
Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the messiah, the son of God, and the second person in the Trinity. But what do Jews believe about Jesus?
Jewish people do not accept Jesus as the messiah. They believe that Jesus did not fulfil the messianic prophecies, did not embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah, and that the biblical verses referring to Jesus are mistranslations.
While some Jews believe Jesus was a teacher or prophet, they do not believe he was the son of God.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Jewish belief in Jesus | Jesus is not believed to be the Messiah |
Why Jews don't believe in Jesus | Jesus did not fulfill messianic prophecies, did not embody personal qualifications of the Messiah, mistranslated verses, Jewish belief is based on national revelation |
Jewish view of Jesus | Heretic, wise rabbi, ethical teacher, failed messiah, prophet, great teacher |
Jesus in Jewish texts | Yes, in the Talmud |
Jesus' miracles | Dismissed as legendary tales, but some Jews do acknowledge miracles |
Jesus' resurrection | Not indicated in the Hebrew Bible |
Jesus' crucifixion | Not believed to be justified |
What You'll Learn
Jesus as a Jewish teacher
Jesus was a 1st-century Jewish preacher and religious leader. He was born to Mary, wife of Joseph, and lived as a Jew. He was an itinerant teacher who interpreted the law of God with divine authority and was often referred to as "rabbi". He debated with his fellow Jews on how best to follow God, engaged in healings, taught in parables, and gathered followers.
Jesus was a prophet and teacher of ethics, a healer and miracle worker. He demanded complete devotion to God, putting it ahead of devotion to self and even to family. He taught that people should give up everything in order to obtain what was most precious. He held that observance of the law should be not only external but internal: hatred and lust, as well as murder and adultery, are wrong.
Jesus's teachings on the kingdom and the law were strict. He was extremely strict about marriage and divorce but was less stringent about the Sabbath. He was autonomous; he interpreted the law according to his own rules and decided how to defend himself when criticized.
Jesus was a healer and miracle worker. He granted that others were capable of performing miracles, such as exorcisms, regardless of whether they followed him. He attributed these miracles to the faith of those healed and connected them to end-times prophecy.
Jesus was also a controversial figure. He attracted crowds, which was politically dangerous. His message was not necessarily socially dangerous, but the revolutionary implications of its promise of future reversal of status may have made some uneasy. During his Galilean ministry, some regarded him with hostility and suspicion, partly because of the crowds and partly because of his autonomy. It was impossible to know what someone who was autonomous might do next, and this could be dangerous, especially if he had a following.
Jesus was not universally accepted by the Jews of his day, and he is not accepted by Judaism today. However, some Jews regard him as a teacher or prophet but not as the Messiah.
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Jesus as a failed messiah
The idea of Jesus as a failed messiah is a concept that has been explored by various scholars and theologians. The question of whether Jesus was a failed messiah or not is of utmost importance, as it marks the difference between salvation and damnation, heaven and hell.
Firstly, it is important to understand the Jewish concept of the Messiah. In Judaism, the word "messiah" refers to a divinely appointed king or anointed one. The prophets envisioned a messianic age as a period of universal peace, where war and hunger are eradicated, and humanity accepts God's sovereignty. This was further developed in the first century to include the resurrection of the dead, the ingathering of all Jews to the land of Israel, a final judgment, and universal peace.
With this understanding, we can now examine the reasons why some consider Jesus to be a failed messiah.
Erroneous Human Perspective
The disciples of Jesus, and people at that time, believed that death meant human failure. This is evident in the Gospel of Luke, where two men travelling to Emmaus express their disappointment that Jesus had died, as they had hoped he would redeem Israel. This perspective is further supported by Gamaliel, a prominent Pharisee, who states that charismatic leaders often gain a following, but once they die, their movement falls apart.
Faulty Theological Perspective
The followers of Jesus also believed that death was divine punishment. This belief is supported by various biblical passages, such as Ezekiel 18:4 and Roman 6:23. However, this created a conundrum for them when Jesus, whom they believed to be the Messiah, was crucified. They questioned how the Messiah, who was supposed to be the unique servant of God, could suffer divine punishment. This perspective is also predicted by Isaiah, who wrote that the Jewish people would misinterpret the Messiah's suffering and death as divine punishment for his sins.
Outright Unbelieving Perspective
The death of the Messiah was an inconceivable and unacceptable notion for the followers of Jesus. This is evident in Peter's immediate refusal to believe that Jesus would suffer and die, despite his previous confession that Jesus was the Messiah. The followers of Jesus failed to understand that the death of the Messiah was part of God's plan and served a specific purpose: redemption.
In conclusion, the idea of Jesus as a failed messiah stems from a combination of erroneous human perspectives, faulty theological interpretations, and outright unbelief. The disciples' confidence in Jesus as the Messiah was shaken by his arrest and crucifixion, leading them to question whether he had truly failed to fulfil the messianic prophecies. However, it is important to note that these perspectives do not align with the Jewish understanding of the Messiah, which is based on specific criteria and biblical prophecies.
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Jesus as a prophet
While Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the Messiah, the son of God, and the second person in the Trinity, he is not regarded as a prophet by Jews.
Judaism does not consider Jesus to be a prophet, the messiah, or the son of God. However, the exact way Jews have spoken about Jesus has varied throughout history, depending on the social and political contexts in which they were living. For example, during the Middle Ages, when many Jews in Europe were facing severe persecution, derogatory and inflammatory legends about Jesus' life became popular within some Jewish communities. Today, as Jews and Christians live in relative harmony, the attitude among most Jews towards Jesus is one of respect, but not religious reverence.
Some Jews regard Jesus as a wise rabbi or teacher, while others view him as a heretic. Some find inspiration in his teachings, while others take offense at his claims. Ultimately, Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah or as a prophet because he did not fulfill the messianic prophecies or embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah.
According to Jewish eschatology, the coming of the true Messiah will be associated with events that have not yet occurred, such as building the Third Temple, a Messianic Age of peace, and the ingathering of Jews to their homeland. Jesus did not accomplish any of these tasks, nor did he reign as king or usher in an era of peace and understanding.
Furthermore, the belief that Jesus is God, the Son of God, or a person of the Trinity, is incompatible with Jewish theology, as Judaism sees the worship of a person as a form of idolatry, which is forbidden. Judaism teaches that it is heretical for any man to claim to be God, part of God, or the literal son of God.
While Jesus is not considered a prophet or the Messiah in Judaism, some modern Jewish thinkers have come to hold a more positive view of him, arguing that he himself did not abandon Judaism and/or that he benefited non-Jews.
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Mistranslated verses referring to Jesus
Mistranslations in the Bible have had a significant impact on Christianity and its understanding. The Bible has been translated from its original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into thousands of languages. However, due to the vast differences between these languages and modern languages, translators have faced numerous challenges. Even the tiniest error can have significant ramifications due to Christianity's influence on the Western world. Here are some examples of mistranslated verses that may refer to Jesus:
Isaiah 7:14 – The Virgin Will Conceive
The virgin birth of Jesus is considered one of the miracles in the Bible. Isaiah 7:14 states, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The almah will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." The Hebrew word "almah" in the Old Testament refers to a young woman of marriageable age, not a virgin. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek, "almah" was translated as "parthenos," implying virginity. This mistranslation influenced Christian theology and led to the doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Jesus.
Genesis 2:22-24 – Adam's Rib
Genesis 2:22-24 states, "Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man." The word translated as "rib" in this passage is the Aramaic "ala," which refers to a rib anatomically. However, in Genesis, the word used is "tsela," which means "half" or "side." This mistranslation has had serious consequences for women, as it has been used to justify the subservience of women to men and patriarchal structures in societies.
Exodus 20:13 – Thou Shalt Not Kill vs. Thou Shalt Not Murder
The commandment "Thou shalt not kill" is a mistranslation of the Hebrew "לֹא תִּרְצָח" ("low teer zah"), which means "You shall not murder." The word "kill" implies any taking of life, while "murder" refers specifically to unlawful killing. This mistranslation has influenced debates on significant social issues, such as capital punishment, self-defence, warfare, and state-sanctioned executions.
Ephesians 5:22 – Wives, Submit to Your Husbands
Ephesians 5:22 states, "Wives, submit to your husbands." While this may seem like a command for women to be subservient to their husbands, the verse is part of a larger passage discussing mutual submission in the context of a Christian marriage. Ephesians 5:21 states, "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ," indicating a balanced and nuanced understanding of marital relationships. However, Ephesians 5:22 has often been taken out of context and used to perpetuate gender inequality and, in extreme cases, justify domestic abuse.
Matthew 19:24 – Camel Through the Eye of a Needle
In Matthew 19:24, Jesus says, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." This verse has often been interpreted literally, suggesting that it is challenging for wealthy people to attain spiritual salvation. However, the image of a camel passing through the eye of a needle seems like a random metaphor. One theory suggests that the original Greek word was "kamilos," meaning "rope" or "cable," but it was misread as "kamelos," meaning "camel." If correct, the metaphor would be about threading a large rope through the eye of a needle, making more contextual sense.
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Jesus as a heretic
Jesus is the central figure of Christianity, believed by Christians to be the messiah, the son of God, and the second person in the Trinity. However, Jews do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Jewish teachings and traditions present a different understanding of the Messiah and the expectations surrounding his arrival.
Jesus was considered a heretic by the religious leaders of his time, the Pharisees, because he went against their religious system and spoke against them. He broke the man-made laws of the Pharisees, who held themselves higher than the common folk and taught their traditions rather than the written scripture of God's word. Jesus understood the deepest concept of the law and the 10 commandments, which enabled him to break the Pharisees' laws without breaking God's laws.
Jesus was also considered a heretic because he made claims or acted outside of what the religious leaders considered to be orthodox. For example, in John 8:1-11, Jesus dissuades a group of people from stoning a woman caught in adultery, even though the Law of Moses commanded that such women be stoned. Jesus was also considered heretical for healing on the Sabbath and implying that he was the Son of God.
Today, the term "heretic" is used to signify that an individual has left what is considered orthodoxy among mainstream believers. In some churches, being accused of heresy is enough for a leader to lose their position and be kicked out of the church.
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Frequently asked questions
Jews do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, but they do believe he existed.
Jews don't believe that Jesus was the Messiah because he did not fulfil the messianic prophecies, such as bringing world peace and filling the Earth with knowledge of God.
Some Jews believe that Jesus was a wise rabbi or ethical teacher, but not God incarnate. Others see him as a heretic who led people to idolatry.
Many Jews dismiss Jesus's miracles as legendary tales, but some do acknowledge that he may have performed them. However, miracle-working is not a sign of the messiah according to the Hebrew Bible.