was born of a virgin, he did not have a father — and so could not have conceivably met the messianic criteria of being descended on his father’s side from the patriarch David.

He will not be a demi-god (2), nor will he have any superhuman abilities or characteristics.

C. Torah Observance

The Jewish people shall be led by the Messiah to complete Torah compliance in their lives. According to the Torah, all mitzvot are eternally binding, and anybody who seeks to modify the Torah is immediately labeled as a false prophet and excommunicated. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4) Throughout the Christian “New Testament,” Jesus declares that the Torah is no longer valid and that its prohibitions are no longer applicable to the Christian faith. To give an example, John 9:14 tells that Jesus prepared a paste in violation of Shabbat, prompting the Pharisees to declare (in verse 16), “He does not keep Shabbat!”

(3) Mistranslated Verses “Referring” to Jesus

It is only via close examination of the original Hebrew text that biblical texts can be understood – and this examination shows several inconsistencies in the Christian translation.

A. Virgin Birth

According to Christian tradition, the concept of virgin birth derives from the biblical passage Isaiah 7:14, which describes a “alma” giving birth.

The word “alma” has traditionally been used to refer to a young lady, but Christian theologians came along centuries later and changed it to mean “virgin” instead. This is consistent with the pagan concept of people being pregnant by gods that was prevalent in the first century.

B. Suffering Servant

As the “suffering servant,” Christianity asserts that Isaiah chapter 53 alludes to Jesus as the “Savior.” In truth, the topic of Isaiah 52 is carried over into chapter 53, which describes the exile and redemption of the Jewish people in Babylon. Because the Jews (“Israel”) are viewed as a single entity, the predictions are written in the singular form of the Hebrew language. Throughout Jewish scripture, Israel is referred to as the “Servant of God” on a number of occasions, and in the singular (see Isaiah 43:8).

When properly interpreted, Isaiah 53 plainly alludes to the Jewish people as having been “bruised, crushed, and like sheep carried to slaughter” by the nations of the earth, as well as other things.

When the Jewish people are redeemed, according to Isaiah 53, the nations will acknowledge and bear responsibility for the excruciating sorrow and death that they have caused the Jews throughout history.

(4) Jewish Belief is Based Solely on National Revelation

A person’s endeavor to convince others that he or she is the authentic prophet of God has resulted in the founding of hundreds of religious organizations throughout history. Personal revelation, on the other hand, is a shaky foundation for a religion because it is impossible to know whether or not it is accurate. Because no one else was there when God spoke to this individual, they must take his word for what he said. A person claiming personal revelation may accomplish miracles, but this does not always establish him or her as a legitimate prophet.

It has absolutely nothing to do with his prophetic claims.

As a matter of fact, the Bible claims that God occasionally lends the power of “miracles” to charlatans in order for Jews to demonstrate their commitment to the Torah (Deut.

Only Judaism, out of the hundreds of religions that have existed throughout history, rests its belief on national revelation – that is, God speaking to the whole country.

As Maimonides writes in the Foundations of Torah (chapter 8): “Because of the miracles that Moses accomplished, the Jews did not trust in Moses, our teacher.” The belief of everyone who has witnessed miracles is tainted by the possibility that the miracles were done via magic or sorcery, which leaves him with unanswered questions.

What, then, was the foundation for belief?

“Face to face, God talked with you,” as the saying goes.

(Deuteronomy 5:3) Judaism does not believe in miracles. Everyone who stood on Mount Sinai 3,300 years ago had a firsthand eyewitness account of what they were witnessing. Read on for more information: “Did God Speak at Mount Sinai?”

Waiting for the Messiah

Messianic redemption is desperately needed across the world. Our need for redemption will be heightened to the extent that we are conscious of the difficulties that face our society. According to the Talmud, one of the first questions asked of a Jew on Judgment Day is: “Did you long for the coming of the Messiah?” What steps might we take to speed the arrival of the Messiah? The most effective method is to love all of mankind unconditionally, to observe the commandments of the Torah (to the best of our ability), and to urge others to do so as well.

One visible proof is that the Jewish people have returned to the Land of Israel and have re-established its agricultural production.

The Messiah might appear at any time, and everything is dependent on our deeds.

Because, as King David proclaims, “Redemption will come today – if you would just heed to His voice.” For more research:

  • “Jews for Judaism” is an acronym that stands for Jews for Judaism “”The Real Messiah” by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
  • “Let’s Get Biblical! ” by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
  • “Let’s Get Biblical! What is it about the Christian Messiah that Judaism does not accept?” by Rabbi Tovia Singer
  • “Path of the Righteous Gentile” by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky
  • And “Path of the Righteous Jew” by Chaim Clorfene and Yakov Rogalsky

FOOTNOTES

(1) In response, it is asserted that Joseph adopted Jesus and via adoption passed on his ancestry to his children. However, there are two issues with this claim: a) There is no scriptural foundation for the concept of a father handing along his tribe line through adoption. A priest who adopts a son from another tribe does not have the authority to elevate him to the position of priest. b) Joseph would never be able to give on via adoption what he does not already possess. Because Joseph was descended from Jeconiah (Matthew 1:11), he was subjected to the curse of that monarch, which decreed that none of his descendants would ever sit on the throne of David (Matthew 1:12).

  1. In spite of the fact that Jeconiah repented, as recounted in Talmud Sanhedrin 37a and elsewhere, it is not apparent from the early sources whether or not his repentance was accepted to the extent that the royal line persisted through him.
  2. In this case, there are four major issues with the claim: The existence of Mary as a descendant of David has not been established.
  3. b) Even if Mary can trace her ancestors back to David, this is of little use to Jesus, because tribal identity is only established through the father, not the mother.
  4. Mary did not come from a legitimate messianic family, even if the familial line could be traced down to her mother.
  5. The third chapter of Luke is irrelevant to this issue since it covers the ancestry of David’s son Nathan, not Solomon, and hence is not relevant to this discussion.
  6. In addition, these two individuals are mentioned in Matthew 1:12 as descendants of the doomed Jeconiah.
  7. In his “Guide for the Perplexed,” Maimonides spends a significant portion of his writings to the fundamental premise that God is incorporeal, which means that He takes on no bodily form.
  8. He is limitless and exists beyond of time and space.
  9. Saying that God takes on human form reduces God to a little and insignificant figure, undermining both His oneness and divinity.
  10. Thank you to Rabbi Michael Skobac of Jews for Judaism for his assistance.

Copyright is valid from 1995 to 2022. Aish.com,. Aish.com is a non-profit organization that relies on your contributions. Thank you for your support. You may make a donation online at:aish.com/donate, or send a check to: Aish.com c/o The Jerusalem Aish HaTorah Fund PO Box 1259 Lakewood, NJ 08701.

Ask A Rabbi: How Do I Explain Jesus to My Kids?

Never miss out on the most interesting articles and events! This Week, GetJewishBoston.com. “Can you tell me what I should tell my children about Jesus?” I’m trying to figure out how to state unequivocally that we do not believe in Jesus without coming out as disrespectful or judgemental. In general, I don’t like for the statement that Christians think the Messiah has arrived but that Jews are still waiting; putting everything of Jewish history, culture, and philosophy under the heading of’still waiting’ simply doesn’t sit well with me.” Rabbi Jillian Cameron contributed to this article.

The plain name, on the other hand, might be a source of consternation for individuals who do not belong to a belief in Jesus that goes beyond that of a historical figure.

See also:  What Did Mary Mother Of Jesus Look Like

When speaking with youngsters who have not necessarily acquired thinking abilities and who have not yet been exposed to the historical background necessary to understand the intricacies of the figure of Jesus and what the notion has come to signify in a Christian setting, this work becomes increasingly difficult.

  1. So many parents are scared to bring up the subject with their children, which can lead to them not comprehending what is being said or, as you implied, repeating things that may be considered offensive.
  2. I agree with you that categorizing the whole Jewish community as “still waiting” is less than desirable.
  3. Christian and Jewish belief in God is, when reduced to its most basic form, identical.
  4. This is an excellent statement: “Christians believe that Jesus is God.” “Jews believe in God as well, but we think about God and communicate with God in a different way,” is another nice way to put it.
  5. As far as the talk of “the Messiah” is concerned, I would advise against it at first since it is a tough and complicated idea, and one that is not required to bring up unless expressly requested.
  6. I tend to shy away from the concept of a human individual as a Messiah, and instead think about all of the things we can do in the world today to bring about this type of Messianic Age.
  7. This is an excellent learning experience not just for children, but also for their parents; it provides an opportunity for parents to clarify their own beliefs about Jesus and other important themes.
  8. Bring them into the debate, and perhaps you will all learn something about yourself, about how incredible children’s brains are, and about how you as a family comprehend belief, religion, and values.

Bring them into the discussion. Never miss out on the most interesting articles and events! This Week, GetJewishBoston.com.

What Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Jerusalem Think of the Resurrection

During my first visit to Jerusalem, I went to the Old City and saw the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which is believed to be the location of Jesus’ death and burial. Eventually, I fought my way past the throngs, almost knocking over racks of relics, candles, scarves, and postcards, until I arrived at the church’s main entrance. Because the July light had been blinding me outside, the first thing I noticed as I walked into the house was the darkness. When my eyes grew used to the new surroundings, I realized how much there was to take in.

  • Tour groups of different sizes, led by guides fluent in dozens of languages, swarmed from relic to relic like swarms of fish.
  • For several tourists, this was a watershed event, one they would tell their children and grandkids about in the future.
  • The folks who don’t pay any attention to the church or what it represents are more intriguing to observe.
  • According to how each of these faiths is practiced in Israel, there are several subgroups within each of these faiths.
  • A look at how Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Israel commonly perceive Jesus’ defining moment—his resurrection—as represented by this church is the subject of this article.

Jews and the Resurrection

Jewish folks going by the empty tomb are inclined to regard it to be someone else’s problem; it isn’t theirs. When I asked a Jewish woman what she thought of Jesus, she said, “I don’t think about him.” No, he has no relation to me in any way. “I identify as Jewish.” She and the vast majority of Israeli Jews do not think that Jesus is the Messiah or that he has been raised from the dead. In the eyes of others, he and the empty tomb serve as holy symbols. Despite the fact that Jesus is regarded as a pivotal person in religious history, many Jews in Israel may be unaware of his background.

  • “I don’t give a damn about him.
  • “I identify as Jewish.” The angel instructed Joseph to name the child “Yeshua,” which is a Hebrew word that literally means “salvation.” We refer to him as Jesus since the Greek translation of the New Testament is what we use.
  • The actual Yeshua must be known and understood by the Jewish people in order for them to comprehend the importance of the empty tomb.
  • For Jews, the empty tomb is also a source of distress on an intellectual level.
  • 1:23).

Not “Jesus,” which is a translated concept. He is Yeshua, a youngster who learned the Torah and observed the feasts and holidays as a result of his upbringing. When people know that Yeshua came first and foremost for Jews, they will be able to comprehend the resurrection.

Muslims and the Resurrection

Muslims do not believe in the notion of resurrecting from the grave. Jesus is recognized as a righteous man and prophet in the Qur’an, yet it is explicitly stated in the Quran that he was not executed, let alone that he resurrected from the dead. Muslims reject the notion that individuals are so weak that they require an outside savior, therefore the importance of the crucifixion and the burial remains outside their realm of understanding. It is the name Jesus—or any Christian phrases relating to the crucifixion, resurrection, Easter, or savior—that causes Jerusalemite Muslims to identify it with a culture and world full of things and people that are “different” than them—that is, that are not for them.

First and foremost, Muslims must acknowledge that Jesus was crucified before the tomb can have any significance for them.

The Holy Spirit works through Scripture and the testimonies of Christians to assist Muslims in accepting Christ’s death and resurrection as their Savior.

Christians and the Resurrection

Plenty Christians in Israel have a lively, living religion, yet there are also many who don’t have one. These latter individuals are frequently referred to as “cultural Christians.” Just as some Christians in the United States may exclusively associate Easter with eggs and bunnies, Christians in Israel may observe the holiday in ways that may not always relate to the empty tomb. “Jerusalemite believers from a variety of backgrounds, including Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and secular, come together to commemorate the empty tomb and how it paves the path for all countries to be rescued.” Telling a cultural Christian that Jesus has risen from the dead would be old news to them.

People who are cultural Christians may feel the urge to cover their heads as they pass by the empty tomb out of reverence.

However, for Christians who have a live faith, the resurrection represents the beginning of a new life in Christ.

A person’s acceptance of the fact that the spotless Jesus not only died for their sin but also rose from the dead in power transforms the resurrection into the presence and power of God in and for them, whether they are Christians or come from any other cultural background.

Bethany Singer, who resides in Jerusalem, has worked with Muslims, Orthodox Christians, and Jews during the course of her career. She relishes the opportunity to connect with people via their native languages, music, and cuisine, as well as promoting worship of the one true God around the world.

Judaism and Christianity Both Rely on the Hebrew Bible. Why Do They Interpret It So Differently?

The Bible is the most influential book in the entire world. However, books, like individuals, can have an impact because of what they say, or because of what they are seen to have said, in their respective fields. When dealing with a book as large as the Bible, readers want some sort of key that will allow them to comprehend the entire work as a whole. When it comes to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, ecumenical-minded individuals want to emphasize that Christians and Jews at the very least share these books in common, even if Christians also accept the New Testament while Jews do not.

  1. As far as Christians are concerned, the Old Testament presents a tale that is brought to a close in the New Testament.
  2. There is a historical narrative that tells of the fall of humanity’s innocence in the Garden of Eden, and a subsequent history of human disobedience that is told throughout the narrative books.
  3. Anyone who has grown up in a Christian-dominated culture will find this method of interpreting the Old Testament to be completely natural and unambiguous.
  4. Imagine the surprise when Christians come upon a Jewish approach to reading these same writings.
  5. The narrative of Adam and Eve is only a minor aspect in the movie.
  6. The Hebrew Bible does not contain a grand narrative, and certainly not one that would culminate in the arrival of Jesus.
  7. “Salvation,” if it is to be defined in otherworldly terms as “heaven,” is given little attention, but the life of God’s people under the covenant is given far more attention.
  8. Get your history fix in one convenient location: Subscribe to the TIME History newsletter, which is published every week.
  9. Both the Christian and Jewish interpretations of the Hebrew Bible are influenced by causes outside of the book itself.
  10. He began by framing the reading of the Hebrew Bible in terms of a worldwide human catastrophe, which was followed by a rescue mission that was centered on Jesus.

Following the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE, which forced a reorientation of the way Jews practiced their religion, the rabbinic tradition increasingly saw the Bible as a closed corpus that could be used as a guide for living in the present, rather than as a book that was oriented toward the future of the world.

A graphic of crossing circles might be used to depict the relationship between the Bible and the religions that claim it as their foundation.

However, one could not read off either faith as we experience them in the real world from the Bible.

Let us consider the case of Christianity: there are many issues that Christians regard as fundamental to their belief in God, and which are prominent in the Church’s creeds, but which are poorly attested in the Bible, even in the New Testament—God as Trinity, Jesus Christ’s divinity, the nature of his resurrection, Christian ethical stances, to name a few examples.

  • It is not that the Bible and the creeds are in conflict with one another, but rather that they emphasize different aspects of the same subject.
  • As a result, the Bible’s relationship to its religions is elliptical rather than direct: “Scripture alone” does not function as an explanation for what is really believed or done in either Christianity or Judaism.
  • This collection of widely varied ancient Israelite national literature was composed and assembled most likely between the seventh and second century BCE, and is known as the Hebrew Bible.
  • This compendium of texts from an originally Jewish, but eventually largely Gentile, group in the eastern Mediterranean during the first and second centuries CE has grown into one of the world’s most successful religions.
  • Despite the fact that Christians, like Jews, have always adhered to their Scriptures, they have evolved concepts that would have startled the New Testament writers, particularly as a result of their encounter with philosophical ideas.

John Barton is the author of A History of the Bible: The Story of the World’s Most Influential Book, which is now available in paperback and ebook formats. More TIME Magazine’s Must-Read Stories

  • Inside The True StoryBehind Netflix’s Inventing Anna
  • Facebook’s African Sweatshop
  • The True StoryBehind Facebook’s African Sweatshop Column: To put an end to gerrymandering, we must change the way we elect members of Congress. It’s the Tobacco Giant That Isn’t Going Away From Funding Anti-Smoking Programs for Children. Because of the nature of Trump’sTRUTH social media platform, it will struggle to compete with mainstream social media. The Untold Story Behind the Kanye Documentary Films It’s been two decades in the making. Pediatricians who work with transgender youth are being subjected to harassment. It’s possible that you’ll need lifesaving treatment

Please contact us at [email protected].

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.