In the book of Matthew we read another strange message from Jesus:
"The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in the Seat of Moses; therefore everything that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say and do not do." Matthew 23:2,3
Was Jesus a liar then? If Christians are correct in teaching that we are not to follow the Pharisees, then Jesus would have to be a liar. For he clearly states here that we are to do everything they teach. Christians claim that Jesus knew the hearts and minds of the Pharisees. Christians also claim that the Pharisees were evil, hypocritical, ungodly Jews. Therefore one must also conclude that Christians are also claiming that Jesus lied to us here because he clearly states that we are to follow their every instruction. Such Christians are faced with a dilemma that Jesus was either a liar or that Jesus confirmed that the Pharisees taught everything correctly.
Jesus the lunatic: There is second option to this dilemma that Christians would also reject: Jesus was possibly a lunatic. To understand why, let's bring this message to a modern terms: For example, what Christian Baptist leader would teach his students to do everything the Mormons say? Only a lunatic. What Mormon teacher would say to his students to follow everything the Catholics taught? Only a lunatic. What Jehovah's Witness defender would teach a person to follow the Branch Davidians? Only a lunatic. So why then does Jesus teach his disciples and the crowds that they were to do EVERYTHING the Pharisees say because they sit in the chair of Moses? Was he a lunatic? If not, then the Christian interpretation of Pharisaic instruction must be incorrect. The Christian conclusion that Jesus was against the Pharisees is absolutely wrong!
Jesus, the Pharisee: If Jesus was not a liar, nor was he a lunatic, then the only conclusion which can be made is that he was a Pharisee. Only a Pharisee would try to persuade others to follow the teachings of the Pharisees. The truth of the matter is the historical Jesus was in fact a Pharisee. He taught Pharisaic Judaism as did Paul, James, and Peter. The first generation Church was Pharisaic, most probably after the school of Hillel, including Jesus himself. [Falk, Harvey, Rabbi, "Jesus the Pharisee," (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1985)]
The school of Shammai versus the school of Hillel: Jesus's contemporary. What then is all this hoopla about the Jesus and the Pharisees as described by the New Testament and promoted by the Church? And why did the High Priest Caiaphas do what he did as testified by the New Testament's tale of the crucifixion? Why does the New Testament seem to be anti-Semitic...a hater of the Pharisees and seemingly hater of the Jews?
What the average Christian is unaware of is the context behind Jesus's life. Many years prior to Jesus, Hellenism set in upon the country. The Priesthood became corrupt and the Temple was eventually defiled. A man named Judas Maccabee led an uprising against this corruption and eventually cleansed the Temple. This is why Chanukah is celebrated to this day.
But unfortunately the people set up a priesthood that was illegitimate according to Scripture. So the Pharisees rose in opposition to this situation. Leading into Jesus's time, the Pharisees eventually divided into several sects. One sect was the more strict and intolerant school of Shammai. Another was the more lenient and tolerant school of Hillel. There also arose a Hasidic group, called the Essenes. In contrast to them, there also arose a radical, militant group called the Zealots who were in rebellion to the now Roman occupation. The Zealots were considered murderers and thieves my most people. They were the bin Ladens and al-Zarqawis of their day. They had close connections to the illegitimate priesthood and to the intolerant school of Shammai.
In New Testament examples where Jesus debated the Pharisees, the Pharisees involved were of the school of Shammai. The school of Hillel had no such strict practices and were more lenient and tolerant. For example, when Jesus was accused to violating the washing of hands before kiddush (i.e. ref. the cup in Luke 11), Jesus criticized them because it was a ceremony only the school of Shammai held. Jesus followed the school of Hillel which did not require washing.
It is quite clear that if Jesus was in fact in violation of the Mosaic Law as Christians claim, Jesus was indeed a sinner and he could not have been the messiah they claim he was. Of course, this is something no Christian will never admit to. Ironically, they say Jesus was sinless and at the same time rebellious to the Oral and Written Law, which would make him sinful at the same time, an obvious oxymoron.
The truth of the matter is, Jesus was not against all Pharisees, but he was against a certain group of Pharisees. For sake of simplicity, Christian bibles do not translate this understanding. Examples of such mistranslation exists throughout Christian bibles. This is why, for example, Christians do not understand what "work" means when discussion of the Sabbath is tackled. And this is why Christians do not understand how Jesus can drink fermented alcoholic wine on Passover, a time of "unleavened bread." Jesus and certain Pharisees in general were always within the Torah Commandments. And Jesus always stood within Pharisaic Oral tradition as well. His practice was after the school of Hillel.
The true gospel of Jesus: Pharisaic teaching about salvation for Gentiles: The more lenient school of Hillel during the time of Jesus taught that there were righteous ones amongst non-Jews. If such people chose to follow the seven Noahide Laws they would have their share in the World-to-Come or as a Christian might call it, "salvation." Jesus and his followers were no different. Paul also taught this: In contrast, the school of Shammai sought to alienate gentiles from the World-to-Come. But the school of Hillel welcomed them to it. And this message was the true "gospel" according to Jesus.
What exactly is this gospel of Jesus, this Noahide Covenant? According to the Bible, there were seven Laws given to Noah by G-d when he exited the ark. These are called the Noahide Commandments. They were intended to be obeyed by all mankind, whether Jewish or not Jewish.
The Commandments are as follows:
1. Prohibition of idolatry
2. Prohibition of blasphemy
3. Prohibition of murder-homicide
4. Prohibition of sexual impurity-illicit intercourse
5. Prohibition of theft
6. Prohibition of removing any part of a living animal
7. Obligation of establishing courts of justice-of observing justice
Those who choose a path to abide by these seven laws are considered righteous before our maker... ...because, their hearts demonstrate the turning of oneself away from his own personal direction and instead toward G-d and toward others. This turning is known in Hebrew as t'shuvah. (Pronounced tshuvah.)
Christians translate the word as repentance.
When we go our own way and seek after our own heart or own religious beliefs, we rebel against G-d. But when we turn toward the Teaching of G-d a wonderful thing happens: We begin to observe G-d's Torah...the seven Noahide laws...because we love Him. Through this, G-d urges mankind to love others and treat others right.
Remember...
"Therefore, as the tares are collected and are consumed with fire, thus it will be at the
completion of the age. The son of man will send forth his angels and they will gather out of
his kingdom all the things leading to sin and the ones working against Torah. Matthew 13:40-41
"Here is the endurance of the holy: They that keep the Commandments of G-d, and the faith of
Jesus." Revelations 14:9,12
"Many will say to me in that Day, 'L-rd, L-rd," did we not prophesy in your Name, and perform
many wonderful works in your Name? And I will confess to them: 'I never knew you! Get away
from me, you workers against Torah!" Matthew 7:21-24
"And in this we know that we have known Him, if we observe His Commandments. He who says "I
have known Him," yet does not do His Commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in this
one." 1 John 2:3,4
"Indeed the Law of G-d is holy, and the Commandment is holy and just, and good." Romans 7:12
"For not hearers of the Law are righteous ones before G-d, but the doers of the Law (who will be
justified). For when those of the nations do by nature the things they may be doing of the Law,
these ones, not having the Law themselves, are the Law, who show within the work of the Law
written in their hearts,...." Romans 2:13,14a
"Everyone doing sin is also transgressing the Law: Sin is transgression of the Law. ...
Everyone in Him is not continuing [a life toward] sinning; everyone sinning has not seen Him,
neither knows Him." 1 John 3:4,6
"But one said to him, "Why do you ask me about good? First is the good one, but if you are
willing to enter into life everlasting, observe the Command-ments." Matthew 19:17
"Beloved, if the heart ever may not be convicting, we are having free speech toward G-d and
which [most] likely we may be asking [of Him]: We are receiving from Him because we are
observing His Command-ments and we are doing things pleasing to His sight." 1 John 3:22
"What therefore? Should we sin because we are not under the Law but under undeserved kindness?
May it not happen! Have you not known that you are slaves to whomever you are obeying--to
whomever you are pre-senting [your]selves slaves into obedience--either of sin into death or of
obedience into righteousness? But thanks to G-d that you were slaves of the sin you obeyed but
out of [the] heart into [that] which you were given instead, a type of teaching--but having been
freed from the sin you were enslaved [to]--to righteousness." Romans 6:16
"Indeed I delight with G-d's Law, down to the inward man...." Romans 7:22
"And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many; and though increased Lawlessness, the
many's love will cool off. But the one having endured into the end, this one will be saved."
Matthew 24:12,13
"...When we love G-d, we do His Commandments. For this is what loving G-d is: that we might be
observing His Commandments and that His Commandments are not burden-some." 1 John 5:2,3
"For we know that Torah is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin." Romans 7:14
"...the carnal mind is enmity against G-d, for it is not subject to G-d's Torah." Romans 8:7
"Fear G-d, and keep His Commandments: for this is the duty of man." Ecclesiastes 12:13
"Why do you call ye me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" Luke 6:46
"Are we therefore making Torah ineffective though faith? May it not happen! Well, we are
instating Torah!" Romans 3:31
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This site updated on 2-10-04
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