Isn't this exactly the same claim, tied to the same verses, as the previous claim: 291. Jeremiah 23:5-6b...The Messiah would be God... John 13:13? The list maker has to find some way to reach the magic number of 365! 1 Timothy 3:16 doesn't say (in so many words) that Jesus was a god or G-d -- but it would not matter if it did. The T'nach (bible) makes it clear time and time and time again that G-d is NOT a man. The messiah will be a normal human being, not a god. . . Shmuel Alef / I Samuel 15:29: 29. And also, the Strength of Israel will neither lie nor repent, for He is not a man to repent." T'hillim / Psalm 8:5: What is man that You should remember him, and the son of man that You should be mindful of him? and “Don’t rely on ‘princes’ or on that ‘son of man’ —he has no ‘salvation’! When his spirit departs he will turn back into his dust; on that very day all his schemes will be destroyed!” (T'hillim / Psalm 146:3-4). These are a mere sampling of passages making it clear that G-d is not a man. . . To add to the clarity that G-d is not a man we add the fact that the T'nach makes it very clear when He revealed Himself to the entire Jewish nation at Mount Sinai that we are not to pray to any "god" our fathers did not know (at Sinai). This is the absolute death knell to the missionary claim that Jesus IS G-d. If we did not "know" Jesus at Sinai he is a false god. Read D’varim 11 and D’varim 13 (Deuteronomy). Anyone claiming that something which came after Sinai (progressive anyone?) is false. . . Jesus obviously came long after Sinai -- and the Jews at Sinai "did not know him." Thus Jesus could not possibly be G-d or a god. . . Which brings us back to the passage claimed to say that the messiah will be G-d. . . Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:4-7 says: "And I will set up shepherds over them and they shall pasture them, and they shall no longer fear nor shall they be dismayed, nor shall [any of them] be missing, says the L-rd.? Behold, days are coming, says the L-rd, when I will set up of David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign a king and prosper, and he shall perform judgment and righteousness in the land. In his days, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is his name that he shall be called, The L-rd is our righteousness." The list maker seems to think that because Jeremiah says he shall be called, The L-rd is our righteousness." this must be speaking of Jesus. Totally ridiculous. Many Jewish names have one of G-d's names as part of them -- including G-d's holiest four letter name, the tetragrammaton. Consider עִמָּנוּאֵל / Immanuel. It is a name, and is identified as someone from the Tribe of Judah (presumably Isaiah's son of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 7:14) In Hebrew עִמָּנוּ mean "with us", and אֵל / el is one of the many titles of G-d found in the T'nach and it means "mighty" or "powerful.". The verb "to be" is implicit in the expression עִמָּנוּ אֵל. Even modern names, like Benjamin Netanyahu have part of G-d's holiest name. ־יָהוּ -yahu are the first three letters of the Tetragrammaton (with vowels added to make them pronounceable). The passage is simply saying that the messiah will be called "The L-rd is our righteousness." -- a name also given to the city of Jerusalem. "In those days, Judah shall be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely and this is the name that He shall call it the L-rd is our righteousness." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 33:16.
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Jeremiah says no such thing -- and indeed the T'nach (bible) tells us time and time and time again that G-d is NOT a man! "Do not trust in princes, or in the son of man, who has no salvation." (Psalm / T'hillim 146:3). I HaShem do not change ." Malachi 3:6 "Before Me no god was formed, nor will there be one after Me. I, even I, am HaShem, and besides Me there is no Savior.” Isaiah 43:11 “I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no G-d! Isaiah 44:6 "I am HaShem, and there is no other; besides Me there is no G-d" Isaiah 45:5 "Remember the first things of old, that I am G-d and there is no other; I am G-d and there is none like Me." Isaiah 46:9. On top of which the T'nach also tells us clearly that the messiah will be a human descendant of kings David and Solomon. Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:4-7 does speak of the messianic age. It says: "And I will set up shepherds over them and they shall pasture them, and they shall no longer fear nor shall they be dismayed, nor shall [any of them] be missing, says the L-rd.? Behold, days are coming, says the L-rd, when I will set up of David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign a king and prosper, and he shall perform judgment and righteousness in the land. In his days, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is his name that he shall be called, The L-rd is our righteousness." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:4-6.J There is not one word about the messiah being a god, let alone G-d Himself. Jeremiah says an heir of King David will reign as king. Read: Back to the beginning - Jesus was not eligible to be messiah. Jesus never reigned as a king. Jesus did not have the right to be a king, but right or not -- he never was an anointed king of the Jewish people. He lived and died a poor man who never held any political power. Let's parse the verses:
"In those days, Judah shall be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely and this is the name that He shall call it the L-rd is our righteousness." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 33:16. It. Last I looked people (including the messiah) are not things (e.g., "it"). The meaning of the sentence is that G-d will call the city of Jerusalem His in the true messianic era (which Jeremiah describes -- and Jesus obviously did not bring!) The children of Israel still has no king because the messiah has not yet come. Jesus was not a king and he most certainly was not a god! Is there any special significance to the fact that of G-d's various "names" the one used in this passage is His holiest name? Nope. Consider the name of the current Israeli Prime Minister: Binyamin Netanyahu. The name נְתַנְיָה N'tanyah (or, in full, נְתַנְיָהוּ N'tanyahu) is fairly common in the T'nach, occurring 20 times in all (of which all but five appear in the abbreviated form). The three letters ־יָהוּ -yahu are the first three letters of the Tetragrammaton (with vowels added to make them pronounceable). No one has claimed that the prime minister is a god. Do you find it a bit odd that this, the first claim on the list of 365 supposed prophecies Jesus fulfilled tied to Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah is chapter 23? What happened to the first twenty-two chapters? Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָהוּ / Y'rmiyahu) lived nearly 2600 years ago on תשעה באב / Tisha B'Av -- the 9th of Av. This date is one of the saddest in Jewish history. In 1313 BCE the spies, sent by Moses on a reconnaissance mission to see what it would take to conquer the land. . . they returned on the 8th of Av saying it was unconquerable. That night, the 9th of Av, the people cry in despair, and G-d is angered in their lack of faith in Him (He gave them the land) said "You weep for nothing now, but in the future you will have a reason to weep on this date." Because of this lack of faith that generation was not allowed to enter the land. . .. and in the future the 9th of Av was a day of horror for the Jewish people. Solomon's Temple was destroyed on the 9th of Av (423 BCE). In 68 CE the Romans destroyed the second Temple, also on the 9th of Av. The Jewish revolt against the Romans, led by Bar Kochba, failed in a final battle at Betar on the 9th of Av, 133 CE. On the 9th of Av in 1290 CE the English expelled the Jews. On the 9th of Av in 1492 the Jews were expelled from Spain. Germany declared war on Russia on the 9th of Av, 1914. On the 9th of Av -- Tisha B'Av 1942, -- the first trainload of Jews arrived at Treblinka Concentration Camp, and sent to the gas chambers. Truly the saddest day of the Jewish calendar -- and the day on which the prophet Jeremiah was born. . . The Book of Lamentations, אֵיכָ֣ה . Eicah, was Jeremiah's sad prophecies about the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of our nation, forms the centerpiece of the Tisha B’Av mourning. It is read in public on the eve of Tisha B’Av and then again the next day. Jeremiah was a kohein (priest, of the tribe of Levi). His father was the prophet and High-Priest Hilkiah. Jeremiah was descended from Joshua and Rachav (Megilla 14b). Prophecy is direct communication from G-d in the form of dreams or visions (with the exception of Moses who communicated without their benefit). In the case of Jeremiah, G-d appeared to him in the days of King Yoshiyahu (Josiah) of Judah and he prophesied through the reign of King Zedekiah, whom the Babylonians appoint their own puppet king. G-d said to Jeremiah: "When I had not yet formed you in the womb, I knew you, and when you had not yet emerged from the womb, I had appointed you; a prophet to the nations I made you." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 1:5. Zedekiah is weak and ambitious -- a dangerous combination. He rebels against his Babylonian bosses which results in the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar orders a siege of Jerusalem. Jeremiah warns the Jews to return to G-d. He writes a warning which is in the T'nach (bible) -- the Book of Lamentations,. He predicted in great detail the destruction of the Temple and of Jerusalem. . . Indeed, for forty years Jeremiah's prophecies fall on deaf ears. He is even beaten and thrown into prison for his efforts! For two years the Babylonians attack Jerusalem. . . Two years into the siege the Jews are starved into submission. Jerusalem and the Temple are destroyed. Yet the list maker ignores Jeremiah, his time frame and even his true prophecies and skips to chapter 23! 2600 years ago -- 600 years before Jesus' supposed birth -- Jeremiah tells of the evil kings of Judah who are destroying the Jewish people through their actions. The people are scattered into exile -- but G-d tells Jeremiah that He will "visit upon you the evil of your deeds, says the L-rd." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:2. Jeremiah then says that there will come a time when the Jewish people will be returned from exile -- and a king from the line of David (the messiah) will rule over them. This wasn't Jesus. The Jewish people were not exiled in the lifetime of Jesus. The second Temple still stood in the lifetime of Jesus. Jesus was never a king, ruling over the Jewish people. Ergo the list maker has listed a true messianic prophecy -- but one that clearly Jesus did not fulfill. "And I will set up shepherds over them and they shall pasture them, and they shall no longer fear nor shall they be dismayed, nor shall [any of them] be missing, says the L-rd.?" Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:4. Jesus supposedly lived at a time when Jews did fear -- the opposite of the words of Jeremiah. The Romans crucified at least 50,000 Jews. It was a time of great fear and turmoil -- the opposite of Jeremiah's prophecy. . . "Behold, days are coming, says the L-rd, when I will set up of David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign a king and prosper, and he shall perform judgment and righteousness in the land. In his days, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely, and this is his name that he shall be called, The L-rd is our righteousness." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:5-6.J
Missionaries often ignore context. Go down to line 8 you'll read "But, "As the L-rd lives, Who brought up and Who brought the seed of the house of Israel from the north land and from all the lands where I have driven them, and they shall dwell on their land." The T'nach makes it clear that the Messiah (moshiach ben David -- the messiah son of David) must be descended on his father's side from King David (see B'reshit / Genesis 49:10, Y'shayahu / Isaiah 11:1, Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:5, 33:17; Yechezkel / Ezekiel 34:23-24). If the virgin birth story was true, and Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus then Jesus did not even have the most basic right to even try to be the messiah. "And a shoot shall spring forth from the stem of Jesse, and a twig shall sprout from his roots." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 11:1. "Behold, days are coming, says the L-rd, when I will set up of David a righteous shoot / צֶ֣מַח, and he shall reign a king and prosper, and he shall perform judgment and righteousness in the land." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 23:5. "In those days and in that time I will cause to grow for David a shoot (plant / צֶ֣מַח) of righteousness, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 33:15. סופי Jesus did not bring the Jews back to Israel -- indeed within 100 years of his death the Romans exiled the Jews and renamed Judah "Palestine" after the ancient Jewish enemy, the Philistines. What of Luke 23:31? This supposed prophetic fulfillment of Jeremiah 23 is part of the text on John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Luke gives a lineage for Jesus which includes King David, but Luke makes a big mistake. He bypasses Solomon and states that this lineage was through David’s son Nathan. Nathan is not the son G-d promises in Shmuel 2 / 2 Samuel 7 will build G-d’s house (the Temple) and through whom the throne will be established. This person was David’s son Solomon, not his son Nathan. The Jewish bible is clear that the messiah must be a physical offspring of both David and Solomon on their father's side (paternally). That throws Jesus out completely if one believes the "virgin birth" story. (Actually, even if Joseph were Jesus' biological father he would not be qualified to be a messiah -- but simple fact was that he never WAS a king / messiah per the stories in the Christian bible). Ergo Luke 3:23 = 31 disqualifies Jesus from fulfilling this prophecy, rather than “proving” it. We have reached the final claimed prophecy on the list of 365 which Jesus supposedly fulfilled which is tied to the Book of Isaiah. There have been 131 claims tied to this single chapter. That is amazing, isn't it? of 365 claimed prophecies 131 of them, or 36% of the entire list are all found in Sefer Y'shayahu -- the book of Isaiah! Yet, upon examination not one actually fits Jesus. What of this final claim? Well, how does "all nations come to G-d" fit Jesus? The T'nach does claim time and again that in the messianic age the entire world will know the one true G-d -- and that never happened with Jesus. It still hasn't happened -- and the claim has nothing to do with the messiah or Jesus. And isn't it nice of the list maker to not point to any given verse -- but claim the "fulfillment" is the entire Christian bible??? Y'shayahu / Isaiah 66:18-19 is indeed a messianic prophecy. This is the final chapter in the Book of Isaiah. G-d speaks of returning the Jewish exiles to the land of Israel in an instant: "a nation born at once." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 66:8. The redemption of the Jews, the return from exile around the world, will come quickly, Isaiah likens the return to a woman who delivers before labor even begins. , , the exiles’ return will be that sudden. In the messianic era. Judaism believes that one day a special HUMAN king, descended from Kings David and Solomon, will help usher in an age of global peace, global knowledge of the one true G-d, the return of the Jewish people from exile to our land, and so forth. And that hasn't happened yet. This is one reason it is clear that Jesus was not the messiah. Here are a few messianic prophecies with their sources listed: A. Build the Third Temple (Y'chezkel / Ezekiel 37:26-28). B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Y'shayahu / Isaiah 43:5-6). C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Y'shayahu / Isaiah 2:4) D. Spread universal knowledge of the G-d of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "G-d will be King over all the world -- on that day, G-d will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9). If an individual fails to fulfill even one of these conditions, then he cannot be "The Messiah." Jesus did not fulfill even one, including the one which states all nations will know G-d. Christians reply that Jesus will do this the "next time" (e.g. the "second coming"). There is no mention of a second coming in the T'nach. The "second coming" was an attempt by Jesus' followers to explain why he failed to fulfill the messianic prophecies -- but it certainly does not constitute proof of messianic claims. Indeed, Jesus told his followers he would return in THEIR lifetimes (over 2000 years ago). The second coming "promise" is a failed promise. There is not one word about a second coming of the Messiah in any of those passages! Some missionaries point to Daniel 7:13(12) to support the idea of the second coming, but Daniel 7 is a vision (primarily of the kingdoms who follow Daniel). The term used in Daniel 7:13 is כְּבַר אֱנָשׁ k'var ĕnash, which means “something like a human being." It does not say the "son of man" is coming. . . And how would a Christian know if it referred to Jesus the first time (or the second)? The Book of Isaiah closes with all humanity bowing before G-d on שבת / Shabbat (the Sabbath) and ראש חודש / Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the new month) ends the book: "And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, that all flesh shall come to prostrate themselves before Me," says the L-rd." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 66:23. Hearken back to the first chapter of Y'shayahu / Isaiah: "You shall no longer bring vain meal-offerings, it is smoke of abomination to Me; New Moons and Sabbaths, calling convocations, I cannot [bear] iniquity with assembly." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 1:13. When the exile ends, when the whole world knows G-d and there is an end to idolatry. . .when there is peace in the world and the Temple rebuilt -- Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh will not be tiresome to G-d, because worship will be sincere. After the punishment prophesied by Isaiah comes to pass, and the redemption comes to pass, the situation which caused them will be no more and G-d will happily accept service offered with a whole heart. The true messianic age -- and yet another failed prophecy of Jesus. 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 speak of a new heaven, a new earth -- echoing the words of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:17: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the first ones shall not be remembered, neither shall they come into mind. . ." The Christian bible may reference the terms of new heaven and new earth -- but they ignore the context. No doubt it is ignored because Jesus failed to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah is speaking of the actual messianic era -- when the world will be at peace, the Jews returned to the land of Israel from exile and there will be global knowledge of G-d as the one true G-d. In the messianic age the world will swear in the Name of G-d "For whoever himself on the earth shall bless himself by the true G-d, and whoever swears on the earth shall swear by the true G-d, for the first troubles have been forgotten and they have been hidden from My eyes." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:16. The world does not swear to the one true G-d -- not 2000 years ago and not today. This prophecy was not fulfilled by Jesus. Isaiah goes on to say that there will be no wars because we’ll all be on the same side. Again -- this has not yet happened -- there are wars, there is hatred. . . there is not yet a “new Heaven and a new Earth” meaning a whole new order when the lowly will be exalted and the arrogant will be humbled. It is easy enough for 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1 to speak of a new heaven and new earth -- but these true messianic prophecies were not fulfilled by Jesus. Missionaries will claim that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright; in the T'nach no concept of a second coming exists. In fact, the T'nach says when a person dies, "on that day his plans all perish." T'hillim / Psalm 146:4. The real messiah will fulfill the prophecies about his age in his lifetime. The Rambam writes in the Mishneh Torah (Hilchot M'lachim 12:5): “In that era, there will be neither famine or war, envy or competition for good will flow in abundance and all the delights will be freely available as dust. The occupation of the entire world will be solely to know G-d. Therefore, the Jews will be great sages and know the hidden matters, grasping the knowledge of their Creator according to the full extent of human potential, as Isaiah 11:9 states: 'The world will be filled with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the ocean bed." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:9 is speaking of the Jewish people inheriting -- it has nothing to do with Jesus or Christianity. "And I will extract seed from Jacob and from Judah, the heir of My mountains, and My elect shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:9. The elect who inherit? בְחִירַ֔י -- the chosen, the "elect." Jacob = the Jewish people. Judah = the Jewish people. G-d's servants? Also the Jewish people. "And He said to me, "You are My servant, Israel, about whom I will boast."" Y'shayahu / Isaiah 49:3. 700 years before Jesus G-d made Isaiah His messenger. The message was to warn the Jewish people to return to G-d in repentance. Israel is G-d's servant. Some missionaries will exclaim "not all Jews have been loyal to G-d!" True. The T'nach (bible) tells us that only a small number of Jews will remain loyal to G-d -- this is called the "righteous remnant." In D'varim / Deuteronomy 30 Moses speaks of a time in his future when the Jewish people will exiled from the land, and only a remnant (a small number) will remain faithful to G-d. The prophet Y'shayahu / Isaiah (chapter 10:20) echoes this:, saying "the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob." The Jewish people are the servant of G-d. . . the loyal Jews who have always remained loyal to G-d and His Torah. . . the righteous remnant of Jews who, throughout history, have remained faithful to G-d and His covenant with us. Time and again the T'nach (bible) tells us that the Jews will be exiled as a punishment and that over time only a few, a "righteous remnant" will remain. It is this righteous few who are the called time and again G-d's servant in the bible: Vayikra / Leviticus 25:55 "For the children of Israel are servants to Me; they are My servants, whom I took out of the land of Egypt. I am the L-rd, your G-d." Time and again the prophet Y'shayahu / Isaiah declares that Israel (the Jewish people) are G-d's servant. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 41:8 - 9. "But you, Israel My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, who loved Me, Whom I grasped from the ends of the earth, and from its nobles I called you, and I said to you, "You are My servant"; I chose you and I did not despise you." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 44:1. "And now, hearken, Jacob (Jacob's name was changed to Israel and Jews are often called "Jacob" and "Israel") My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. 2. So said HaShem your Maker, and He Who formed you from the womb shall aid you. Fear not, My servant Jacob, and Jeshurun (the Jews) whom I have chosen." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 44:21 "Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 45:4. "For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen one, and I called to you by your name; I surnamed you, yet you have not known Me." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 49:3 - 7. "And He said to me (Isaiah), "You are My servant, Israel, about whom I will boast. . . This is what HaShem says- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel- to him who was despised and abhorred by the nations, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of HaShem , who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." In Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65 the prophets tells us that G-d will not rest until He has punished the Jews who denied G-d and worshiped idols. He exiled the Jews for those sins -- but He will never completely reject his servants, the Jews. In this chapter G-d says He will return the righteous Jews to Jerusalem. . . "And I will extract seed from Jacob and from Judah, the heir of My mountains, and My elect shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:9. -- to inherit the city and the Temple, to live there. . . " And the Sharon shall become a sheepfold and the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie, for My people who sought Me.." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:10. Along with The Sharon (a region in Israel) will become a place for sheep and the Valley of Achor will be a place for cattle – this will be a blessing for those who actually sought G-d. So yet again the creator of the list of 365 supposed prophecies about Jesus has distorted a passage that has nothing to do with Jesus -- it is about the Jews who reject G-d and those who remain loyal to G-d -- and the fact that although the nation will be exiled there will come a time when the righteous shall return to the land thanks to G-d. Romans 11 5-7 tries to say that Christians are the "remnant" -- but the remnant is defined in the T'nach as the righteous Jews. Romans 11 goes on to say that Christians have replaced Jews -- "grafted in." Paul claims that the Jews been broken off. -- the gentiles have not been grafted in "with" the Jews, but rather in place of the Jews. False claim. "Yet again shall you plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria, indeed planters shall plant [them] and redeem [them]." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 31:4. Jeremiah's use of "yet again" destroys Paul's claim that non-Jews (Christians) are grafted in (or in place of) the Jews. Again the Jews will plant vineyards. . . not some Roman who converted to Christianity. . . Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 31: is clear that it is the Jews, the descendants of the Pharisees, who are the "elect," the "chosen" servants of G-d. The so-called "spiritual Israel" and "grafted in of Romans 11 never did planted vineyards in the mountains of Samaria -- and, therefore, the "yet again" excludes them from Jeremiah's and Isaiah's prophecies. Hebrews 7:14 and Revelation 5:5 have nothing to do with the Christians either. Hebrews 7:14 says "For it is clear that our L-rd descended from Judah." Revelation 5:5 says that Jesus was "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David." Both are false claims. The Christian bible claims Jesus was a "virgin birth" which would mean he could not claim lineage to any tribe, including Judah. Tribal status passes from the Jewish father having a given tribe -- and if Joseph (who was of the tribe of Judah) did not physically father Jesus then Jesus was not of that tribe. . . You can read more on this topic by reviewing the blog post: Back to the beginning - Jesus was not eligible to be messiah. Neither Hebrews 7:14 and Revelation 5:5 have anything to do with Y'shayahu / Isaiah 65:9 which is speaking of the Jewish people. Yet another claim that simply disappears when examined. Matthew 25:34 - 40 has Jesus talking about how he was abused -- hungry, thirsty, naked. . . to which the people reply that this never happened to Jesus. Ergo he wasn't "afflicted." He is giving a parable -- and replies: "‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’" Sounds nice, although the very next statement speaks of people burning in hell. . . ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!" Matthew 25:41. Jesus seems to discard some people, calling them the least -- they are accursed into hell. No one is "least" and no one is disposable. In no less than 36 places the Torah tells us not to mistreat the stranger in our midst: Lend to the poor and destitute (Mitzvah 526) Sh'mot / Exodus 22:24 Not to press them for payment if you know they don't have it (Mitzvah 527) Sh'mot / Exodus 22:24 Return the collateral to the debtor when needed (Mitzvah 530) D'varim / Deuteronomy 24:13 Not to delay its return when needed (Mitzvah 531) D'varim / Deuteronomy 24:13 Not to lend with interest (Mitzvah 534) Vayikra / Leviticus 25:37 These are just a sampling from the T'nach. . . From Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) -- 1st century CE: The world stands on three things: Torah, the service of G-d, and deeds of kindness. Let your home be wide open, and let the poor be members of your household. Ben Zoma would say: Who is wise? One who learns from every man. As is stated (T'hillim / Psalm 119:99): "From all my teachers I have grown wise, for Your testimonials are my meditation." Thus proving that no man is "least" or "little." The point being that all of us are responsible for our fellow man -- and simply stating that one is afflicted (when one clearly is not) because you "feel" for your fellow man is not a messianic prophecy. What of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 63:8, 9 (why the comma and not a semicolon?). Go back one line for context: "The kind acts of the L-rd I will mention, the praises of the L-rd, according to all that the L-rd bestowed upon us, and much good to the house of Israel, which He bestowed upon them according to His mercies and according to His many kind acts. And He said, "They are but My people, children who will not deal falsely." And He became their Savior. In all their trouble, He did not trouble [them], and the angel of His presence saved them; with His love and with His pity He redeemed them, and He bore them, and He carried them all the days of old.: This is not about Jesus. Isaiah is speaking of G-d and the Jewish people. Isaiah praises G-d for His kind acts. The prophet reminds the Jewish people of all the good that G-d has done for them. "the L-rd bestowed upon us, and much good to the house of Israel, which He bestowed upon them according to His mercies and according to His many kind acts." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 63:7. G-d will save the Jews from exile and worse -- an exile He commanded -- because we are His children. He will redeem us and carry us in the old days. Context, context, context. The missionary list maker who claims these 365 prophecies for Jesus in the T'nach ignores the context continually! It is clear that the prophet Isaiah is not making a prophecy about Jesus in these verses -- he is speaking of G-d and His relationship with His people, the Jews. The Christian bible seems positively obsessive about blood. At the Last Supper Jesus says: "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins," Matthew 26:28. See also Luke 22:20 and John 6:54. The T'nach (bible) does not fixate on blood. Human blood spilled is considered an abomination. G-d calls human sacrifice something that He hates, and an abomination to Him, Read Bamidbar / Numbers 35:33. Human blood corrupts the land! What is Y'shayahu / Isaiah 63 about? It begins with the words "Who is this coming from Edom, with soiled garments?" Jesus never came from Edom. Edom was another name for Jacob's brother Esau (son of Isaac). The country from his descendants was also called Edom, and Edom is often equated with Rome and Christianity. So while Revelation 19:13 says "He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood" this has nothing to do with Y'shayahu / Isaiah 63 . So, who is the one coming from battle with Edom with clothes soiled in battle (soiled with blood)? G-d. How do we know this? Read Y'shayahu / Isaiah 34:5 "For My sword has become sated in the heaven. Behold, it shall descend upon Edom, and upon the nation with whom I contend, for judgment." G-d. His clothes red? From “treading the wine press” of Edom by Himself. Again, Jesus did not destroy Edom -- and he was not soiled by the blood of Edomites. This passage does not fit Jesus. The list maker has a habit of taking a passage from the Christian bible and finding a word here or there that is similar (blood on clothes in Revelation 19 and blood on clothes in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 63) and insisting that they are the same thing -- ignoring the fact that Isaiah tells us that G-d redeems the Jews from Edom and it is G-d's who is (figuratively) covered in their blood. The list maker can't be faulted for this claim -- it is one cited by many Christians. But stop at think: just how many people have entered Jerusalem on colts, horses, donkeys, etc.? But the claim does not come from Y'shayahu / Isaiah 62:11 which says "Behold, the L-rd announced to the end of the earth, "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your salvation has come.' " Behold His reward is with Him, and His wage is before Him." Not one mention of a colt or donkey -- let alone entering Jerusalem. The claimed prophecy isn't "matched" by the passage at all. Matthew 21 really "ties" to Z'charyah / Zechariah 9:9 not Y'shayahu / Isaiah 62:11. Ask yourself: how many people entered Jerusalem on a colt? How about on a donkey? Hundreds? Thousands? Tens of thousands? Ergo the idea that one could identify the messiah by him riding a donkey or colt into the city of Jerusalem is silly at best. Someone riding an animal into Jerusalem is not a prophecy -- it happened many times a day! Actually Matthew 21:7 makes an even odder claim. It says: "They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on." Jesus is riding a donkey and a colt? That must have hurt! Joking aside, the passage seems to have been written in an attempt to have Jesus "fulfill" something that is actually a mistranslation. Z'charyah / Zechariah 9:9 says (of the messiah) that he will be a humble man “riding on a donkey” The donkey is symbolic of his humbleness. Zechariah doesn't have the triumphant messiah entering Jerusalem on two animals (a donkey and a colt) -- properly translated it should read "Be very happy, daughter of Zion! Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem!! See, your king − he is just and saved − will be coming to you; [he will be] humble and riding on a donkey − an ayir descended from she-donkeys." There is one animal -- not two. The Hebrew conjunction וְ־ v' is being used to connect the two halves of the pleonasms which is common in the poetic passages of the T'nach. The word mistranslated as "colt" is עַיִר ayir. This word is found in seven other places in the T'nach (viz.: B'réshιt / Genesis 32:16, 49:11; Shoftim / Judges 10:4, 12:14; Y'shayahu / Isaiah 30:6, 30:24; Iyov / Job 11:12) and means the young of the חֲמוֹר / hamor ("donkey"). The passage does not fit Jesus. He was not save. The king Zechariah describes is נוֹשָׁע / nosha, which means "[having been] saved"." Jesus wasn't saved from anything when entered Jerusalem -- and he wasn't saved after either -- he was murdered. For some odd reason the list maker doesn't tie this claim to -- instead Luke 2:32, the claimed "proof" text says nothing about anyone being called by a new name. Luke 2:32 has Simeon saying Jesus is "a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." False prophecy -- the world is still in darkness, Jesus brought death and destruction to the Jews -- not glory. . . and this claim does not in any way fulfill Time and again Jesus states that he did not come for the gentiles, but for the Jews. Read Matthew 10:5-6 "“Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." and Matthew 15:24 "“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” In his ministry Jesus did not reach out to the gentiles. He did help a few here or there -- but he did not have a ministry to the gentile world and never left Israel (Judah and Galilee) to preach in the gentile world. The passage the list maker claims is about Jesus is about the Jewish people. Read it: “For the sake of Zion, I (G-d) will not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not rest, until her righteousness comes out like brilliance, and her salvation burns like a torch. And nations shall see your righteousness (Jerusalem -- the city of the Jewish nation -- and by extension the Jews) , and all kings your glory, and you shall be called a new name, which the mouth of the L-rd shall pronounce.” Y’shayahu / Isaiah 62:1 – 2. Her righteousness. Her salvation. Jesus was not a "her." The "her" is Jerusalem. What of "your glory?" It also refers to Jerusalem and by extension the Jewish people. It is not about any glory associated with Jesus. Far from glorifying the Jews Christianity has, for 2000 years, hated the Jews --
From the Crusades where Jews were slaughtered to pogroms (anti-Jewish riots) in Europe in the 19th century (four million Jews fled to Western Europe and America due to persecutions in Eastern Europe), to the Holocaust were half of the entire Jewish population was murdered the rejection / isolation continues today. Unfortunately the above is just a sample of the ill treatment of Jews by the non-Jewish nations. Regardless of the claims of Luke 2:32, Isaiah is speaking on behalf of G-d in Y’shayahu / Isaiah 62:1, and verse 2 is about the Jewish people. “For the sake of Zion, I (G-d) will not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I will not rest, until her righteousness comes out like brilliance, and her salvation burns like a torch. And nations shall see your righteousness (the Jewish nation) , and all kings your glory, and you shall be called a new name, which the mouth of the L-rd shall pronounce.” Y’shayahu / Isaiah 62:1 – 2. How can we be sure that G-d is speaking of the Jewish nation when He says "you shall be called a new name"and not about Jesus? Read the first lines of verse 1: “For the sake of Zion” – Israel, the Jewish people. Not convinced? Read the rest of the chapter – read verse 5: “No longer shall "forsaken" be said of you, and "desolate" shall no longer be said of your land, for you shall be called "My desire is in her," and your land, "inhabited," for the L-rd desires you, and your land shall be inhabited.” The Jewish people were exiled and removed from the land of Israel. G-d is saying that the Jews will be returned to the land of Israel. Jesus lived in Judah (Israel) – this verse does not “fit” him. Want even more proof? G-d tells us what the new name will be. G-d says “you shall be called חֶפְצִי־בָ֔הּ / Hephzi-bah / “My desire is in HER.” Verse 4. Jesus was not a “her.” חֶפְצִי־בָ֔הּ / Hephzi-bah is also given as the name for also the mother of King Manasseh in M'lachim Beit / 2 Kings 21:1. Nouns in Hebrew do not have a gender neutral. Nouns are either masculine or feminine. This is feminine -- and Jesus was not (feminine)! Still not convinced even though we are told that the name is a feminine one? Read verse 11: “"Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold your salvation has come.'” Missionaries, like the creator of the list of 365 supposed prophecies about Jesus, love to take a verse that sounds like it might (possibly) fit Jesus and completely ignore the actual context. Isaiah, speaking for G-d, is clearly speaking of the Jewish nation in the time of the real messiah – when the exiles will be returned to the land and peace will reign. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2. does not have one word about anyone proclaiming a "period of grace." "The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me, since the L-rd anointed me to bring tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to declare freedom for the captives, and for the prisoners to free from captivity. To declare a year of acceptance for the L-rd and a day of vengeance for our G-d, to console all mourners." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2. Notice the portion in red. Isaiah speaks of declaring a year of acceptance for G-d -- not a "period of grace." Again the list maker's choice of a "proof text" is interesting. Luke 4 has Jesus supposedly reading from Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2 and yet this is not the passage the list maker points to as "fulfillment." John 5:24 is part of a section where Jesus is speaking to the Jewish leaders. He doesn't "proclaim" anything -- but he does speak about those who "hear" his message having eternal life. How is this a "period" of anything? Eternal is forever -- not a "period" of something. In Luke 4:19 Jesus says that he is there to "preach" -- whereas Isaiah says To declare. Isaiah speaks of a year of acceptance. "A" year. The Christian bible has Jesus speaking of "the" year. Big difference -- one is a specific year -- as in the "only" year whereas "a" refers to a given year, but not the only possible year. . . Isaiah is speaking of a year when the Jews will be freed from exile -- not an eternal 'freedom" from death. Isaiah is telling the Jews of his own generation that although they may be exiled from the land of Israel there will come a time when the Jewish people will be freed from the captivity. Isaiah states (declares!) that there will eventually be a year of redemption when the Jews will be once again free to live in the land of Israel. On that day Isaiah declares that the enemies of the Jews will face a day of vengeance. The Radak opined that this referred to the possible wars of Gog and Magog that may (not "will") happen before the messiah's arrival. The book of Luke distorts the translation of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61. John 5 has nothing whatsoever to do with this chapter of Isaiah. Read in context it is clear that Jesus did not "fulfill" Isaiah's prophecies. Isaiah declared that the ruins of Israel would be rebuilt and desolate cities will be restored - and this did not happen in the time of Jesus. Within 100 years of Jesus' death Jerusalem lay in ruins and the Jews were exiled from the land. Isaiah saw a time when people would come from other nations to tend the Jews’ sheep and work their fields. This did not happen in the time of Jesus. Isaiah saw a time when the Jews would be seen as priests and servants of G-d; with the non-Jewish nations will bring tribute to the Temple. This also did not happen with Jesus. Do not accept claims blindly -- whether they be about Jesus or Mohammed or Joseph Smith. Check the source for yourself -- and learn the truth. Have you noticed that the world is free from sin? How about death. . . has death ceased to be? Of course not -- so this "prophecy" claimed to have been fulfilled by Jesus is false. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2. is not about Jesus. It is about the prophet Isaiah. "The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me, since the L-rd anointed me to bring tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to declare freedom for the captives, and for the prisoners to free from captivity. To declare a year of acceptance for the L-rd and a day of vengeance for our G-d, to console all mourners." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2. Do you see anything about sin ending? No. The word for sin does not appear in the passage. Do you see anything about death ending? No. There is not a word about death ending. Did Jesus free anyone from any kind of bondage? No. Jesus did not free anyone from bondage -- not even himself. The prophet Isaiah is speaking of himself. "The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me." ME. Isaiah. Aside from Isaiah's use of the pronoun "me" we know the prophet was speaking of himself because the passage is in past tense. The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me, Not "is." "Was." Read the two verses again -- Isaiah is speaking of himself -- and in the past (what G-d did to him, not what G-d will do in the future for Jesus). "The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me, since the L-rd anointed me to bring tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to declare freedom for the captives, and for the prisoners to free from captivity. To declare a year of acceptance for the L-rd and a day of vengeance for our G-d, to console all mourners." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2.
Isaiah's vision of all these things is still in the future. The prophet saw a time of the real messianic age when the world will be at peace, when the Jewish exiles will all be returned to the land of Israel, the Temple will be rebuilt and the entire world will know G-d Luke 4:18 - 19 has Jesus reading from Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1,2 and then Jesus says "Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.” Luke 18:22. One wonders why the list maker chose John 8 which has Jesus speaking about his teachings rather than Luke 4. . . perhaps because John 8 has Jesus saying those following his teachings will know the truth and be "free." In Luke Jesus' supposed reading of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61 includes the passage "and the regaining of sight to the blind." The passage in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61 says nothing about the blind regaining sight. Missionaries may try and claim that the book of Isaiah was altered after Jesus' time but this argument has been debunked. The Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsaa), is one of the original seven Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in Qumran in 1947 and is the complete book of Isaiah. The scroll has all 66 chapters the Book of Isaiah. The scroll has been carbon dated from 150 - 125 BCE -- at least 125 to 150 years before Jesus was supposedly born -- ergo it was not "changed" to remove the passage regarding the blind regaining sight. There is another ancient scroll of Isaiah called "scroll B" or 1QIsaB. It also contains the first two verses of and the passage about the blind regaining sight is simply not there. This scroll is generally dated to the 1st century BCE -- before the birth of Jesus. It is incomplete, but well preserved -- and contains the verses in question. Today's image is that of 1QIsaB. The Christian bible has Jesus reading a passage that, quite simply, does not exist -- not in the T'nach (bible) or the copies of Isaiah which predate Jesus' supposed birth. He couldn't have read a passage that, quite simply, did not exist. Perhaps the authors of the Christian bible added the passage to claim that at least one thing in it was fulfilled by Jesus (restoring sight to the blind) -- even though that is not, and has never been, a messianic prophecy. In both cases (John 8 and Luke 4) simply "saying so" does not fulfill any prophecies. A prophecy is fulfilled when it comes to pass -- and both sin and death still exist, the captives are still in prisons, there is no year of acceptance of G-d. . . none of this happened with Jesus. He did not fulfill the prophecy. Some missionaries will say "this will happen with the second coming." There is no prophecy that the messiah will come, fail in his mission, and have a second attempt. . . The "second" coming is nothing more than an excuse to explain why Jesus failed to fulfill the true messianic prophecies. Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright; in the T'nach no concept of a second coming exists. In fact, the T'nach says when a person dies, "on that day his plans all perish." T'hillim / Psalm 146:4. Yet again the list maker has made claims that simply are unsupported by the very biblical passage s/he references as "proof." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2 is speaking of the prophet Isaiah -- not the messiah, and definitely not Jesus. Who is speaking in the book of Isaiah? The prophet Isaiah. In the very first sentence of this chapter he uses the word "me." He is speaking of himself. "The spirit of the L-rd Gd was upon me, since the L-rd anointed me to bring tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to declare freedom for the captives, and for the prisoners to free from captivity. To declare a year of acceptance for the L-rd and a day of vengeance for our G-d, to console all mourners." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2
Not Jesus. None of Isaiah's prophecies in this chapter have yet come true. They all speak of the real messianic age when the world will be at peace, when the Jewish exiles will all be returned to the land of Israel, the Temple will be rebuilt and the entire world will know G-d. Although Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 says that Isaiah was anointed this term is not literal. Kings and priests were anointed (or inherited the anointing in an unbroken chain), prophets were not anointed. אַהֲרֹן / Aaron (Moses' brother) and the first כהן גדול / kohein gadol / high priest) and his four sons − נָדָב / Nadav, אֲבִיהוּא / Avihu, אֶלְעָזָר / El'azar and אִיתָמָר / Itamar − were all "anointed" by Moses in the desert (Vayikra / Leviticus 8:12-13), with a special mixture of spice and olive oil that was used for “anointing” of kings and priests. It is called שֶֽׁמֶן מִשְׁחַת קֹדֶשׁ shemen mish'ḥat kodesh (“Oil of Anointment of Sanctity”) in the passage of Sh'mot / Exodus 30:22-33 which gives the formula for making it and how to properly use it. . . "G-d spoke to Moses, saying: 30:23 You must take the finest fragrances, 500 [shekels] of distilled myrrh, [two] half portions, each consisting of 250 [shekels] of fragrant cinnamon and 250 [shekels] of fragrant cane, 30:24 and 500 shekels of cassia, all measured by the sanctuary standard, along with a gallon of olive oil. 30:25 Make it into sacred anointing oil. It shall be a blended compound, as made by a skilled perfumer, [made especially for] the sacred anointing oil. 30:26 Then use it to anoint the Communion Tent, the Ark of Testimony, 30:27 the table and all its utensils, the menorah and its utensils, the incense altar, 30:28 the sacrificial altar and all its utensils, the washstand and its base. 30:29 You will thus sanctify them, making them holy of holies, so that anything touching them becomes sanctified. 30:30 You must also anoint Aaron and his sons, sanctifying them as priests to Me. 30:31 Speak to the Israelites and tell them, 'This shall be the sacred anointing oil to Me for all generations. 30:32 Do not pour it on the skin of any [unauthorized] person, and do not duplicate it with a similar formula. It is holy, and it must remain sacred to you. 30:33 If a person blends a similar formula, or places it on an unauthorized person, he shall be cut off [spiritually] from his people." Sh'mot / Exodus 30:22-33. Thus Aaron and his sons (and heirs), David and Solomon were all messiahs -- anointed kings and priests. If the line is unbroken and uncontested the physical anointing need not be done. Every one of Aaron's male descendants from that time until the present has also had the inherited status of being an "anointed" person. For this reason, our kohanim / priests today continue to be "anointed" without the need for any of them to undergo the actual ceremony of anointment personally. This is not true for Jewish kings. Solomon was personally anointed even though his father was King David. Why? Because Solomon's kingship was contested. There was a 600 year gap between Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, who was forced out by Nebuchadnezzar in the siege of Jerusalem (Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 32:4-5) and Jesus supposed birth. A 600 year gap = a contested lineage which means that Jesus would have to have been anointed with the special oil to be a messiah-- and he never was so anointed. Prophets were not anointed. Rashi, the great Torah commentator, wrote "This anointing is nothing but an expression of nobility and greatness." Think of anointment as used in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 as a term meaning the dedication of something or someone to the service of G-d,. Want proof? Read M'lachim Alef / 1 Kings chapter 19 -- Eliyahu (Elijah) appoints (anoints) Elisha to replace himas prophet -- and he does not anoint him with oil -- but simply thrown his cloak over him. 131 of the supposed prophecies on the list of 365 prophecies Jesus is said to have fulfilled -- or 36% of the entire list -- are taken from the chapter of Isaiah. Remarkable. 43 of them are all in chapter 53, but the other 88 are still garnered from Sefer (the book of) Isaiah. So far we've seen that many of the claims about Jesus are really about:
Today's claim falls into the 2nd category. This passage is about Isaiah himself. "The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me, since the L-rd anointed me to bring tidings to the humble, He sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to declare freedom for the captives, and for the prisoners to free from captivity. To declare a year of acceptance for the L-rd and a day of vengeance for our God, to console all mourners." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:1 - 2. Who is speaking? Isaiah. What does he say? "The spirit of the L-rd G-d was upon me." ME. Isaiah. Read Y'shayahu / Isaiah 61:. Read all of it. Isaiah tells his people (the Jews) that one day their exile will end. All good things come from G-d, and He made Isaiah His prophet to relay the message that the Jews will be exiled -- but that they will eventually be freed relates from the captivity. This did not happen with Jesus. 2000 years ago more Jews lived outside of Israel than in it -- many never returned from the Babylonian Exile. . . Within a hundred years of Jesus' death the Romans exiled the Jews -- an exile which still exists, even with the rebirth of Israel as a country after nearly 2000 years. . . Isaiah declares a year of redemption and a day of vengeance. He says that the Jewish mourners will be comforted and they will have glory instead of ashes, oil and praise. This is a reference to the national mourning mentioned in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 60:20: "Your sun shall no longer set, neither shall your moon be gathered in, for the L-rd shall be to you for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be completed." Jesus did not bring comfort to the mourning nation – he didn’t comfort “all mourners." Then Isaiah says that the nations will come to the Jews to learn of G-d -- Jews will be seen as priests and servants of G-d. Nations will bring tribute to the Temple. Instead of profound shame and disgrace, the Jews will have eternal joy. None of this happened with Jesus. What does it mean to have the spirit of G-d? There is no "holy spirit" or "holy ghost" in the sense of an entity -- a part of a trinity god. There is only one G-d (D’varim / Deuteronomy 6:4). The term "holy spirit" (in which "holy" is an adjective) never appears in the T'nach even once. The term does appear in Rabbinical writings -- but it is nothing like the Christian concept. In Judaism prophets communicate directly with G-d (through visions or dreams with the exception of Moses). They relay G-d's messages to the people of their generation. Someone influenced by G-d's spirit is relaying their own words and thoughts influenced by G-d. It is not direct communication as is prophecy. It is a lesser form of communing with G-d than prophecy. It would seem that this Christian “holy ghost” (“holy spirit” of the trinity) is based on a misuse of the Hebrew term Ruach HaKodesh (mistranslated as holy spirit) But Ruach HaKodesh doesn't mean "the holy spirit.” “Holy Spirit” would be הָרוּחַ הַקָּדוֹשׁ ha-ru'ah ha-kadosh (ha meaning “the”) or perhaps הָרוּחַ הַקְּדוֹשָׁה ha-ru'ah ha-k'doshah (because רוּחַ ruach can be both masculine & feminine – all nouns in Hebrew must be either male or female). קוֹדֶשׁ (kadosh) is a noun ("holiness" or "sanctity") and literally means to be separate. The term רוּחַ literally means “wind” and is the lowest level of the soul – the life force. רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶש / Ruach HaKodesh should be translated as "a spirit of [the] holiness" or "a spirit of [the] sanctity". Meaning it is a state of holiness in a human being, NOT a mythical G-d of spirit. Let me repeat that – it is a state of holiness in a human being, NOT a mythical spirit of G-d. So what does it mean? What is a state of holiness in a human being? Divine inspiration. One inspired by G-d. A state of being of a person. Inspiration being a level below communication with G-d (prophecy). Think of it as a kind of sub-prophecy or divinely-provided intuition. A state less than that of prophecy (direct communication from G-d). What of Matthew 3:16 - 17? It has Jesus being baptized and a "spirit" of G-d descending upon him. Matthew 3:16 - 17 does not mention anointing, and a good thing, too. To be a Jewish messiah requires a very special anointing which was never done to Jesus -- and to which he had no right (by virtue of his birth). Matthew 3:16 describes Jesus baptism -- not his anointing as a king. Baptizing does not equal messianic anointing. The fact that Matthew also says Jesus "saw" the holy spirit descending on him is meaningless -- G-d clearly states in Sh'mot / Exodus 30 that to be an anointed one (messiah) a very specific oil must be used and Matthew 3:16 never claims that this oil was used on Jesus. He was never anointed as a messiah. Yet another claim by the list maker which, upon reading the chapter, is easily disproved. Isaiah tells Jerusalem to arise, for their light has come. Darkness will cover the Earth, but they alone will have light.Yet again the list maker makes a claim which is the absolute opposite of what the T'nach / bible actually says. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 60:1 -3 has Isaiah telling his fellow Jews to arise -- he tells Jerusalem to arise, for their light has come. What of the nations? Darkness will cover the Earth, but they alone will have light. Opposite land, yet again, from the list maker. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 60:1 -3 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the L-rd has shone upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a gross darkness the kingdoms, and the L-rd shall shine upon you, and His glory shall appear over you. And nations shall go by your light and kings by the brilliance of your shine." The "you" here is the light of the Jews and their knowledge of G-d. The Jews will lead the world out of darkness, out of idolatry -- of worshiping a man as if he were a god -- and bring them into the light of knowing the one true G-d. Could the "you" be Jesus? Well, Isaiah was speaking to his own generation of Jews some 700 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah was not saying "you" to Jesus. If this were about the messiah who would be born hundreds of years after Isaiah G-d would have said "him." How do we know that this passage is, by extension, the Jewish nation? "Learn and observe [the Torah] for it is your (Torah is our) wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations, who will hear of all these laws and proclaim that this is truly a great, wise and understanding nation. (the Jews). " D'varim / Deuteronomy 4:6. In the book of Isaiah itself G-d tells the Jewish people that they are a light to the gentile nations: Y'shayahu / Isaiah 42:5 - 6 "So said G-d the L-rd, the Creator of the heavens and the One Who stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and what springs forth from it, Who gave a soul to the people upon it and a spirit to those who walk thereon. I am the L-rd; I called you with righteousness and I will strengthen your hand; and I formed you, and I made you a covenant for the people, for a light to nations." The Jewish people are a light to the other nations of the world. In the days of the Temples Jews brought 70 sacrifices on Sukkot for the benefit of the 70 nations of the world. G-d made the Jewish people a nation of priests and the Temple was a house for all peoples (not just the Jewish people -- read Solomon's dedication of the first Temple). "And also to the stranger, who (is) not of Your people Israel, but will come from a far country for the sake of Your Name. For they shall hear of Your great Name, and of Your mighty hand, and of Your outstretched arm, and he will come and pray toward this house. You shall hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calls You for, that all peoples of the earth may know Your Name, to fear You, as (do) Your people Israel, and that they may know that Your Name is called upon this house that I have built." M'lachim Alef / 1 Kings 8:41-43. G-d is the G-d of all people. The role of the Jewish people is to be a light to the nations through our observance of His mitzvot and spreading the word (by word and action) of His love for all of mankind. When it came time to sacrifice seventy oxen during the seven days of Succot as an atonement for the seventy nations of the world, they sacrificed thirty-five oxen in behalf of the nations from Ishmael and thirty-five for those from Esau. See Bamidbar / Numbers 12. Isaiah was Jewish. As a prophet he was given messages for the Jewish people and the nations of the world -- he, too, was a light to the entire world. Isaiah was a Jewish prophet bringing a message to the Jewish people and the nations of the world. Isaiah's vision has been partially, but not completely, fulfilled. It will not be realized until the days of the real messiah when the entire world will know there is one G-d. That has not happened yet. There are approximately 2 billion Christians in the world -- but there are over 7 billion human beings alive. Of those 7 billion 1.6 billion are Muslims, 1 billion Hindus, 500 million Buddhists and so on. . . Isaiah's vision of global knowledge of G-d has not yet come to pass. The messiah has not yet arrived. The nations are not yet walking in the light -- some 2000 years after Jesus' supposed death. Luke 2:32 has Simeon saying Jesus is "a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." False prophecy -- the world is still in darkness, Jesus brought death and destruction to the Jews -- not glory. . . and this claim does not in any way fulfill Y'shayahu / Isaiah 60:1 -3. Isaiah says that Jerusalem will be shocked by the abundance of goodness she will have, and be enlarged by it. This did not happen in the time of Jesus and within 40 years of his death the Romans destroyed most of the city -- burning it. Isaiah foresees caravans coming to Jerusalem, carrying wealth and precious goods, as well as praise of G-d. This did not happen 2000 years ago -- and within 40 years of Jesus death Jerusalem lay in ruins. The sheep and rams will be sacrifices to G-d, which He will accept and which will inspire the nations to serve Him. Within 40 years of Jesus' death the Temple was destroyed and sacrifices ended until such time as it is rebuilt. The Jews will return from exile swiftly, like a cloud carried by the wind and doves returning to the coop. 2000 years ago most Jews lived outside of the land -- and until 1948 we were exiled from the land -- thus Jesus did not fulfill this part of the prophecy either. Unfortunately the prophecies are not yet fulfilled -- because Isaiah tells us that there will be peace, the gates of Jerusalem will be open 24 hours a day and wealth will pour in. Israel is not at peace and terrorism is constantly at hand -- this has not yet happened. Isaiah also says that the nations will follow the Jews’ example and serve G-d or they will cease to be. Needless to say -- this hasn't happened yet either. No -- yet again a claim by the missionary list maker that is totally unsupported by simply reading Isaiah for yourself. If Jesus came to redeem Zion (the Jews) he failed miserably. This is far from a prophecy "Jesus fulfilled.." The opposite happened -- both in his lifetime and ever since. . . The Jews in Judah 2000 years ago were under the yoke of Rome. They were not freed in Jesus' lifetime. Less than 100 years after Jesus' supposed death the Romans exiled the Jews from the land (125 CE). For 2000 years Christians have systematically murdered, exiled, and pillaged the Jewish people. If this is the result of Jesus redeeming the Jews what would his being our enemy look like??? The word in the passage is גּוֹאֵ֔ל -- and it means to redeem your relatives, your "kin." גּוֹאֵ֔ל comes from the word meaning "to deliver," or "to redeem"). It applies to the nearest relative of one placed under certain obligations to his "kin." This includes "redeeming" a relative from slavery (for example). Vayikra / Leviticus 25:40-41. Christians can't use the excuse that this passage had anything to do with Jesus "redeeming" non-Jewish souls. It has nothing to do with non-Jews and it has nothing to do with immortal souls. That is not the meaning of the word, or the passage. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:20 says: "And a redeemer shall come to Zion, and to those who repent of transgression in Jacob, says the L-rd." Isaiah is warning the people of his generation that they are "going through the motions" -- but their hearts are not in being loyal to G-d. The prophet says that G-d could save / redeem them at any time -- but the people's prayers are not sincere, the courts are corrupt. They have rebelled against G-d and all of His teachings. The people were not worthy of being rescued from their enemies, G-d will exile the Jews in an attempt to bring them to their senses -- and when the time comes G-d will save the Jewish people, not for our sake -- but for Himself. A savior / rescuer -- the messiah -- will eventually be G-d's instrument to return all these exiles to the land of Israel. This never happened with Jesus. The Jews were primarily in exile in his lifetime (more lived outside Judah than in it) -- and around 90 years after his death the Romans exiled the Jews from the land -- Jesus never returned the exiles to Israel. The Jewish concept of the messiah is very different from the Christian concept. Again – remember that with thousands of iterations of Christianity one will say Jesus was a human while another will say he was G-d in human form (G-d forbid). Jesus was never a moshiach (messiah) -- and he did not have the "birth right" to be a rightful king of the Jews. The right parentage is just “table stakes.” It is a requirement – but there are men from the tribe of Judah through David and Solomon who are alive today and none are the messiah. The true messiah will build the Sanctuary (Jesus lived during the time of the Second Temple and it was destroyed within 40 years of his death – so this is the opposite of the prophecy). The messiah gather the dispersed of Israel and return them to the land. Jesus did not do this – and within 100 years of his death the Jews were exiled from the land by the Romans – again the opposite of the prophecy. Jewish law (Halacha) will be re-instituted in his days. Many Christians think that Jesus removed all the mitzvot – so again we have the opposite of the prophecy occurring – his followers deserted Halacha. Jews were under Roman law during Jesus’ lifetime. . . The messiah will resume sacrifices and will bring a sin sacrifice (see Yechezkel / Ezekiel). Most Christians believe that Jesus was the "last and final sacrifice." Yet the T'nach (bible) tells us that the messiah (called the prince in Yechezkel / Ezekiel) will bring sacrifices in the messianic era -- including a sin sacrifice for himself (Christians believe Jesus was "without sin" -- he never brought a sin sacrifice). "the burnt-offerings and the meal-offerings and the libations on the Festivals and on the New Moons and on the Sabbaths, and on all the times fixed for meetings of the House of Israel shall devolve on the prince (the messiah); he shall prepare the sin-offering and the meal-offering and the burnt offering and the peace-offering, to effect atonement for the House of Israel. . . And the prince shall make on that day for himself and for all the people of Israel a bull for a sin-offering." Yechezkel / Ezekiel 45:17-22. Within 40 years of Jesus’ death the Temple was destroyed and sacrifices ceased. Again we have the opposite of the true messianic prophecies with Jesus. The messiah will build the Temple as described in Yechezkel / Ezekiel 43 (the Second Temple, existing during the time of Jesus, had been built hundreds of years prior to his birth -- ergo he did not build it. The Second Temple was not built to the prophecy of Yechezkel / Ezekiel in chapter 43, more proof that Jesus was not the messiah and that the Second Temple was not the Temple of the messiah). Chapters 40-48 of Ezekiel gives a very detailed directions for building the messianic era Temple -- and again this Temple did not exist 2000 years ago (meaning Jesus was not "the" messiah). The Second Temple (the one standing 2000 years ago) was specifically NOT built to Yechezkel / Ezekiel's prophecy because the prophets alive when it was constructed were told by G-d that it was not to be the messianic Temple. When it came time to rebuild the second Temple, G‑d commanded through his prophets Chaggai, Zechariah and Malachi not to build it according to the specifications in Ezekiel. When missionaries use the term “messiah” or “christ” (Greek) they mean Jesus and only Jesus – if they think of what the word means they probably assume it means “king” (it can refer to kings, but it refers to any anointed one and is often used to speak of Jewish priests). No, Jesus was not "a" messiah, and he most certainly was not "the" messiah. He was not the redeemer of Israel. The claimed "proof" verse actually says there was no intercessor. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:15 - 16 says the opposite of the claim of this supposed prophecy fulfilled by Jesus. Isaiah refutes the idea that Jesus is an intercessor between man and G-d. Isaiah (speaking as G-d) says there is no intermediary, no intercessor -- only the arm of G-d Himself. Read a Christian translation of verses 15 and 16, this is the NIETBible: "The L-rd looked and was displeased. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him." Isaiah, speaking for G-d, says that there is no intercessor. The opposite of the claim "intercessor between man and G-d." Most Christians believe that they have to pray "in Jesus' name." The Christian bible says there is no way to G-d except through Jesus. "“Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32. John 14:6 goes further and says: "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The T'nach (bible) disagrees . . . vehemently. "Trust in Him at all times; people, pour out your hearts before Him. G-d is our shelter forever." (T'hillim / Psalm 62:9). G-d hears our prayers without an intercessor: "You, Who hearken to prayer, to You all flesh shall come." (T'hillim / Psalm 65:3). “The L-rd is close to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely” (T'hillim / Psalm 145:18). There can be no one between a person and G-d. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:15 - 16 says: "And truth is lacking, and he who turns away from evil is considered mad, and the L-rd saw and was displeased for there is no justice. And He saw that there was no man, and He was astounded for there was no intercessor, and His arm וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע / supported / helped (saved for) Him, and His righteousness, that supported Him." There is no mention of an intermediary between man and G-d. Isaiah speaks of G-d rescuing the Jewish people. It actually says there was no intercessor. The exact opposite of the list maker's claim are found in the passage s/he uses as "proof"! There is no intercessor between man and G-d. Do not confuse the concept of praying to or through someone (asking a dead person to pray for you, or praying in Jesus' name) with the opposite -- someone praying on your behalf. Their is a huge distinction between praying for others -- a very worthy thing to do -- and putting someone between you and the one true G-d. The people never prayed to Moses. They never prayed in the name of Moses. The distinction here is that while we should all intervene for others -- both in prayer and in life -- we should not pray to any other than G-d. We should not pray to or through (in the name of) anyone -- but speak directly to G-d Himself. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:15 - 16 says: "And truth is lacking, and he who turns away from evil is considered mad, and the L-rd saw and was displeased for there is no justice. And He saw that there was no man, and He was astounded for there was no intercessor, and His arm וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע / supported / helped (saved for) Him, and His righteousness, that supported Him." Isaiah is speaking of G-d (specifically the arm of G-d) saving the Jewish people. Isaiah has used this motif before, in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:10: "The L-rd has revealed His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our G-d." Interesting enough, Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:10 is not on the list of 365 prophecies supposedly fulfilled by Jesus. The Hebrew translated as "salvation" means "rescue" -- as in physical lives being rescued from danger. It has nothing to do with souls being "saved" -- a concept foreign to the bible and Judaism. Our souls do not need to be saved -- whenever the verb to save as used in the T'nach it refers to rescue from an attacker. Normally the usage has to do with engaging in physical combat with whoever is attacking the person being “saved”. Jesus never rescued anyone. There are two Hebrew words that can be translated as "salvation" - יְשׁוּעָה y'shu'AH and תְּשׁוּעָה t'shu'AH. Nouns in Hebrew are either feminine or masculine -- and both y'shu'AH and תְּשׁוּעָה t'shu'AH are feminine nouns. Neither of those words is found in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:16. Here are the instances of the various forms of the word יְשׁוּעָה: יְשׁוּעָה Y'shayahu / Isaiah 26:1 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 49:8 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:7 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:17 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 60:18 Chavakuk / Habakuk 3:18 T'hillim / Psalms 119:15 וִישׁוּעָה T'hillim / Psalms 118:15 הַיְשׁוּעָה Y'shayahu / Isaiah 12:3 T'hillim / Psalms 3:9 בִּישׁוּעָה T'hillim / Psalms 149:4 לִישׁוּעָה Sh'mot / Exodus 15:2 Shmuel Beit / II Samuel 10:11 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 12:2 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:11 T'hillim / Psalms 118:14 T'hillim / Psalms 118:21 Iyov / Job 13:16 יְשׁוּעַת Shmot / Exodus 14:13 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:10 T'hillim / Psalms 14:7 T'hillim / Psalms 98:3 Divrei Hayamim Beit / 2 Chronicles 20:17 יְשׁוּעָתִי Y'shayahu / Isaiah 12:2 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 56:1 T'hillim / Psalms 62:2 T'hillim / Psalms 79:2 T'hillim / Psalms 88:2 T'hillim / Psalms 89:27 T'hillim / Psalms 140:8 Iyov / Job 30:14 וִישׁוּעָתִי Y'shayahu / Isaiah 51:6 Y'shayahu / Isaiah 51:8 T'hillim / Psalms 62:3 T'hillim / Psalms 62:7 בִּישׁוּעָתִי T'hillim / Psalms 91:16 מִישׁוּעָתִי T'hillim / Psalms 22:2 יְשׁוּעָתְךָ T'hillim / Psalms 69:30 יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ T'hillim / Psalms 67:3 T'hillim / Psalms 70:5 בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ Shmuel Alef / I Samuel 2:1 T'hillim / Psalms 9:15 T'hillim / Psalms 13:6 T'hillim / Psalms 20:6 T'hillim / Psalms 21:6 T'hillim / Psalms 106:4 וּבִישׁוּעָתְךָ Psalms 21:2 לִישׁוּעָתְךָ B'reshit / Genesis 49:18 T'hillim / Psalms 119:166 T'hillim / Psalms 119:174 לִישׁוּעָתֶךָ T'hillim / Psalms 119:123 יְשֻׁעָתֵךְ T'hillim / Psalms 35:3 יְשֻׁעָתוֹ D'varim / Deuteronomy 32:15 T'hillim / Psalms 96:2 T'hillim / Psalms 98:2 Divrei Hayamim Alef / I Chronicles 16:23 בִּישׁוּעָתוֹ Y'shayahu / Isaiah 25:9 T'hillim / Psalms 35:9 T'hillim / Psalms 78:22 וִישׁוּעָתָהּ Y'shayahu / Isaiah 62:1 יְשׁוּעָתֵנוּ Y'shayahu / Isaiah 33:2 T'hillim / Psalms 68:20 יְשׁוּעֹת Y'shayahu / Isaiah 26:18 Y'shayahu / Isaiah Isaiah 33:6 T'hillim / Psalms 74:12 T'hillim / Psalms 116:13 יְשׁוּעוֹת Shmuel Beit / II Samuel 22:51 T'hillim / Psalms 18:51 T'hillim / Psalms 28:8 T'hillim / Psalms 42:6 T'hillim / Psalms 42:12 T'hillim / Psalms 43:5 T'hillim / Psalms 44:5 T'hillim / Psalms 53:7 יְשׁוּעָתָה Yonah / Jonah 2:10 T'hillim / Psalms 3:3 לִישֻׁעָתָה T'hillim / Psalms 80:3 The word תְּשׁוּעָה t'shu'ah, is a variant found in T'hillim / Psalm 144:10 T'hillim / Psalms 146:3). Salvation = rescuing and is speaking of physical lives. When people turn to G-d and His Torah there will be peace on earth, no more killing, etc. It has nothing to do with the Christian concept that humans need to be "saved" because of some sin in the Garden of Eden (original sin does not exist), or some other thinking that without belief in Jesus a person is damned. These concepts are unbiblical and are heresy in that they minimize G-d and cast aspersions on His creation -- mankind. In the T'nach always refers to our physical lives being saved from danger. Our immortal souls do not need saving. The meaning of יְשׁוּעָה in the Scriptures is very different from the way it is misused in by Christian missionaries. In Hebrew, it simply means being “rescued” from danger—typically by the rescuer engaging in physical combat (fighting) with an assailant who is attacking the person being “saved”. In the T'nach, “saving” is almost always associated with “fighting” or “waging war”.... I refer you to any or all of the following examples: • “Just stand still and you’ll see HaShem’s salvation that He is going to do for your today....” (Sh'mot / Exodus 14:13) • “HaShem saved Israel from Egypt’s power that day....” (Sh'mot / Exodus 14:30) • “HaShem set up a savior for Israel—Otniyél ben K'naz, Kalév’s younger brother....” (Shoftim / Judges 3:9) • “HaShem set up a savior for them—Éhud ben Géra the Bin-y'mini, who had a deformed right hand....” (Shoftim / Judges 3:15) • “....and he, too, saved Israel....” (Shoftim / Judges 3:31) • “If You will save Israel through my hand, as You have spoken....” (Shoftim / Judges 6:36) • “....you didn’t save me from them....and, when I saw that you hadn’t saved me....” (Shoftim / Judges 12:2-3) • “HaShem saved Israel that day....” (Shmuel 1 / 1 Samuel 14:23) • “....so David saved the inhabitants of K'ilah....” (Shmuel 1 / 1 Samuel 23:5) Every time the concept of salvation is mentioned in the T'nach (bible) it always refers to physical lives being rescued from danger. The Christian concept that the soul is damaged and needs saving is not biblical (T'nach). The concept is Christian, not Jewish. Christianity teaches that sin has separated man from G-d, and the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23). The Christian bible goes so far as to say that only G-d can remove sin and deliver man from sin’s penalty (hell) (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5). In the Jewish bible the term "salvation" only refers to being rescued from physical danger. Salvation has nothing to do with our immortal souls. We are not separated from G-d -- indeed He is close to all who call upon Him. In D'varim / Deuteronomy 33:29 Moses said we are “a nation that has been saved by HaShem”) and Yeshayahu / Isaiah 45:17 says the Jewish nation “has been saved by HaShem”, adding that “this is an eternal salvation”). Note that, in both verses, the words used were “has been saved” or "continually being saved" -- but again this is speaking of our physical existence -- not our immortal souls which are perfect and do not need to be saved. Yet again the list maker has lifted a sentence out of context (the passage speaks of Isaiah's role as G-d's messenger to spread the word that G-d is our salvation) and claimed, with zero proof, that it is about Jesus. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59:15 - 16 simply tells the people of his generation that they need to stop ignoring G-d, stop their ways or they will be exiled -- only G-d can save them from that fate, but only if they turn to him? Orthodox Union on Y'shayahu / Isaiah 59: "Isaiah tells us that G-d’s “hand” is not incapable of saving us, nor is His “ear” incapable of hearing us. It is our sins that keep Him from doing so! The people’s hands are full of sin and their mouths speak falsehoods. Prayers are insincere, court judgments are biased and injustices multiply. Isaiah likens things to poisonous vipers’ eggs – if you eat one, it’s poison. If it hatches, it’s a viper. No good can possibly come of this. The last claim referenced the "New Testament" -- a bit of a large landscape to "prove" a single prophecy! This claim is not much better. This one references "Acts" --- not a given passage or sentence but the entire book of Acts! Acts have multiple themes -- one is Paul's qualification as an apostle -- and that has nothing to do with Jesus' claims to being a messiah / man-god or anything else. . . Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:5 says "Behold, a nation you do not know you shall call, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, for the sake of the L-rd your G-d and for the Holy One of Israel, for He glorified you." Foreign nations coming to G-d is not a prophecy about Jesus -- it is a prophecy about G-d. Where is the proof that this is about Jesus when Isaiah tells us it is about G-d? One must already believe in the trinity (that Jesus is part of G-d) to apply this to Jesus -- so it is circular reasoning at its finest. Jesus fulfilled this because he is god -- but how do you know he is god? He fulfilled the prophecies. . . Totally illogical. Not to mention that the triune god (trinity) is pagan. G-d is a simple One -- not a trinity. See G-d is One, not a Trinity. “Hearken to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, who was called by Me (singular), I am He (singular), I am first, yea I am last.” Y'shayahu / Isaiah 48:12. Jesus is not G-d. Did Jesus have anything to do with foreign nations? Nope. Jesus supposedly lived and died in Judah and the Galilee. None of the nations (other than a few Samaritans and Romans in Judah) ever heard of him. No foreign nations came to Jesus -- he was murdered known only to those in Judah and the Galilee. It was his followers who spread the religion to other nations, not Jesus. Did Jesus even care about other nations? Not according to the Christian bible -- indeed he rejected them at first -- saying that he was specifically NOT here for other nations, but only for the Jews. "Jesus sent out these twelve, instructing them as follows: “Do not go to Gentile regions and do not enter any Samaritan town. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Matthew 10:5 - 6. and "A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 15: 22-24.
Isaiah is speaking to his own people -- those alive when he was speaking. He is telling them Isaiah tells to to turn to G-d and thus avoid exile. Exile or no exile, Isaiah says that a time will come when the messiah, a descendant of King David (which Jesus was not according to Jewish law) will come -- returning the Jews to Israel (didn't happen with Jesus). At that time the Messiah) will chastise the nations and rule over them.
In the messianic age the real messiah will call a nation unknown to the Jews of Isaiah's age and they will come because they’ve heard about the miracles G-d has performed for Israel. Again -- this never happened with Jesus. Yet again the list maker is taking a partial sentence out of context, a prophecy about the real messiah which Jesus never fulfilled is held up as "proof" that Jesus was the messiah even though he did not fulfill the prophecy. Perhaps appeals to the list maker because of the last few words: "He glorified you." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:5. Who did G-d glorify? To whom is Isaiah speaking? He is speaking to the Jewish nation.] Therefore the "you" is to the Jews, not to Jesus. The Jews will be glorified as G-d's exalted servant in the messianic age. The Jews will be recognized as a nation of priests by the rest of the world who will seek out the Jews to know G-d. "So said the L-rd of Hosts: In those days, when ten men of all the languages of the nations shall take hold of the skirt of a Jewish man, saying, "Let us go with you, for we have heard that G-d is with you.'" Zechariah 8:23. This is an odd claim -- is the list maker (the list of 365 supposed prophecies about Jesus in the T'nach / bible) actually claiming that being a witness is a messianic prophecy? Really? Someone being a witness is NOT a messianic prophecy. It is far too generic to be a messianic prophecy. Have you ever witnessed a document? Been a witness to a crime? Been a witness in a trial? Well -- if you have ever witnessed anything you too could be the messiah and claimed to have "fulfilled" this prophecy -- according to the list maker (not according to reality). The claimed passage, Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:4 is speaking of David and his righteous descendant (which Jesus was not legally). "Behold, a witness to nations have I appointed him, a ruler and a commander of nations." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:4. Did you notice an important part of the sentence omitted by the list maker (because it destroys his / her claim). . . The missing piece is a witness to nation. Not just a witness. A a witness to nations.
Jesus was not a witness to nations either. Jesus was murdered by the Romans in Judah -- he never witnessed to anyone other than those in Judah and the Galilee according to the Christian bible. Indeed Jesus states that his mission was only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24), as he refused to help a non-Jewish woman who asked for healing for her daughter. Jesus said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). Jesus often claimed he was a shepherd to Israel -- but not to the other nations. See Mark 6:34, 14:27; John 10:11-16, Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4; and Revelation 7:17 -- all of which speak of Jesus as there for the Jews. . . but not a word about the nations. The list maker, in making this claim, is reversing the actual words of the prophet Isaiah. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55 is speaking of the messianic age when all Jewish exiles will be returned to the land of Israel from exile. The messiah, an anointed king who is descended from Kings David and Solomon (which Jesus was not if Joseph was not his biological father, aka the virgin birth). . . will rule over the nations. Jesus never fulfilled this true prophecy of Isaiah. As for claim #273 -- being a witness is not any kind of a prophecy -- messianic or other. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:3 says "Incline your ear and come to Me; Listen and your soul will be rejuvenated; I will make an eternal covenant with you; the enduring kindness [promised] to David." It does not say one word about resurrecting the dead. This passage cannot be speaking of Jesus for one simple reason: Isaiah is talking to a plural group not about a lone individual. Isaiah tells the people of his generation to look for G-d while He can still be found – meaning before the judgment of exile is passed. The word translated as "soul" is "נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם" -- the word is a plural form of נֶֽפֶשׁ nefesh (singular). It does not mean the immortal soul, but instead refers to being alive (the blood coursing through your veins keeping you alive). . . G-d is telling the Jewish people (plural) in verse 2: "Hearken to Me and eat what is good, and your נַפְשְׁכֶֽם soul shall delight in fatness." נַפְשְׁכֶֽם is used in both verses -- verse 2 and verse 3. Isaiah (speaking for G-d) is addressing the Jewish people (plural) of his generation -- a generation not yet exiled -- and not speaking of one person (Jesus or anyone else). Thus Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:3 is not speaking of resurrection at all, and the subject is plural and thus is not "the" messiah who is one person. Since, yet again, the list maker is skipping verses (s/he went from verse 1 to verse 3, skipping verse 2) -- ignoring the context let's not make the same mistake. What exactly is Isaiah speaking about? Y'shayahu / Isaiah chapters 40 - 66 speak to the Jewish nation who G-d exiles as a punishment for the nation's lack of observance. The Jewish nation is judged both as a whole and each individual Jew is also judged. Isaiah speaks of the fact that a time will come when the exile will end, all the Jews will return to the land of Israel, the world will be at peace and the messiah will rule over the world. None of that happened with Jesus. In Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55 Isaiah is speaking tot he Jewish nation and telling them that to bring the promises to fruition they should study Torah. He uses the analogy of a thirsty man who needs water to survive -- Torah is air and water to the Jew. Isaiah tells them (and us) that all who are thirsty to go to the water. Even those without money (without Torah knowledge) to buy food (to study with no education) -- it will not be a problem -- "drink" wine and milk instead of water (study and you will learn!). Isaiah tells them: listen to G-d and you will eat your fill! Turn towards Him and live, enjoying an eternal covenant. In Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:3 the prophet is speaking for G-d and does speak of the messiah. He reaffirms the promises G-d made to David that his descendant will be the ruler during this golden age. David's descendant will be the messiah. It is easy to see why the list maker points to Jesus -- because Christians will claim he was a descendant of David. But he wasn't. Not if either of the two conflicting lineages in the Christian bible given for Jesus are accurate. Jesus, quite simply, was not a Davidic heir and had no right at all to the throne (whether by virtue of a “virgin” birth, or one of the two conflicting lineages for Joseph). The Torah specifies that blood rights, such as tribal lineage, are transmitted exclusively from a father to his biological sons. Whenever the Israelites were selected to serve in the army, it was done "according to the house of their father": Bambidar / Numbers 1:17-18 - "Then Moses and Aaron took these men, who were indicated by [their] names, (18 ) and they assembled all the congregation on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees according to their families according to their fathers' houses; according to the number of names, a head count of every male from twenty years old and upward." Similarly, the Aaronic Priesthood can only be transmitted from a father to his biological sons (Exodus 40:15; Numbers 25:12-13). The census was conducted paternally as well. To be a rightful King one must be of the tribe of Judah. The only way to be of this tribe is to have a Jewish mother and a Jewish father who is OF the tribe of Judah and descended from King Solomon (the son of King David).Tanach clearly says that the legitimate (Davidic) throne will go to descendents of Solomon ONLY. You mentioned that UriYosef quotes the following in his article. It really is very clear. All those others quoted by your Xian do not refute this or say "G-d changed His mind and made it conditional on "if." 2 Samuel 7 says nothing about IF. It is not at all conditional: The son of David who built the Temple was Solomon. G-d will establish his kingdom forever. Ironclad. And then read Divrei Hayamim I / 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 "Behold a son will be born to you; he will be a man of peace, and I shall give him peace from all his enemies around about, for Solomon will be his name, and I shall give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. (10) He shall build a House in My Name, and he shall be to Me as a son, and I to him as a Father, and I shall prepare the throne of his kingdom forever." Solomon - not Jesus. Divrei Hayamim I / 1 Chronicles 28:4-7 "Hashem, G-d of Israel, chose me (David) from all my father's family to be king over Israel forever. For He chose Judah to be the ruler, and of the House of Judah [He chose] my father's house, and of the sons of my father it was me that He saw fit to make king over all Israel. And from all my sons- for many sons have Hashem given me- He has chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of Hashem, over Israel. He said to me, "Your son Solomon- he shall build My Temple and My courtyards; for I have chosen him to be a son for Me, and I will be a Father for him. And I will establish his kingdom forever- if he will be firm in fulfilling My commandments and My laws, as on this day." Read also M'lachim Alef / 1 Kings 8:15-20; Divrei Hayamim Alef / 1 Chronicles 17:11-15, 22:9-10, and 28:3-7. For more clarification read UriYosef's article Genealogical Scams and Flimflams. The messianic prophecy regarding resurrection is not that the messiah will die and be resurrected (indeed, if a person dies before fulfilling all the messianic prophecies he is NOT the messiah). The messianic prophecy regarding resurrection states that the righteous of the world will be resurrected during the time of the messiah. This did not happen with Jesus. We are told that some dead came out of their graves (although no external sources speak of what one would think was a memorable occasion) -- but if this happened only in Jerusalem and not worldwide it failed to fulfill the prophecy regarding the resurrection of the righteous. When the messiah comes the righteous will be resurrected and the soul reunited with body; this is why Jews do not believe in cremation or embalming ( Y'shayahu / Isaiah 26). The T'nach seems to tell us that only the righteous will be resurrected (Daniel 12). Yet, there is a school of thought that every Jewish soul that ever lived will be resurrected. “Even the empty ones among you [Israel] are filled with mitzvot as a pomegranate [is filled with seeds]"—Talmud, Berachot 57a and The soul of every Jew is a "veritable portion of G‑d," and as such is eternal and indestructible. Ask yourself: if the T'nach tells us that one day ALL the righteous will be resurrected, how can one person dying and resurrecting be a prophecy about the messiah who is one person? If anything, since all the righteous will resurrect, Jesus' supposed resurrection is the OPPOSITE of a messianic prophecy. There is no prophecy in the T'nach (bible) that the messiah will die and be resurrected -- and this claimed "prophecy" is speaking of people (plural) not one person (Jesus). This is odd. . . in the previous 270 claims of prophecies fulfilled by Jesus the list maker has given a reference in the Christian bible. This time the claim is the Christian bible in its entirety??? Very odd. In fact this exact phrase is found in Revelation 22:17: "And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say: “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge." NETBible. It also appears in John 7:37: "On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me" Perhaps the list maker got tired of looking up passages? Neither verse ties in any way to Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1. The NETBible commentary says "John 7:37-38 has been the subject of considerable scholarly debate. Certainly Jesus picks up on the literal water used in the ceremony and uses it figuratively. But what does the figure mean? According to popular understanding, it refers to the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell in the believer. There is some difficulty in locating an OT text which speaks of rivers of water flowing from within such a person, but Isa 58:11 is often suggested." There is some difficulty locating a T'nach (bible) text to support John 37-38 says NETBible. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1 is not mentioned. NETBible has no commentary at all tied to Revelation 22:17. What does Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1 say? "Ho! All who thirst, go to water, and whoever has no money, go, buy and eat, and go, buy without money and without a price, wine and milk." Where is the claim in Isaiah that the messiah will tell thirsty people to come to him? It simply is nonexistent. This is not a messianic prophecy. Even Christian commentators do not list this as a messianic prophecy. Anyone can say "if you are thirsty, drink." It is vague, generic even. Yet again the list maker claims something as unique to Jesus that is not unique at all! Y'shayahu / Isaiah chapters 40 - 66 speak to the Jewish nation who G-d exiles as a punishment for the nation's lack of observance and their eventual return from exile in the messianic era (this never happened with Jesus). G-d comforts the Jews who will go into exile -- giving them hope of eventual return and forgiveness. Isaiah 40 through 66 speaks time and time again about Israel as G-d's servant who suffers, but who is later exalted. Chapters were a Christian invention -- so to understand that G-d is speaking of the Jewish people and not Jesus read the line preceding the one referenced: "this is the heritage of the servants of the L-rd and their due reward from Me, says the L-rd." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 54:17. The servants of the L-rd. The Jewish nation. "And He said to me, "You are My servant, Israel, about whom I will boast."" Y'shayahu / Isaiah 49:3. The Jewish nation as a whole (singular) is also identified often as G-d's servant.
Time and again the prophet Y'shayahu / Isaiah declares that Israel (the Jewish people) are G-d's servant. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 41:8 - 9. "But you, Israel My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham, who loved Me, Whom I grasped from the ends of the earth, and from its nobles I called you, and I said to you, "You are My servant"; I chose you and I did not despise you." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 44:1. "And now, hearken, Jacob (Jacob's name was changed to Israel and Jews are often called "Jacob" and "Israel") My servant, and Israel whom I have chosen. 2. So said HaShem your Maker, and He Who formed you from the womb shall aid you. Fear not, My servant Jacob, and Jeshurun (the Jews) whom I have chosen." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 44:21 "Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 45:4. "For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen one, and I called to you by your name; I surnamed you, yet you have not known Me." and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 49:3 - 7. "And He said to me (Isaiah), "You are My servant, Israel, about whom I will boast. . . This is what HaShem says- the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel- to him who was despised and abhorred by the nations, to the servant of rulers: "Kings will see you and rise up, princes will see and bow down, because of HaShem , who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you." Torah to Jews is as vital as water to humans. They are both indispensable sources of life -- thus the analogy of water as a source of life as an analogy to the Torah is found often in the T'nach. "And the reference to water refers only to the study of Torah, as it is stated with regard to Torah study: “Ho, all who are thirsty, go to water” (Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1). Bava Kama 17a. Revelation speaks of the water of life, John 7 doesn't speak of water at all. . . and Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1 speaks of those who are thirsty drinking water, wine and milk. Food and drink are often used in the T'nach as an allegory for the Torah -- which is a tree of life. The truth is free for the taking -- why struggle (working and paying for food) when the message from G-d is free for the taking in the Torah. Listen to G-d and eat your fill of goodness. Turn towards Him and live, enjoying an eternal covenant. It isn't Jesus who is the water, it is the Torah. The Talmud, Bava Kama 82a, speaks of Sh'mot / Exodus 15:22 where the Israelites are wandering in the desert seeking water. For three days they wander in the wilderness without water. Bava Kama says "they traveled three days in the wilderness and found no water. Those who interpret verses metaphorically said that water here is referring to nothing other than Torah, as it is stated metaphorically, concerning those who desire wisdom: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come for water. The baraita continues: The verse means that since the Jews traveled for three days without hearing any Torah they became weary, and therefore the prophets among them arose and instituted for them that they should read from the Torah each Shabbat, and pause on Sunday, and read again on Monday, and pause on Tuesday and Wednesday, and read again on Thursday, and pause on Shabbat eve, so they would not tarry three days without hearing the Torah. " (Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1). Pirkei Avot / פרקי אבות, the Chapters of the Fathers, chapter 1, verse 5 says "Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah, and Yossei the son of Yochanan of Jerusalem, received the tradition from them. Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah would say: Let your home be a meeting place for the wise; dust yourself in the soil of their feet, and drink thirstily of their words." C.E.R' Yossei, the son of Yoezer and R Yossei, the son of Yochanan were זּוּגוֹת / Zugot -- Jewish leaders who lived 200 BCE to 0 -- therefore this saying predates Jesus. Who were the זּוּגוֹת / Zugot? From the time of Moses there were Assemblies -- called the Elders of Israel starting in Sh'mot / Exodus chapter 3. The 70 elders (Sh'mot / Exodus 24:1,9; Bamidbar / Numbers 11:16,24) were already leading the people, even in Egypt. These men were from all the tribes and comprised both court judges and government -- later they would constitute the Great Sanhedrin. Sh'mot / Exodus 3 tells us that even Moses had to go before this governmental body and present his credentials to be accepted. "'Go, gather the Elders of Israel, and say to them, 'HaShem, the G-d of your fathers, appeared to me - the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." Sh'mot / Exodus 3:16. After the return from Babylonian Exile the prophets (including Ezra the Scribe) created a "Great Assembly" which comprised of 120 men rather than 71 (the 71st was initially Moses). When Shimon HaTzaddik, the last member of the Great Assembly died in 273 BCE, a period began known as the period of the Zugot, meaning "pairs." The last of the "pairs" were R' Shammai and R' Hillel. For almost 300 years, there were always two rabbis in charge of the Jewish courts and governmental bodies. The two were the נָשִׂיא / Nasi (the president or "prince") and the אב בית דין / Av Beit Din (the head of the Sanhedrin). The two R' Yossei were Zugot, listed in פרקי אבות / Pirei Avot / "Chapters of the Fathers." Yet again the missionary hijacks a saying out of context to claim t hat somehow it is Jesus fulfilling a prophecy. One might say "I am thirsty" and claim it is a fulfillment of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 55:1 which says: "Ho! All who thirst, go to water, and whoever has no money, go, buy and eat, and go, buy without money and without a price, wine and milk." Just being thirsty, or saying "come to me if you are thirsty" is meaningless -- anyone can say it (and you probably say you are thirst "I think I'll get a glass of water, milk or wine" once a day at least) -- this is neither a prophecy or a prophetic fulfillment of the messiah. Again, to understand it read it in context. 'shayahu / Isaiah chapters 40 - 55 are about the Jewish people who have been in exile, but will be reconciled with G-d and returned to the land of Israel in the messianic era. Whereas a righteous remnant has been Torah observant, all will thirst for the Torah -- rich and poor -- and Torah is available to all who seek it's truth. In discussing the Mishna of Pirkei Avot / פרקי אבות, the Chapters of the Fathers, chapter 1, verse 5 which says: "Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah, and Yossei the son of Yochanan of Jerusalem, received the tradition from them. Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah would say: Let your home be a meeting place for the wise; dust yourself in the soil of their feet, and drink thirstily of their words." R' Moshe Bogomilsky of the Chabad remarks: "To someone who is thirsty, every drop of water is precious. Likewise, every drop of Torah study should be precious and cherished. When one is thirsty, he will turn over every stone to find some water and even walk for miles to reach a well. Similarly, one should make every effort to study Torah and not hesitate even to travel a long distance in order to participate in a Torah study group.. . "Alternatively, since water is available in such abundant measure, the cost of a glass of water is very little. However, when one is dying of thirst and is given a glass of water, the value of that glass of water is priceless, and he does not just owe his benefactor the price of the water, but the value of his life since without the water his life might have come to an end, G‑d forbid. "The message is the following: Appreciate the words of Torah and the rabbis who share it with you in the same way as the very thirsty man values the glass of water and is indebted to the one who gave him water to quench his thirst. In both cases the recipient receives an extension of life, one physical and the other spiritual." The list of 365 supposed prophecies Jesus fulfilled tied 43 of its claims to one chapter: Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53. This is the 43rd and final claim tied to Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53: #270. Isaiah 53:12e...Intercede to God in behalf of mankind... Luke 23:34. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12: says nothing about the servant being an intermediary between one man to another, let alone to intercede for all mankind. The passage simply says that the servant prayed for the wicked -- even those who were literally murdering him. It says: "Therefore, I will assign him a portion from the multitudes and he will divide the mighty as spoils -- in return for having poured out his soul (not immortal soul -- but the life force) for death and being counted among the wicked, for he bore the sin of the multitudes, and prayed for the wicked." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12. Prayer is not intercession. Intercession is the action of intervening on behalf of another. Coming between a person and another (in this case inserting Jesus between a person and G-d). This is forbidden. Asking someone to pray on your behalf is not forbidden. In other words, we may pray on behalf of others but we cannot pray TO or THROUGH others asking, in prayer, that they intercede on our behalf to G-d. Asking someone to pray for you is acceptable. Praying to another is not acceptable (even praying "in the name" of someone is not acceptable). When you ask someone to pray on your behalf they do so of their own free will. The one prays on his own behalf, directly to G-d (no intermediary) and may offer a prayer about you of his own volition. When Isaiah says that the servant prayed for the wicked -- that is not only acceptable, it is a good deed. When we pray on behalf of another we do so of our own free will. The concept of putting an intermediary between you and G-d is that of praying to someone other than G-d asking for that entity (angel, Jesus, a deceased family member) to intercede on your behalf. Your prayers should only be directed to G-d Himself and no other. Praying to another and asking for them to intercede on your behalf is strictly forbidden and considered idolatry. Praying for someone else is not the same as asking an entity to "go between" you and G-d. The Rambam (Maimonides) wrote a list identifying the 13 Principles of Judaism, the 5th Principle states that we pray only to G-d (no intermediaries). This principle warns against idolatry (עבודה זרה / avodah zarah -- literally "strange worship"). Do not pray to or through any intermediary. Do not pray to an angel. Do not pray through a human (e.g. a deceased relative). Do not pray to or through anyone or anything but G-d Himself. This principle is derived, in part, from Sh’mot / Exodus 20:2-3: “I am G-d your L-rd, who brought you out of Egypt, from the place of slavery. 20:3 Do not have any other gods before Me.” G-d describes עבודה זרה /avodah zarah (idolatry -- literally "strange worship") in D’varim / Deuteronomy 13:7-9 – and it is the death knell to Christianity – even to those who do not “worship” Jesus but claim to only “pray in his name.” -- it is still a clear violation of the Rambam’s 5th principle against worshiping any other than G-d. Think back to the T'nach and various prophets and others who communicated directly with G-d or with angels. Jacob spoke to an angel (fought with him), Daniel received visions from an angel -- yet neither Jacob or Daniel prayed to angels -- they prayed only to G-d. What of Christians who think Jesus is G-d? If they perceive him as part of G-d is it idolatry / עבודה זרה /avodah zarah to pray to or through him (in Jesus' name)? This is still strange worship -- idolatry -- if that person is Jewish. If that person is not Jewish it may be שִׁתּוּף / shituf, which is the heretical idea of some sort of co-mingling of something with G-d. שִׁתּוּף / shituf is the worship or belief of other gods (e.g. Jesus and the holy ghost) in addition to G-d Himself In the case of Christianity this is the idea of a G-d in human form being worshiped (Jesus) and even the “holy spirit” being worshiped. Whether Christianity is שִׁתּוּף / Shituf or עבודה זרה /avodah zarah for a non-Jew, it is definitely עבודה זרה / avodah zarah / idolatry for a Jew -- and forbidden. Christians who say Jesus is G-d are violating the precept since no one at Sinai knew or prayed to or through Jesus. The Torah says: “[This is what you must do] if your blood brother, your son, your daughter, your bosom wife, or your closest friend secretly tries to act as a missionary among you, and says, 'If your brother, the son of your mother, tempts you in secret or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your embrace, or your friend, who is as your own soul saying, "Let us go and worship other gods, which neither you, nor your forefathers have known."' 13:8 [He may be enticing you with] the gods of the nations around you, far or near, or those that are found at one end of the world or another. 13:9 Do not agree with him, and do not listen to him." D’varim / Deuteronomy 13:7-9. The key phrase here is "WHICH NEITHER YOU OR YOUR FOREFATHERS HAVE KNOWN." Jesus supposedly lived 2000 years ago, 1300 years after our fathers heard G-d speak at Mount Sinai. Thus the worship of Jesus is an experience that we did not know (at Mount Sinai when we accepted the Torah) -- and thus is worshiping Jesus (or praying "through" him is idolatry for a Jew. Line 19 of that same passage (D'varim / Deuteronomy 13) tells us "For you shall hearken to the voice of the L-rd your G-d, to keep all His mitzvot which I command you this day, to do that which is proper in the eyes of the L-rd, your G-d." The Rambam reiterates the importance of avoiding any intermediary between a person and G-d in Hilchot Teshuva, chapter 3: "one who serves a star, constellation, or other entity so that it will serve as an intermediary between him and the eternal L-rd. (Such) individuals are a Min (heretic)." Thus, by claiming that Jesus is an intermediary between man and G-d Christianity is encouraging idolatry. As a point of interest, Luke 23:34 does not speak of Jesus interceding between himself and himself (that is if one believes in the trinity) -- it simply has Jesus saying "“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Codex Vaticanus is one of the oldest extant manuscripts of the Christian bible -- it has been dated to the 4th century CE -- and it does not have this verse (Luke 23:34) in it. It appears to have been added at a later time. Returning to the topic of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53., missionaries seem to point to this chapter more than any other as "proof" that Jesus was the messiah. Perhaps this is why nearly 12% of the claimed prophecies on the list are tied to this one chapter. Missionaries will argue at length why the Jewish nation could not be Isaiah's suffering servant, or claim that various Jewish sources tie the identity to the servant to the messiah (or someone else) -- as if this magically equates to the servant being Jesus. Ignoring the actual identity of the servant it is clear, when the chapter is read without mistranslations, or lifted out of context (ignoring the bits that don't fit Jesus) and the changing of tenses (from past to future for example) that Jesus, while seeming to fit some claims of the servant, quite simply fails to litmus test of most of what Isaiah tells us of the suffering servant. Some time ago I authored a blog post entitled Can Isaiah 53 be about Jesus? In it I wrote: Consider:
These are just some glaring examples showing that the servant in Isaiah 53 simply does not "fit" Jesus. Here is a translation along with the Artscroll Stone Edition footnotes at the bottom of each response to aid in your understanding of the passage. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My servant will succeed; he will be exalted and become high and exceedingly lofty. 14 Just as multitudes were astonished over you (saying) "His appearance is too marred to be a man's, and his visage to be human, 15 so will the many nations exclaim about him, and kings will shut their mouths (in amazement) for they will see that which had never been told to them, and will perceive things they had never heard. 53:1 Who would believe what we have heard! For whom has the arm of HaShem been revealed? 2 In the past he grew like a sapling or like the root from dry ground; he had neither form nor beauty. We saw him, but without a desirable appearance. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and accustomed to being sick. As one from whom we would hide our faces; he was despised and we had no regard for him. 4 But in truth it was our ills and he carried our pains -- but we had regarded him diseased, stricken by G-d and afflicted! 5 He was wounded as a result (because of) our rebellious transgressions, and oppressed as a result our iniquities. The chastisement upon him was for our benefit, and through his wounds we were healed. 6 We have all strayed like sheep each of us turning his own way and HaShem inflicted upon him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was persecuted and afflicted but did not open his mouth; like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a ewe that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 he was removed far away from the land where they lived and a plague came upon them (לָֽמוֹ / lamo) through the transgression of my people (the gentile nations). He submitted to the grave with the wicked and joined with the wealthy in his executions (בְּמֹתָ֑יו / b'motav) 9 He submitted himself to his grave like evil men; and the wealthy (submitted) to his executions for committing no crime and with no deceit in his mouth. 10 HaShem desired to oppress him and He afflicted him; if his physical being would acknowledge guilt he would see offspring and live long days and the desire or HaShem would succeed in his hand. 11. He (he servant) would see (the purpose) and be satisfied with his life's (not immortal soul) distress. With his knowledge My servant will cause the multitudes to be righteous; it is their וַעֲוֹנתָם / iniquities (for impulsive, lustful wrongdoings) that he will carry. 12. Therefore, I will assign him a portion in public and he will divide the mighty as spoils -- in return for having poured out his life for death and being counted among the wicked, for he bore the sin of the many, and prayed for the wicked. Footnotes from Artscroll Stone Edition: Isaiah 52:13 i.e. G-d's servant the people of Israel (Rashi) 52:15 Just as Israel had once been astonishingly degraded, so it will astonish the nations by its exaltedness when the time of redemption arrives. 53:1-3 this is the prophecy foretelling what the nations and their kings will exclaim when they witness Israel's rejuvenation. The nations will contrast their former scornful attitude toward the Jews (vv. 1-3) with their new realization of Israel's grandeur (vv 4-7). 53:5 we brought suffering upon Israel for our own selfish purposes; it was not, as we had claimed, that G-d was punishing Israel for its own evil behavior. 53:6 We sinned by inflicting punishment upon Israel. Such oppression is often described as "Hashem's punishment" (see 10:5, Habakkuk 1:12), for He decreed that it should happen (Abarbanel). 53:8 When Israel's exile is finally ended the nations will marvel that such a generation could have survived the expulsion from "the land of the living, i.e. Israel, that the nations had sinfully inflicted upon it. 53:9 Ordinary Jews chose to die like common criminals, rather than renounce their faith; and wealthy Jews were killed for no reason other than to enable their wicked conquerors to confiscate their riches (Radak). 53:10 That is, Israel. G-d replies to the nations that Israel's suffering was a punishment for its own sins; and when the people realize this and repent, they will be redeemed and rewarded. 53:11 Israel will teach the nations of G-d's righteousness. Most Christians are taught that Jesus died for their sins -- and the claim that Jesus was the "sin - bearer" for mankind is one the list maker has repeated often on the list of 365 supposed prophecies fulfilled by Jesus, including: 241. Isaiah 53:4b...He would bear the sins of the world... 1 Pet. 2:24 246. Isaiah 53:6a...He would be the sin-bearer for all mankind...Galatians 1:4 247. Isaiah 53:6b...God's will that He bear sin for all mankind... 1 John 4:10 254. Isaiah 53:8d...Dies for the sins of the world... 1 John 2:2 259. Isaiah 53:10b...An offering for sin... Matthew 20:28 265. Isaiah 53:11d...The sin-bearer for all mankind... Hebrews 9:28 The claim that Jesus died for the sins of mankind is referenced in the claimed "fulfillment" passage in the Christian bible, namely 2 Corinthians 5:21 which says "G-d made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of G-d." Today's claim -- and some additional ones we will visit later in this list all tie to the idea that Jesus' death removed sin from the world / mankind / followers of Jesus and so forth. This claim seems odd since there is still plenty of sin in the world -- including by many claiming to be Christians. No one can die for your sins. The T'nach (bible) makes this clear time and again -- we are responsible for our own actions. But did humans need Jesus to die to make them righteous? Not according to the T'nach (bible). All humans can be righteous. Was Noah righteous? Or Abraham? Or Daniel? These three were all righteous without sacrifices or Jesus. "Son of man, if a land sins against Me by trespassing grievously, I shall stretch forth My hand upon it and break its staff of bread, and I shall send famine upon it and cut off from it [both] man and beast. 14. Now should these three men be in its midst-[namely] Noah, Daniel, and Job-they would save themselves with their righteousness, says the L-rd G-d." Y'chezekel / Ezekiel 14:13 - 14. Noah, Daniel and Job could save themselves with their righteousness. No Jesus. No sacrifices at all. "For neither did I (G-d is speaking) speak with your forefathers nor did I command them on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning a burnt offering or a sacrifice. But this thing did I command them, saying: Obey Me so that I am your G-d and you are My people, and you walk in all the ways that I command you, so that it may be well with you." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 7:22 - 23. "For I (G-d) desire loving-kindness, and not sacrifices, and knowledge of G-d more than burnt offerings." Hoshea / Hosea 6:6. "With what shall I come before the L-rd, bow before the Most High G-d? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves? Will the L-rd be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the L-rd demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your G-d." Michah / Micah 6:6 - 8. "With loving-kindness and truth will iniquity be expiated, and through fear of the L-rd turn away from evil." Mishlei / Proverbs 16:6. "Performing charity and justice is preferred by G-d to a sacrifice." Mishlei / Proverbs 21:3. In Daniel 4 the king is told to bring charity and mercy to the poor to atone for his sins. No, sacrifices and blood are not needed to atone for sins -- and in most cases could not cover sins (only mistakes and some very specific minor individual sins). . . Qorban / קָרְבָּן (sacrifice) was only one form of atonement -- and only for very specific (usually accidental) sins. Serious sins always required repentance, turning to G-d and asking for forgiveness (both from the people you might have wronged and from G-d if you wronged Him). The Jewish bible tells us that when there is a Temple we are to bring qorban / קָרְבָּן (sacrifice) there and only there -- because it is the place chosen by G-d for sacrifices. Jesus was not killed in the only place sacrifice was allowed. Without a Temple we are forbidden from bringing sacrifices. We are following G-d's instructions by NOT bringing sacrifices at this time. Right now there is no Temple. There is a mosque -- and thus we Jews have no place in which to bring qorban / קָרְבָּן (sacrifice) . We sacrifice (as Hosea says): "Take words with you and return to the L-rd; say to Him: You shall forgive all iniquity, and accept the good and we will render (for) bullocks (the offering of our) lips. (in other words prayers instead of sacrifice." Hoshea / Hosea 14:.3. The Jewish bible tells us that sacrifices are not needed. Return to G-d and ask Him to forgive your sins -- and He will forgive you without sacrifices. No need for blood. Human sacrifices are forbidden in the bible. No one can die for the individual sins of another.
There have been many times in history where no Temple stood and no sacrifices could be made. King Solomon, the builder of the first Temple, remarked as he dedicated the first Temple that when one cannot bring qorban / קָרְבָּן (sacrifice) to the Temple G-d will listen to prayers and sincere repentance. "When your people Israel have been defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple, 34 then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them back to the land you gave to their fathers." M'lachim Alef / 1 Kings 8-33. No need for blood. Human sacrifices are forbidden in the bible. No one can die for the individual sins of another. Not only can humans not be sacrificed, but even the blood of various kosher (domestic) animals is not the sole means of atonement. There is atonement through repentance (Vayikra / Leviticus 26:40-42, Shmuel II / II Samuel 12:13-14, Yonah / Jonah 3:10, Yechezkel / Ezekiel 18:21-32, 33:11-16), kindness (Mishlei / Proverbs; 16:6, Daniel 4:24), prayer (M'lachim I / I Kings 8:46-50, Hoshea / Hosea 14:2-3, Daniel 9:19), removal of idolatry (Y'shayahu / Isaiah. 27:9), punishment (Y'shayahu / Isaiah 40:1, Eichah / Lamentations 4:22), death (Y'shayahu / Isaiah 22:14), flour offerings (Vayikra / Leviticus 5:11-13), money (Sh'mot / Exodus. 30:15), incense (Bamidbar / Numbers 17:11-12), and jewelry (Bamidbar / Numbers 31:50). Even in bringing a sacrifice there were many things that added up in the atonement process. Sacrifice without obedience was useless. Obedience without sacrifice when sacrifice was required and possible, was useless. Obedience without sacrifice when sacrifice was never required or when sacrifice wasn't possible - was and is sufficient in and of itself, since it's all that G-d requires when sacrifices cannot be offered (see Y'chezkel / Ezekiel 18/33 and Hoshea / Hosea 14:2-3). Sacrifices tend to be "lumped together" as "one size fits all" by missionaries. In fact there were many types of sacrifices -- some brought every single day -- most of which had nothing to do with sin. Most sacrifices were to thank G-d and for peace -- not to atone for sins. There were also communal sacrifices for the entire nation of Israel (and sacrifices for all the nations -- not just Israel) as well as individual sacrifices for personal wrongdoings. The Christian bible and missionaries tend to ignore the fact that the worse individual sins could not be atoned for with blood sacrifice. Only the חַטָּאת chatat (a mistake, a "missing of the mark" -- you tried to do good but missed) and the אָשָׁם asham (guilt / trespass sacrifice) could be brought as a sacrifice for sins / guilt. Why animal sacrifice at all? Why blood as the question was posed? In sacrificing an animal the animal had to be domestic -- and owned by the person bringing the sacrifice. It had to BE a sacrifice. (Think back to the story of Cain and Abel where Abel brought his finest and Cain only brought "some"). . . The person bringing the sacrifice had to place his hand upon the animal and watch it being killed. He had to feel the life leaving the animal and realize that life is fleeting. It can be gone in a second. We must be grateful to G-d for our lives and for every precious second we are on this earth. G-d does not need, or even want sacrifices. G-d gave sacrifices to man. Jews were used to bringing sacrifices and this is why G-d permitted them. Qorban / קָרְבָּן (sacrifice) gave man a way to feel closer to G-d by giving Him something of value (be it money, flour, an animal, etc.). In pagan religions the gods were bloodthirsty and needed blood to be satisfied. In Judaism G-d permitted man to bring sacrifices because man needed them -- He needs nothing. Maimonides, aka the Rambam, suggested that qorban / קָרְבָּן (sacrifice) was ordained as an accommodation of man's primitive desires. In his Guide to the Perplexed (3:46), the Rambam explains that the nations of the world that worshiped animals generally worshiped one of three domestic animals: either sheep (as did the Egyptians, Targum Onkeles Sh'mot / Exodus 8:22), goats (as in Vayikra / Leviticus 17:7) or cows (as in India, until today). The prophet Isaiah does say that G-d's servant suffers because of (not "for") the sins of the world. This is not the same as the Christian concept that a human being can be a "sin" sacrifice -- or that the death of a person (even Jesus) could somehow "atone" for the sins of others. The theme of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53 is that G-d is speaking from the future -- the messianic age when there is world peace, global knowledge of Him -- and all the Jews will be returned from exile to the land of Israel. Isaiah begins with G-d speaking at the end of the last verses of Read the last three lines of Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52: "Behold, My servant will succeed; he will be exalted and become high and exceedingly lofty. 14 Just as multitudes were astonished over you (saying) "His appearance is too marred to be a man's, and his visage to be human, 15 so will the many nations exclaim about him, and kings will shut their mouths (in amazement) for they will see that which had never been told to them, and will perceive things they had never heard. " Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:13 - 15. (The quote is from the Artscroll Stone Edition translation, the link is to the Judaica Press translation). Then in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53: 1- 9 the gentile nations speak (also from the future messianic era) -- admitting their shock to discover that the one they thought was despised by G-d, and whom they rejected, is really G-d's beloved servant -- now raised high in the messianic age. In the last few verses of the chapter G-d tells us that in those holy days of the messiah servant will be given the wealth of his persecutors. Needless to say -- Jesus was never given the wealth of his persecutors -- they murdered him and he died. Read Isaiah verse 12 for yourself: "Therefore, I will assign him a portion in public and he will divide the mighty as spoils -- in return for having poured out his life for death and being counted among the wicked, for he bore the sin of the many, and prayed for the wicked. " Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12. The gentile nations often stole from the servant (the Jews) -- even murdering them and enjoying the fruits of their stolen wealth -- living in the homes of those they killed, and enjoying their art, their goods and even their clothing. The Nazis, for example, even removed the golden tooth fillings from the Jews they murdered and used the gold for their enrichment. Even as the Jews have been murdered or exiled they prayed for the peace of the world and prayed for the wicked -- bearing the burden of the sins of those evil people -- but rather than seeking revenge, they prayed to G-d that all people turn to Him. . . In the messianic age the world will come to realize that the Jews were right -- there is only one G-d -- "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the L-rd has shone upon you. . . And nations shall go by your light and kings by the brilliance of your shine. Lift up your eyes all around and see, they all have gathered, they have come to you.. . Instead of your being forsaken and hated without a passerby, I will make you an everlasting pride, the joy of every generation." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 60:1 - 4. 16. Again, this did not happen with Jesus. No one can die for the sins of an other -- Moses actually offered to die for the sin of the golden calf, and G-d turned Him down with the clear message that each person is responsible for his own actions. Read Sh'mot / Exodus 32:30=34. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12 speaks of a very specific type of sin -- the חֵטְא / cheit -- a mistake (a missing of the mark). You tried to do the right thing (it wasn't willful or knowingly doing something wrong). "Sin” is a חֵטְא / cheit -- an unintentional sin through carelessness — a “missing of the mark." Making mistakes (trying to do the right thing and missing aka sin) is all about learning from your mistakes and making up for them via apology, repayment, etc. G-d tells Cain way back in B'reshit / Genesis 4 that he can over come sin (this is "after" Adam and Chava (Eve) sinned, so OOPS there goes the idea of "original sin"). Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12 does not speak of willful sins or sins done on purpose -- no -- it only mentions the accidental sin, the חֵטְא / cheit. T'nach tells us time and again that the sin sacrifice ( חַטָאת קָרבָּן chatat qorban), teshuva (repenting of your sins and returning to G-d) and tzedakah (doing good for other people, aka "charity") atone for sins. The Torah also tells us that the חַטָאת קָרבָּן (sin sacrifice) only atoned for mistakes (a "missing of the mark" -- you tried to do the right thing and "missed." Intentional sins could be forgiven with acts of charity and repenting -- but not with blood (sin) sacrifices). The only other type of blood sacrifice which atoned for wrongdoing was the אָשָׁם / asham (guilt / trespass) sacrifice. A third sacrifice people think had to do with sin (but it did not) was the עֹלָ֖ה / olah. An עֹלָ֖ה / olah was not a טָּאת / sin sacrifice or a אָשָׁם / guilt sacrifice. An עֹלָ֖ה / olah, translated as "burnt sacrifice," was a voluntary sacrifice generally brought to G-d as a donation to G-d or to seal a vow. . . but sometimes brought for impure thoughts, not deeds). The חַטָּאת / cḥattat (accidental sins) and אָשָׁם / asham sacrifices were PRIVATE offerings brought by INDIVIDUALS, not “atonement” offerings on behalf of the entire nation. Also, no individual sacrifice could be brought for someone else or in advance. The type of offering was specified (female goat or lamb being the most common, but sometimes a bull, birds or flour) -- only domesticated (not wild) kosher animals were fit for sacrifice. Human sacrifices (Jesus anyone?) are totally forbidden by the Torah. Read Vayikra / Leviticus chapter 5 to learn about the אָשָׁם / asham (guilt / trespass) qorbanot (sacrifices) and the very few things they covered: Read Vayikra / Leviticus chapter 5 to learn about the אָשָׁם / asham (guilt / trespass) qorbanot (sacrifices) and the very few things they covered:
The אָשָׁם / asham (guilt / tresspass) qorbanot also atoned for stealing things from the altar. You also brought an אָשָׁם / asham if you weren't sure if you'd sinned -- or what sin you might have committed. If you weren't sure you'd sinnd you'd bring an asham, instead of a חַטָּאת / cḥattat (accidental sins). This is because a חַטָּאת / cḥattat (accidental sins) means an admission of the sin, and you'd be punished for it. If a person brought an asham (because they weren't sure they'd sinned) and later discovered that he had in fact committed the sin, he would have to bring a chatat at that time. Here is a translation along with the Artscroll Stone Edition footnotes at the bottom of each response to aid in your understanding of the passage. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My servant will succeed; he will be exalted and become high and exceedingly lofty. 14 Just as multitudes were astonished over you (saying) "His appearance is too marred to be a man's, and his visage to be human, 15 so will the many nations exclaim about him, and kings will shut their mouths (in amazement) for they will see that which had never been told to them, and will perceive things they had never heard. 53:1 Who would believe what we have heard! For whom has the arm of HaShem been revealed? 2 In the past he grew like a sapling or like the root from dry ground; he had neither form nor beauty. We saw him, but without a desirable appearance. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and accustomed to being sick. As one from whom we would hide our faces; he was despised and we had no regard for him. 4 But in truth it was our ills and he carried our pains -- but we had regarded him diseased, stricken by G-d and afflicted! 5 He was wounded as a result (because of) our rebellious transgressions, and oppressed as a result our iniquities. The chastisement upon him was for our benefit, and through his wounds we were healed. 6 We have all strayed like sheep each of us turning his own way and HaShem inflicted upon him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was persecuted and afflicted but did not open his mouth; like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a ewe that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 he was removed far away from the land where they lived and a plague came upon them (לָֽמוֹ / lamo) through the transgression of my people (the gentile nations). He submitted to the grave with the wicked and joined with the wealthy in his executions (בְּמֹתָ֑יו / b'motav) 9 He submitted himself to his grave like evil men; and the wealthy (submitted) to his executions for committing no crime and with no deceit in his mouth. 10 HaShem desired to oppress him and He afflicted him; if his physical being would acknowledge guilt he would see offspring and live long days and the desire or HaShem would succeed in his hand. 11. He (he servant) would see (the purpose) and be satisfied with his life's (not immortal soul) distress. With his knowledge My servant will cause the multitudes to be righteous; it is their וַעֲוֹנתָם / iniquities (for impulsive, lustful wrongdoings) that he will carry. 12. Therefore, I will assign him a portion in public and he will divide the mighty as spoils -- in return for having poured out his life for death and being counted among the wicked, for he bore the sin of the many, and prayed for the wicked. Footnotes from Artscroll Stone Edition: Isaiah 52:13 i.e. G-d's servant the people of Israel (Rashi) 52:15 Just as Israel had once been astonishingly degraded, so it will astonish the nations by its exaltedness when the time of redemption arrives. 53:1-3 this is the prophecy foretelling what the nations and their kings will exclaim when they witness Israel's rejuvenation. The nations will contrast their former scornful attitude toward the Jews (vv. 1-3) with their new realization of Israel's grandeur (vv 4-7). 53:5 we brought suffering upon Israel for our own selfish purposes; it was not, as we had claimed, that G-d was punishing Israel for its own evil behavior. 53:6 We sinned by inflicting punishment upon Israel. Such oppression is often described as "Hashem's punishment" (see 10:5, Habakkuk 1:12), for He decreed that it should happen (Abarbanel). 53:8 When Israel's exile is finally ended the nations will marvel that such a generation could have survived the expulsion from "the land of the living, i.e. Israel, that the nations had sinfully inflicted upon it. 53:9 Ordinary Jews chose to die like common criminals, rather than renounce their faith; and wealthy Jews were killed for no reason other than to enable their wicked conquerors to confiscate their riches (Radak). 53:10 That is, Israel. G-d replies to the nations that Israel's suffering was a punishment for its own sins; and when the people realize this and repent, they will be redeemed and rewarded. 53:11 Israel will teach the nations of G-d's righteousness. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12: says nothing about the servant being "grouped" with criminals. It says: "Therefore, I will assign him a portion from the multitudes and he will divide the mighty as spoils -- in return for having poured out his soul (not immortal soul -- but the life force) for death and being counted among the wicked, for he bore the sin of the multitudes, and prayed for the wicked." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12. The servant is counted among the wicked (not the criminal). Isaiah is saying that the servant was mistreated -- counted with the transgressors / outcasts / wicked --not "criminals." Ergo Isaiah does not say the servant is "grouped with criminals." This claim is not supported by the passage it purports to "fulfill." Even as the Jews were mistreated -- to the point of being murdered -- we prayed for the rest of the world, including those who were mistreating us. "And seek the peace of the city where I have exiled you and pray for it to the L-rd, for in its peace you shall have peace." Y'rmiyahu / Jeremiah 29:7. The servant suffers -- Isaiah tells us that the servant "submitted himself to his grave like wicked men." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:9 The servant is sent to his grave as an outcast of society -- as if he was a wicked man. We are also told: "He submitted himself. . .(like) the wealthy (submitted) to his executions (בְּמֹתָ֑יו / b'motav) for committing no crime." Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:9. Nothing about being grouped with criminals -- not in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12 or Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:9. And note that in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:9. we are told that the servant is subject to MULTIPLE deaths / executions. Isaiah tells us "בְּמֹתָ֑יו / b'motav -- "in their executions." Plural. While the Christian bible says that Jesus died between thieves (criminals) there is nothing in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:12 or Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:9 which says that the servant dies with criminals. Rather Isaiah tells us that the servant is murdered as if he were a criminal. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53:9 is a natural continuation of 53:8, where the “servant” is more than one person (plural): ....כִּ֤י נִגְזַר֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּ֔ים מִפֶּ֥שַׁע עַמִּ֖י נֶ֥גַע לָֽמוֹ׃ וַיִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־רְשָׁעִים֙ קִבְר֔וֹ וְאֶת־עָשִׁ֖יר בְּמֹתָ֑יו" Translation: "he was removed far away from the land where they lived and a plague came upon them (לָֽמוֹ / lamo) through the transgression of my people (the gentile nations). He submitted to the grave with the wicked and joined with the wealthy in his executions (בְּמֹתָ֑יו / b'motav)....” Jesus was not executed with the wealthy as does Isaiah's servant-- Luke 23 in the Christian bible claims that Jesus was executed between two thieves. The list maker attempts to make the case that Jesus dying between criminals is foretold in Y'shayahu / Isaiah 53 -- but there is no such prophecy. Rather Isaiah says that the Jews were treated as if they were common criminals -- even though they committed no criminal actions warranting such mistreatment. Here is a translation along with their footnotes at the bottom of each response to aid in your understanding of the passage. Y'shayahu / Isaiah 52:13 Behold, My servant will succeed; he will be exalted and become high and exceedingly lofty. 14 Just as multitudes were astonished over you (saying) "His appearance is too marred to be a man's, and his visage to be human, 15 so will the many nations exclaim about him, and kings will shut their mouths (in amazement) for they will see that which had never been told to them, and will perceive things they had never heard. 53:1 Who would believe what we have heard! For whom has the arm of HaShem been revealed? 2 In the past he grew like a sapling or like the root from dry ground; he had neither form nor beauty. We saw him, but without a desirable appearance. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and accustomed to being sick. As one from whom we would hide our faces; he was despised and we had no regard for him. 4 But in truth it was our ills and he carried our pains -- but we had regarded him diseased, stricken by G-d and afflicted! 5 He was wounded as a result (because of) our rebellious transgressions, and oppressed as a result our iniquities. The chastisement upon him was for our benefit, and through his wounds we were healed. 6 We have all strayed like sheep each of us turning his own way and HaShem inflicted upon him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was persecuted and afflicted but did not open his mouth; like a sheep being led to the slaughter or a ewe that is silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth. 8 he was removed far away from the land where they lived and a plague came upon them (לָֽמוֹ / lamo) through the transgression of my people (the gentile nations). He submitted to the grave with the wicked and joined with the wealthy in his executions (בְּמֹתָ֑יו / b'motav) 9 He submitted himself to his grave like evil men; and the wealthy (submitted) to his executions for committing no crime and with no deceit in his mouth. 10 HaShem desired to oppress him and He afflicted him; if his physical being would acknowledge guilt he would see offspring and live long days and the desire or HaShem would succeed in his hand. 11. He (he servant) would see (the purpose) and be satisfied with his life's (not immortal soul) distress. With his knowledge My servant will cause the multitudes to be righteous; it is their וַעֲוֹנתָם / iniquities (for impulsive, lustful wrongdoings) that he will carry. 12. Therefore, I will assign him a portion in public and he will divide the mighty as spoils -- in return for having poured out his life for death and being counted among the wicked, for he bore the sin of the many, and prayed for the wicked. Footnotes from Artscroll Stone Edition: Isaiah 52:13 i.e. G-d's servant the people of Israel (Rashi) 52:15 Just as Israel had once been astonishingly degraded, so it will astonish the nations by its exaltedness when the time of redemption arrives. 53:1-3 this is the prophecy foretelling what the nations and their kings will exclaim when they witness Israel's rejuvenation. The nations will contrast their former scornful attitude toward the Jews (vv. 1-3) with their new realization of Israel's grandeur (vv 4-7). 53:5 we brought suffering upon Israel for our own selfish purposes; it was not, as we had claimed, that G-d was punishing Israel for its own evil behavior. 53:6 We sinned by inflicting punishment upon Israel. Such oppression is often described as "Hashem's punishment" (see 10:5, Habakkuk 1:12), for He decreed that it should happen (Abarbanel). 53:8 When Israel's exile is finally ended the nations will marvel that such a generation could have survived the expulsion from "the land of the living, i.e. Israel, that the nations had sinfully inflicted upon it. 53:9 Ordinary Jews chose to die like common criminals, rather than renounce their faith; and wealthy Jews were killed for no reason other than to enable their wicked conquerors to confiscate their riches (Radak). 53:10 That is, Israel. G-d replies to the nations that Israel's suffering was a punishment for its own sins; and when the people realize this and repent, they will be redeemed and rewarded. 53:11 Israel will teach the nations of G-d's righteousness. |
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