Who Is A Jew

[Mark]

It’s a touchy question for some and the answer blatantly obvious to others; but most of us struggle just a little bit to see where we fit into the relationship between the faithful.

First, it is a shock to some that anyone would want to be Jewish. For Centuries the Jewish people have been hated and abused by the ruling powers and dominant cultures. The Jewish people look differently, dress differently, eat differently and worship differently from everyone else. It’s little wonder that they are the object of such negative attention when things go awry.

Yet, if we believe the Bible, the peculiar nation is the place to be: that these people are chosen by the Most High God as set apart and special, holy and sacred. From the biblical perspective, getting close to God means getting close to Israel.

For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
(Deuteronomy 7:6 KJV)

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
(Isaiah 2:1-5 KJV)

We’ve struggled with this idea more than a little bit. Many have suggested that "Israel" isn’t necessarily the political geography of 31o30' N and longitude of 34o45' E.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
(1 Peter 2:9-10 KJV)

Based upon such texts as 1st Peter 2:10 and a few others like it, a good number of people believe that national Israel is no longer God’s peculiar people; but that He has raised up a new nation not limited by political boundaries. That’s all well and good… if you’re okay with God being a liar.

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD. In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(Jeremiah 31:27-33 KJV)

The Covenant promises of God are with the people of Israel. If I were to make a promise to an individual, say, I promised Chad an ice cream cone; then when the time came to pay up, I found someone else and said, "No, I mean this ‘Chad’." This is what we call a lie. A prophecy given to Jeremiah (the Jewish priest and prophet) spoken to the people of Judah and Israel cannot (or should not) be reinvented to mean someone else other than Israel and Judah. If the Christian Church redefines the recipient of the covenants to mean them instead of Israel, then the Word of God is effectively nullified- just like Chad could never again trust me for promised ice cream, Adonai Elohim be Yisrael is no longer reliable in His Word.

Yet, Paul, the Christian apostle to the gentiles, made very clear the opportunity to all people to enter into this covenant relationship.

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
(Ephesians 2:11-13 KJV)

Throughout history, the Old Testament, gentiles were allowed into the covenant relationship with God by their attachment to the people of Israel.

And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if aught but death part thee and me.
(Ruth 1:16-17 KJV)

The New Testament is no different, only that everyone is invited to enter into the protection of this covenant relationship through a specific Jew: who happens to be the King, destined for the throne of David.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)

Just as it is so easily forgotten that Jeremiah was a Jewish prophet, Yeshua (Jesus) is the Jewish Messiah. If we rest upon the foundation and authority of Old Testament (Jewish) Scriptures as He did (John 5:39), we can only accept Him as the Redeemer of Israel. If we claim His name outside of that covenant relationship, we ignore the very position He declared for Himself.

But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
(Matthew 15:24 KJV)

For this reason it is important for us to understand the nature of Paul’s invitation in Ephesians 2. Gentiles are invited to fully participate in the Jewish community, worshipping together "as one new man…." In Romans 11:17, he describes this relationship as having been grafted in among our Jewish brothers as wild branches grafted into a domestic (Hebrew) olive tree. In this relationship with the Lord God of Israel, we are invited to take on a Jewish identity as becoming part of the covenant people.

For thus saith the LORD unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.
(Isaiah 56:4-7 KJV)

Sometimes folks in the Christian community will define themselves as "spiritual Jews" in that they have taken on a Jewish identity by accepting Jesus, the Jewish Messiah as their "personal Lord and Savior." This idea has merit if it is more than semantics; yet, if they accept Yeshua as "Lord" then they come under the authority of His commands. His command was to walk and live in consistent obedience to (Jewish Law).

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
(Matthew 23:23 KJV)

According To Yeshua, walking in obedience to the commands of God, is equal to living in relationship to Him.

And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
(Mark 3:32-35 KJV)

Paul echoes this same relationship in Romans 2:25-29 declaring that "circumcision" (the sign of covenant relationship) is established to those who walk in , regardless of his ethnicity or religious background.

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(Romans 2:28-29 KJV)

[yeshuafreak]

i agree with everything. however, the idea of a "spiritual jew" is one that i reagard as highly misunderstood. the rabbis often made the same statements that paul did, but they are not literally jew in spirit. what pauil was trying to say was that they are more jewish than the jew who does not follow the law (something also said by the rabbis). if you are gentile than you will remain a gentile spiritually and physically, the only difference is that you are grafted into the nation of Yisrael and recieve their blessings, however, as an individual branch you are still gentile. this is nothing abhorant. this is in many ways a benefit, where eing jewish is in many ways a benefit and curse as well- and paul lays the case for both in his epistle to the romans.

i am almost sure that yu understood it this way, but i sought to clarify just in case.

but i am a messianic jew. so i study subjects like this alot. i like that you mentioned that we should follow . of course, it needs not to be legalistic, but it still needs to be followed. all that AYeshua was doing was naming the wieghtier and lighter parts of the law. often, the rabbis would rather a person give tithe than save their lives. but Yeshua was pointing out that the priority of commansds is wrong here: the weightier matter is the child of Avraham.

Now, as you pointed out, the grafting in theology is NOT a new thing. ruth for example was grafted in. through Yeshua, a gentile can be grafted in and not be seperated by the wall of partition.

i love this thread. thank you so much for starting it. shalom- john