Below are the 7 main objections given to show that Y’shua (Jesus) is not the Moshiach under the ‘Torah criteria for the Messiah’ as stated by Rabbinic sources. Are they right? Or are they very wrong? If you are fair minded read on….
This study will show that these 7 objections are not founded upon the Holy Scriptures which is the Word of G-d to guide and inform us. This then must be our common starting point otherwise we are subject to every opinion that abounds except HaShem’s. See Jeremiah 1:12 and Isaiah 55:11.
Let us now set out on a journey through the Holy Scriptures to search out the truth to these 7 statements and see that our G-d is not a G-d of confusion.
To the contrary the Word of G-d teaches that the Messiah is deity in the flesh Immanuel (see Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7) and that He is also the unique Son of G-d. But we can agree that he would be a human being like us, hence one of His titles would be the Son of Man who comes before the Ancient of Days within the Throne Room in Heaven. (Please see Daniel chapter 7:13-14). Let us note that Daniel sees in his vision the Throne Room in Heaven and the Messiah is already there, again showing His days are from of old, from everlasting. So when we use the grammatical rule of exegesis within hermeneutics we can see that He is more than just a human being.
We can also agree that Y’shua (Jesus) had no biological father. Joseph accepted his duty to bring the child up as his own after being spoken to in a dream by an angel of the L-rd, as his intention was to quietly divorce his wife after finding out she was pregnant! (The Holy Spirit of G-d had overshadowed her and she became pregnant). Let us note that dreams are one way in which God communicates with us. Several examples are Jacob, Joseph, and Daniel.
Where then within the Scriptures do we find the teaching that the Messiah is co-equal, co-existent and co-eternal in His divinity within the Godhead?
Micah 5:2 This verse clearly shows that the Moshiach is from the days of eternity. In other words pre-existent, His days are from ancient times as is His origin. The prophet has been told something directly from G-d, so we should listen to the L-rd of Heaven and not the interpretation of others. The art of studying the Scriptures involves exegetical rules and one of them is the literal meaning and then the grammatical. When you look at the key words in this verse any unbiased person has to arrive at the same conclusion as myself.
Isaiah 9:6-7 These two verses are phenomenal as clearly again using the literal rule of exegesis the Son given to mankind is the promised Messiah. He is to be known as the Wonderful Counsellor (Pele Yoetz), Mighty G-d (El Gibbor), Everlasting Father (Avi-‘Ad) and Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom).
These are titles and names of G-d and the Son shares then. The language here is plain and simple (the p’shat within Midrash), no other interpretation can be given unless one simply wants to deny the very Word of G-d or get into scripture twisting to give another meaning than that clearly given.
Isaiah 48:16 When anyone reading this verse pauses to think they shall see that there are three subjects being spoken of here. The sovereign L-rd, His Spirit and the One being sent – in other words The Messiah and Saviour of the world. We are being shown a tri-unity within this verse as in so many others!
Proverbs 30:4 Again a literal and grammatical reading of this verse shows that G-d has a Son because the prophet asks us a question, "What is His name and His Son’s name if you know?" There is one other exegetical rule that we now wish to employ within this verse and that is the rule of context. As we read this verse before Agur pens his awesome question we read four other questions and all the answers have to be that the one being spoken about is the L-rd G-d Almighty. Read the verse for yourself, who else has established all the ends of the earth? Only G-d can do this as the Creator of all things which Bereshith (Genesis) clearly points out – ‘In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth.’
Any fair minded person has to now admit that the first objection has been answered fairly using the Word of G-d to interpret the Word of G-d in a literal, grammatical and contextual way. The Word of G-d shows that the Messiah is Immanuel, G-d in the flesh amongst His people. Y’shua stated He and His father were one. He was one in essence, the very meaning of ‘echad’ used within the Shema. The Hebrew word ‘yachid’ denotes absolute singleness, whereas ‘echad’ as a noun denotes oneness in a plural form. It was G-d who gave Moshe the word ‘echad’ and not ‘yachid’ to use in the great daily declaration of His divine tri-une nature.
Why? Because the tri-unity of the G-dhead is being expressed within the Hebrew language every time a Jew repeats it! We are honouring our Moshiach as being One!
Again we are employing the exegetical rule of grammar. We are therefore looking at the structure or meaning of the word, we are searching and seeking out the truth of the matter. Let us continue on our journey of discovery together:-
The letter ‘Shin’ has three semi-vertical strokes joined together and is used within the title El-Shaddai (The All Sufficient One). When we look at Jerusalem it is situated upon 3 ridges forming the letter ‘Shin’ within the topography of the land – these are not mere coincidences. G-d has stamped or built into His creative design many examples of His tri-une nature. The smallest thing known to man is the atom, the very building block of the 3 dimensional world in which we live. The atom is made up of 3 things, neutron, proton and electron. Light has 3 constituent parts: the electric field, the magnetic field and the vectro tertiary interaction field. So many things have a three fold aspect to them.
We are body, soul and spirit. We have past, present and future. There is length, breadth and height or depth. Need we go on with many, many other examples? Look at the Tanakh, it has 3 divisions, the Law, the Prophets and the Writings. Water, without which life would not exist, can be seen as a liquid (fluid), as steam (vapour) or as ice (solid). The Sun manifests itself in three ways, as light, heat and energy. Perhaps the best example is from the very first verse in the Holy Bible – ‘In the beginning Elohim created (time) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter). So in verse one we are shown 3 things – Time, Space and Matter making up our 3 dimensional universe. But we must move on in our journey of discovery, although finally let us look at the first word we are given for G-d, the name of Elohim – it is in the plural form not the singular! We now rest our case! To doubt is to be rebellious when the facts are indisputable.
We return again to the prophet Micah in chapter 5 verse 2 (sometimes verse 1 in a Hebrew printed Tanakh). How can any human father bring into being One whose days or origins are from eternity or from ancient times as Micah chapter 5 verse 2 states! We must look at the grammar and the context of what has been given and written down for us so that no one leads us astray!
Y’shua (Jesus) was a Jew and we really should not have to debate over this issue. However, the reader may wish to read the teaching article on Yeshua ben Yosef (Jesus son of Joseph) within the Teaching Articles page on this web site.
The genealogy of Jesus through His parents shows that He is descended from the Tribe of Judah and indeed within the Book of Revelation He is declared to be The Lion of the Tribe of Judah who has triumphed – please see Revelation 5:5.
The Brit Hadasha (New Covenant or Testament) gives us two genealogies on the life of Y’shua of Nazareth. Both of these are correct as we shall now explain.
The first is found in the Gospel of Matthew and shows the ‘legal genealogy’ and also ‘royal’ through His adoptive earthly father Yoseph (Joseph) right back to King david and then to Avraham (Abraham). So within this genealogy we see that Jacob is listed who begot Judah and his brothers and so Joseph is of the House of Judah. This then shows us Y’shua was a Hebrew, or Jewish through Joseph as His legal but not actual father and therefore of the House of David. Yeshua claimed to be the Son of God and addressed God as His Father on a number of occasions. Please read Mattiyahu 1:1-17 for yourself.
The second genealogy is in the Gospel of Luke and shows His ‘natural genealogy’ through His mother Miryam (Mary) the daughter of Heli. She was the only child and heir of Heli (see the Talmud) so when Joseph married her he became the only son and also heir of Heli as correctly quoted in Luke 3:23. This genealogy traces Jesus back through Nathan, David, Abraham, to Adam and to G-d. Once again please read Luke 3:23-28 for yourself and believe! We should note that when it comes to Yeshua, the phrase ‘which was the son of ….’ or the word ‘begat’ has not been used as no man begat Him, the inception was by the Spirit of G-d within Mary. This is why in verse 23 we have the words ‘being as was supposed the son of Joseph’ given to note plainly in the mind of the reader that Yeshua was not physically the son of Joseph.
G-d has had the Scriptures written for us through those He chose to record them, and so He has out thought all the doubters and false teachers through His Word which no one has disproved to date and never will!
Quite simply this will be done when He returns and this is the crux of the matter. Until Israel calls out for Him, the Messiah is being restrained in Heaven (see Acts 3:17-23). Sadly, world Jewry doing mitzvots will not do it! Repentance will and this is the divine instruction. Indeed it is the life and death principle of the Holy Scriptures. The Gospel of Matthew 24:31 clearly states the prophetic words of our Messiah sending out His angels to gather His elect (Israel) from the four corners of the earth under the heavens.
We have to try and understand from the reading of the Scriptures that there is One Messiah – but Two Comings. The first coming is as the Suffering Servant to atone for the sins of His people and then to draw the Gentiles to Himself as the instrument of salvation. Who else in history has drawn the Gentiles? Who else have they sought after? The prophecy is in Isaiah 11:10 so please once again read it for yourself and understand!
The Second Coming is to rescue, redeem and restore all the Jews to the Land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as prophesised. At the same time Yeshua will judge the nations for not accepting Him as Saviour and Redeemer. (Within the plan and purposes of G-d we can see the reason for One Messiah – Two Comings as His own people after the flesh listened to their leaders and rejected Him as Isaiah chapter 53 clearly states they would!) Once we take note of the two Messianic streams of prophecy within Holy Writ, we see His first Coming (as the Suffering Servant) recorded for us in the New Testament with the promise of His return (as the Reigning King) again within the New Testament and we can then come to a logical understanding of these things. However, it is G-d who opens minds and hearts and no amount of writing or explanation by anyone will suffice unless the L-rd is present to anoint and draw to Himself those whom He foreknew. There is a veil over the hearts of men until the L-rd lifts it as it is written in Isaiah 25:7 (over the nations) and also (over the Jewish people) as recorded in the second letter of Corinthians chapter 3 verses 14-16.
Our final four objections or statements by Rabbinic sources can again be understood through seeing that these follow on from His return. The promise of Ezekiel and Isaiah will be fulfilled as will the promises of The Book of Revelation within the Brit HaDasha (The New Testament).
Absolutely and Yeshua will when He returns after Israel calls out for Him. Just as in Egypt, the people must again cry out for redemption and then all Israel shall be saved as is recorded in Romans 11:26.
Within this objection let us note the words of Yeshua to those who have believed until He does return and indeed bring world peace by ruling with ‘a rod of iron’ or ‘sceptre’ as spoken of within the Book of Revelation chapter 2 verse 27 and chapter 19 verse 15.
Yeshua spoke these words as recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 14 verse 27 showing His shalom is presently with us."Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth." His peace is therefore within us, it is ‘internal’ and wonderfully ‘eternal’ but also ‘external’ to those who will listen. Will you?
Millions have come to know this peace that surpasses all else. And let us be very clear in this matter, you cannot give millions Your peace unless you are omnipresent which is one of the qualities of Immanuel see Isaiah 7:14 (with us is G-d). ‘Shema Yisrael Y’shua hoo Adonainu.’
Our L-rd Yeshua (Jesus) asked a question – "Who do men say I AM?"
Midrash teaches us to ‘search out’ to compare and contrast the Scriptures so that they illustrate and illuminate truth to us. Let us do that together right now:
Genesis 3:14. "This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you." (The L-rd G-d Almighty is speaking to Moshe here and we would do well to listen to Yeshua when He is speaking………)
"I and the Father are One"
"He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father."
"I AM the resurrection and the life."
"No one goes to the Father except through Me"
"I AM He who liveth, and was dead, and behold, I AM alive for evermore. Amen."
"I AM the alpha and the omega, the beginning and the ending."
"If you do not believe I AM you will die in your sins."
"…Before Abraham was, I AM"
NB. I have deliberately not given the Brit Hadasha (New Testament/Covenant references to these verses as it is time you the reader did a little searching out for yourself! The beauty and clarity of reading G-d’s Word with Him present by His Spirit is that you will come to know Him. "So it is with My Word, it will not return to Me empty…." Isaiah 55:11.
Absolutely! But not all the commandments as a clear reading of the Book of Ezekiel shows during the L-rd’s millennial Temple rule. Even now it is impossible to keep all the commandments given!
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Yochanan 5:17. So there we have it. He is the fulfilment of the shadows and types. We have the Law of Messiah now – grace and truth. There is no Temple, no sacrificial, no ceremonial, no Levitical system – He is our High Priest. There are over 175 commandments out of the 613 that cannot be kept!
Absolutely! All idols and false gods will be a thing of the past.
God reigns and rules, always has and always will. End of discussion, dialogue and debate!
Everything has an end especially our lives and this world. Eternity is before us, we have a choice to make, a decision in the light of what has been written. G-d has not made it hard for us to understand, man has!
The L-rd Yeshua is the author of life and the perfecter of our faith.
"And behold, I come quickly: and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12.
"I Yeshua (Jesus) have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the House of G-d (the congregations, synagogues and churches). I AM the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Revelation 22:16.
Amen. Even so, come, Adonai Yeshua/Lord Jesus.
Date : 30/11/-0001
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