
Messianic Jews are a blend of Jewish and Christian faiths. They are mostly of Jewish nationality and maintain the basic culture, traditions, and principles of Judaism. They believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that salvation comes through faith in his death and resurrection. Messianic Jews follow the teachings of the Torah and the Hebrew Bible but believe that the Messiah was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They observe Jewish holidays and rituals, such as Passover, Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and circumcision, and some also follow kosher dietary laws. They also believe in the New Testament and that it fulfills the Old Testament through the coming of Jesus Christ.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Beliefs | Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and the saviour of humanity |
The Bible is the word of God | |
The Holy Spirit's gift of healing is real | |
The Trinity | |
Salvation is granted through faith in Jesus Christ | |
Sin is any behaviour that goes against the Bible's teachings | |
Practices | Observing the Sabbath |
Circumcision | |
Baptism | |
Keeping kosher | |
Celebrating Jewish holidays | |
Speaking in tongues |
What You'll Learn
- Messianic Jews observe Jewish holidays such as Passover, Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah
- They observe the Sabbath on Friday night through Saturday night
- They may observe Jewish dietary laws, such as keeping kosher
- They practice baptism, referring to it as a mikveh
- They believe in the Holy Bible and the New Covenant as God's word
Messianic Jews observe Jewish holidays such as Passover, Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah
Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays, celebrating God's liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. For Messianic Jews, it is also a time to remember Messiah Yeshua's (Jesus') death and resurrection. The Passover Seder is a key part of the celebration, during which the story of Passover is retold, and symbolism and parallels with Yeshua are identified. For instance, the Afikomen, a piece of matzah broken and hidden during the Seder, represents Yeshua's redemption and the promise of His return. The New Covenant practice of Communion is often added to the Passover meal.
Rosh Hashanah, or the "head of the year," marks the beginning of the agricultural cycle in Israel. It is observed with the sounding of a trumpet, or shofar, and is a day of remembrance and introspection. Families gather for a meal of sweet, delicious food, and the following morning, the shofar is sounded again, along with prayers paying special attention to God's kingship, remembrance of deeds, and repentance. In the afternoon, sins are confessed near a body of water. Rosh Hashanah is a hopeful holiday, reminding believers of God's forgiveness and mercy and the eventual return of the Messiah.
Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, is a biblical holiday during which Israelites were commanded to go to the Temple and celebrate. It is associated with messianic hope and the expectation of the restoration of the Davidic dynasty. The holiday played a significant role in the building of the First and Second Temples, with both Solomon and Ezra dedicating their newly built Temples during Sukkot. Messianic Jews observe Sukkot by celebrating in booths or huts and reading biblical passages about messianic Temple services.
Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is a holy day in Israeli culture. It is marked by a pre-fast meal, after which families enter a time of reflection and prayer. Messianic Jews may choose to observe the traditional fast to identify with their people and pray for their salvation. It is a day of stillness and quiet, dedicated solely to God.
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They observe the Sabbath on Friday night through Saturday night
Messianic Jews observe the Sabbath from Friday night through Saturday night. This practice is rooted in the Jewish tradition of Shabbat, which is observed during the traditional Jewish time starting before sunset on Friday evening until Saturday night. The Sabbath is commanded by God and written as part of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai.
During the Sabbath, Messianic Jews set aside one day a week to cease from work as God rested on the seventh day of the creation of the world. This observance is in line with Messianic Jews' belief in the authority of the Bible, including the Old and New Testaments, and their adherence to the teachings of the Torah.
By observing the Sabbath, Messianic Jews follow the example of Jesus, who was Jewish, and his followers, who were also mostly Jewish. Messianic Jews see themselves as "completed Jews" since they have found their Messiah in Jesus, while still retaining their Jewish heritage and identity.
The observance of the Sabbath is one of the ways in which Messianic Jews straddle the line between Judaism and Christianity. While they embrace Jewish traditions and customs, they also incorporate Christian theology and beliefs, such as the concept of salvation through faith in Jesus.
They may observe Jewish dietary laws, such as keeping kosher
Messianic Jews are a blend of Jewish and Christian faiths. They are mostly of Jewish nationality and maintain their Jewish identity, keeping the basic culture, traditions, and principles of Judaism. However, they also believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and that salvation comes through faith in his death and resurrection.
One of the ways in which Messianic Jews may observe and maintain their Jewish identity is by adhering to Jewish dietary laws, such as keeping kosher. This means that they follow specific food restrictions outlined in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and given to the Israelites in the Old Testament. These restrictions are intended to keep the bodies of God's people holy, pure, and set apart.
The observance of kosher dietary laws is not mandatory for Messianic Jews, and there is some debate within the community about how strictly to adhere to these laws. Some Messianic Jews may keep kosher for the purpose of evangelizing to Jewish people, as it allows them to maintain a Jewish identity while also embracing Christian theology. Others may follow these dietary restrictions because they believe that the Torah, including its commandments on diet, remains fully in force.
The kosher diet includes restrictions on certain types of meat, seafood, and dairy. For example, Messianic Jews, like traditional Jews, may avoid pork and shellfish. However, there is disagreement among Messianic Jews on whether to adhere to more strict interpretations of kosher dietary laws.
By observing Jewish dietary laws, such as keeping kosher, Messianic Jews can maintain their connection to Jewish culture and tradition while also embracing their belief in Jesus as the Messiah. This practice allows them to straddle the line between Judaism and Christianity, combining elements of both faiths in their religious observance.
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They practice baptism, referring to it as a mikveh
Messianic Jews practice baptism, referring to it as a mikveh, or "cistern", deriving the term from Leviticus 11:36. Mikveh is a Hebrew word meaning "gathering of waters" and is a ritual immersion in water.
The act of baptism is a representation of a believer's acceptance and confession that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. The waters of the Jordan River are often used as a mikveh for the Biblical act of immersion.
Baptism is carried out in a mikveh, a special pool containing a minimum of 120 gallons of water, most of which must be "moving", such as rain, melted snow, or ice. These ritual baths are divided into two sides, one for men and one for women. The bathers must first shower and then are given white cotton coverings to wear while entering the bath, where complete submersion must be achieved.
The mikveh is regarded as a symbolic expression of rebirth. The act of immersion in a mikveh represents death and resurrection. A person under water enters a death-like state, like a person descending into a grave. When they come back out of the water, they are reborn as a new creation.
The mikveh is also seen as a symbolic expression of spiritual cleansing. It is regarded as a pure, unadulterated avenue of connection with God and, therefore, a place where hope is reawakened and strengthened.
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They believe in the Holy Bible and the New Covenant as God's word
Messianic Jews hold the Holy Bible as their main religious text, following the teachings of the Torah (Old Testament) while also holding the New Covenant (New Testament) as God's Truth. They believe that the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah were fulfilled in the New Testament with the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Messianic Jews believe that all of Scripture in the Bible is inerrant and God-breathed. They believe that the Bible is God's Holy Word and follow the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament serves as a history of the Jewish nation, God's covenant with Abraham, and the commandments given to Moses. The New Testament fulfills the Old Testament through the coming of Jesus Christ, the Promised Messiah and God's Son.
The New Testament is often referred to as the "New Covenant" or "B'rit Hadasha" by Messianic Jews. They believe that it, alongside the Old Testament, is the infallible, inspired Word of God.
Messianic Jews also believe in the Trinity, with most accepting the concept in a manner similar to Christians. They believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, with all three being displayed in the New Testament Scriptures through the Gospels and the book of Acts.
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Frequently asked questions
A Messianic Jew is a person of Jewish descent who chooses to retain their Jewish religious identity and practices while also following Jesus. They see themselves as practising a special kind of Judaism that expresses devotion to Jesus, or "Messianic Judaism".
Messianic Jews believe that Jesus Christ (referred to in Hebrew as Yeshua) was the Messiah and the Son of God, and that salvation comes through faith in his death and resurrection. They also believe in the Trinity, and that the Bible—including the Old and New Testaments—is the infallible, inspired Word of God.
Messianic Jews observe Jewish holidays and rituals, such as Passover, Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and Rosh Hashanah, and often follow Jewish dietary laws. They also practise baptism and circumcision, and observe the Sabbath on Saturdays.
While Christians typically celebrate holidays like Christmas and Easter, Messianic Jews generally do not, instead observing traditional Jewish holidays. Messianic Jews also continue to live by the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, which most Christians do not do.
Traditional Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and so they do not consider Messianic Jews—who do believe this—to be Jewish. Messianic Jews are also more likely to observe the Torah and follow Jewish customs and practices.