Judaism is definately a religion of love [See I am not the only one who thinks that!] I thought the article did a good job of outlining why. Second, that this article supports the fact that Jesus most certainly considered himself Jewish in every sense of the word.
And yep, we're Episcopalians.... one of my favorite bumper stickers is
"My Boss is a Jewish carpenter...."
So goes the catechism. How do they know that? Circumstantial evidence indicates he might not have been Jewish. Who would know? The early Christians were Jewish, no doubt.
Then why, in the Gospels, do the Pharisees appear as the archenemies of Jesus?
My answer to this question is the fact that Jesus told ALL the Jews that he WAS the Messiah. Most of the Jewish elite either didn't believe he was but thought that HE did believe this to be true or thought he was lying for his own gain.
This is what made most of the Jewish elite his archenemies.
Bump!
Another parallel between Jesus and the Pharisees can be seen in the teachings of Hillel, a leading rabbi of the Pharisees, who flourished around 50 BCE. In a famous story reprted in the Talmud, a pagan Greek came to Hillel and said he would convert to Judaism if Hillel could teach him the entire Torah in the time he could remain standing on one foot. Hillel replied, "what is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: this is the essence of the Torah; all the rest is commentary. Now go and study it."
Jesus' use of the Hebrew Scriptures, therefore, was unabashedly Jewish. And it was similar to that of his contemporaries, particularly the philosophy of the Pharisees. "Knowing and appreciating the Jewish origins has at least three advantages: First, it helps us revise negative understandings of the Pharisees. It also helps us to avoid anti-Semitism. Finally, it allows us to better appreciate the Jewish roots of Christianity. Ultimately, understanding Jesus as a Jew will help us to better understand both our own faith and that of the contemporary Jews."
Yes, all so VERY TRUE. Jesus of Nazareth as a child showed a profound understanding of scripture. He, the author of creation chose not only to inspire Hebrew prophets but to visit the descendants of Abraham directly. Who, but the author of scripture could expound with perfect precision upon its meaning?
To understand the message of Jesus Christ fully one has to understand that His message to ALL of humanity is/was built upon the foundation of truth which had already been revealed to the Jews. From the time of the garden onward God had faithfully provided examples of the need for an atoning sacrifice for sin. Each passover lamb has been a picture of 'the lamb' who would be slain for the sins of His people, His creation, us. It was God's plan from the beginning of time. It has been entirely wrong to direct anamosity toward the Jewish religious leadership................
Did Isaiah not prophecy that "the stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone and it is wonderous in our eyes?" Did not Peter declare that this scripture applied directly to the Sanhedrin? Did not Paul make clear in the letters the predominately Jewish church of His day that it was God's plan to extend mercy to non-Jews through their rejection of the 'chief cornerstone'? Does not Paul's letter to the Romans clearly indicate that there will be a time in the future when ALL of Israel will come to recognize their Messiah?
No, historically many who thought they were serving God by persecuting the Jews were actually heretics of the worst kind. They are and were the one's referred to in the Book of Revelations as 'the synagogue of Satan'. The Catholic religious monster which arose out of the supposed 'conversion of Constantine' has done much to blind the eyes of Jews who would have possibly recognized the divine nature of 'The Man from Galilee'. Who can honestly say that the Vatican has not reproduced the very religious institutional abomination which many of the teaching of Jesus addressed?
The main misunderstanding which caused the Jewish religious leaders to not percieve their time of visitation involved a limited understanding of the Hebrew prophets. The Jewish theology has never fully percieved that there are TWO roles that the Jewish Messiah would/will accomplish. They were looking for 'The Conquering King' and not percieving that His first visitation would be as the 'Suffering Savior'.
At the end of the tribulation period which is coming upon the entire earth the 'hope of Israel' will be accomplished and 'all the enemies of God will become His footstool.' He will rule the nations with a rod of iron from Jerusalem and "the knowledge of The Lord will cover the earth, as the oceans cover the sea."
Jesus didn't "pick up" on any element of Pharisaism nor did he proof-text. To accuse the author of proof-texting is to deny his divinity.
I had a Bible College professor state that the conflict that the early church had with the pharisees, might have been in part due to their being so similar.
Pharisees would have most likely to convert.
Thanks for your work, it's much appreciated. BOOKMARKED!
Yes, they are very exciting to understand. Like the Jewish wedding ceremony. When the bridegroom and bride are betrothed, the bridegroom "goes away to prepare a place for the bride". When the time is perfect, the Father gives the signal for "the bridegroom to go and get his bride".
That is exactly how the "rapture" will take place. But ... studying how the Jewish tradition of the bride and bridegroom are handled, you can see it is the same process for the rapture; facinating!
Trying to earn ones way into heaven was hardly a revolutionary or new idea. People have been trying to do this from the beginning of time.
Matthew 5
17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."