Jewish Concept of the Messiah — Closer look at Christianity (1)

Index

1. Introduction — Part 0
2. Jewish Concept of the Messiah — Part 1
3. Jesus doesn’t meet Jewish Requirments — Part 2
4. Divinization of Jesus — Part 3
5. Jesus Sacrifice — Part 4
6. Paulian Christianity (upcoming) — Part 4
7. Conclusion — Part 5

Messiah In Scriptures

1. The word “Messiah” is an English rendering of the Hebrew word “Mashiach”, whose translation is “Anointed”. It usually refers to a person initiated into G-d’s service by being anointed with oil. (Having oil poured on his head. (Exodus 29:7, I Kings 1:39, II Kings 9:3).
2. There are many Messiahs in the Bible. Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as “an anointed one” (a Mashiach or a Messiah). For example: “G-d forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the L-rd’s Messiah [Saul]…” (I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6).
3. The Old Testament never speaks about believing in the Messiah. Because his reign will be a historically verifiable reality, self-evident to any person, it won’t require belief or faith.

Requirements of The of the Messiah

“and My servant David will be a king over them, and they will all have one shepherd, and they will walk in My ordinances, and keep My statutes, and observe them, and they shall live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant…and I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant and I will set my sanctuary in their midst forever and My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their G-d and they will be My people. And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.” (Ezekiel 37:24–28)

• He must be Jewish. (Deuteronomy. 17:15, Numbers 24:17)
• He must be a member of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and a direct male descendant of King David (Isaiah 11:1–9; Jeremiah 23:5–6, 30:7–10, 33:14–16; Ezekiel 34:11–31, 37:21–28; Hosea 3:4–5; Psalms 89:29–38) and King Solomon (I Chronicles 22:10, II Chronicles 7:18).
• The Mashiach is often referred to as “Mashiach ben David” (Mashiach, son of David). (Isaiah 11:1–4).
• He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2–5).
• He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15).
• The Mashiach will bring about the political and spiritual redemption of the Jewish people by bringing us back to Israel and restoring Jerusalem (Isaiah 11:11–12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4–5; Isaiah 43:5–6).
• He will establish a government in Israel that will be the center of all world government, both for Jews and gentiles (Isaiah 2:2–4; 11:10; 42:1).
• He will rebuild the Temple and re-establish its worship (Jeremiah 33:18).
• He will restore the religious court system of Israel and establish Jewish law as the law of the land (Jeremiah 33:15).

Olam Ha-Ba — The World To Come

One of the central themes of Biblical prophecy is the promise of a future age of perfection characterized by universal peace and recognition of G-d. Isaiah 2:1–4; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20–22; Amos 9:13–15; Isaiah 32:15–18, 60:15–18; Micah 4:1–4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33–34.

• Olam Ha-Ba will be characterized by the peaceful co-existence of all people (Isaiah 2:4)
• All of the Jewish people will return from their exile among the nations to their home in Israel (Isaiah 11:11–12; Jeremiah 23:8; 30:3; Hosea 3:4–5).
• In the Olam Ha-Ba, the whole world will recognize the Jewish G-d as the only true G-d, and the Jewish religion as the only true religion (Isaiah 2:3; 11:10; Micah 4:2–3; Zechariah 14:9; Isaiah 40:5, Zephaniah 3:9)
• There will be no murder, robbery, competition or jealousy. There will be no sin (Zephaniah 3:13)

Resources

https://jewsforjudaism.org/
https://www.aish.com/jw/s/48892792.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_(name)#:~:text=The%20name%20Jesus%20is%20derived,i%2C%20meaning%20%22Hadad%20is%20my
https://www.jewfaq.org/mashiach.htm
https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/the-jewish-concept-of-messiah-and-the-jewish-response-to-christian-claims/

Index

Now lets look into why Jesus does not meet up to the above requirements.

1. Introduction — Part 0
2. Jewish Concept of the Messiah — Part 1
3. NEXT: Jesus doesn’t meet Jewish Requirments — Part 2
4. Divinization of Jesus — Part 3
5. Jesus Sacrifice — Part 4
6. Paulian Christianity (upcoming) — Part 4
7. Conclusion — Part 5