Judaism and the Messiah?

Question

What is the Jewish position on Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus as Messiah? Daniel and Isaiah told the time and location of his birth. The Jews in Jesus time were aware of these prophecies and were looking intently for the Messiah at the time of his appearance. What do Jews today (who are still waiting for a Messiah) think about the prophecy of the 70 weeks, and others that point to the time of Messiah's birth and death as well as his traits and actions while on Earth and therefore indicate Jesus as He.

Answer 1

Jesus failed to fulfill ever major prophecy attributed to the Messiah.

Answer 2

That is a good question. I have spoken to Jews regarding the subject. Most say that the scriptures have been interpreted incorrectly by Christians. Even though, for instance, the 70 weeks prophecy has come and gone, and therefore if it was talking about the messiah, the messiah would have had to come by now. Alot of the prophecies they will say was not talking about Yahushua. Some actually get pretty 'offended' becuase they feel that you are trying to interpret their scripture for them.

Anyway, I must admit that on this subject I am still a novice. However, I can give you a good place to go to talk to Jews about the subject. Just sent me a message.

Answer 3

The Jewish position:

They don't point to J*sus for many reasons. First, Daniel was not a prophet according to our standards. He had dreams, nothing more. Second, neither Daniel nor Isaiah prophesize the things you claim they do. Third, "The Jews in Jesus time were aware of these prophecies and were looking intently for the Messiah at the time of his appearance." yes, they were---and don't you think it says something that they didn't accept him as messiah? He did all the things a FALSE messiah is supposed to do.

Fourth, 70 weeks: Daniel was not a prophet. (for discussion on this topic, go here http://www.beliefnet.com/boards/message_list.asp?boardID=744&discussionID=559735 ) There are no prophecies that point to messiah's birth, death, etc. They were added in by gentiles in the English translation to make it seem like J*sus was messiah.

If you would like to discuss this more, feel free to email me.

Answer 4

The Jewish messiah was to:

Break the oppression of the Jews
Make Jerusalem the center of the world
Reunite the Jews of the diaspora back to Jerusalem

Jesus did none of these things. He was a spiritual leader, not the military leader the Jews were looking for. That's why the Jews did not accept Jesus as the messiah.

Answer 5

The Jewish viewpoint is that Christians cherry-picked their prophecies, reinterpreting some and ignoring others. They also used the Septuagint, a Greek translation, rather than the original Hebrew scriptures, and some words and phrases have different connotations in each language. The interpretations seem perfectly reasonable to Christians but do not pass the test for devout Jews, especially considering some of the more fundamental issues, like reconciling Jesus' devinity with the unity of the one G-d (which the Christians themselves struggled with for quite some time).

Answer 6

There are different Jewish sects to include Messianic Jews, who like Christians believe that Jesus was born of a virgin and died on the cross for our sins to bridge the separation between God and Mankind. So you would have to learn the beliefs of the different sects that exists not only in the US but all over the world. In the time of Jesus' appearance on earth there were 2 main sects; the Pharisees, and the Saduccees. The latter did not believe in the resurrection of the body so therefore could not believe on Jesus Christ. The Pharisees did believe in the resurrection, however they were divided in their belief. While their own scriptures prophesied of his coming and the details of his birth, many rejected Jesus when he appeared, even after seeing him perform miracles, hearing him interpret and teach the scripture correctly, and seeing his infinite love. Others however, did believe on him.

Belief in Jesus Christ is an individual decision, regardless of any group doctrine. Many Jews who were taught that the Messiah had not appeared on earth yet, have come to believe the virgin birth and resurrection have taken place according to scripture.

Even if considering any particular Jewish sect, Jesus said the true Jewish people were those who recognized that he was "of the Holy Father", the prophesied Messiah who came to forgive sins and free mankind of the burdeon/ prison of sin. In the time of Jesus there were those Jews who claimed to be descendents of Abraham, that Jesus said were "children of the devil" not children of the promise. That promise being the covenant God, the Holy Creator made with Abraham.

So are you refering to all non-messianic "Jewish" Sects, Or Messianic Jews ?

Answer 7

Most Jews I have met tend to change the translation in order not to point so directly to Jesus. As for the 70 weeks prophecy, they ignore the math and say that it pointed to Judah Maccabee.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees

They also say that Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 points to Israel and not the Messiah.

If Yeshua is not Messiah, the Jews do not have one. For one, they lost their scepter to rule when Rome took away their right to capitol punishment. This broke the prophesy of Isaac in Genesis 49. Look it up in Josephus, the Jewish leaders mourned in the streets in sackcloth regarding this.
Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, which is now under Palestinian rule.
Messiah was to come in April 33AD according to the prophecy of Daniel. If Yeshua is not Messiah, then messiah is too late.
Messiah was suppose to be traced back to King David. No Jews living today can trace their lineage back to David. How would you know?

The Jews believe that the Messiah was suppose to be a man--not God. Although He was prophesied to be God in the Tonakh, He was also prophesied to be "the Stone of stumbling" and a "Rock of offense". It was prophesied that He would be rejected upon His first coming (like Joseph and Moses) but would be recognized upon His second coming (like Joseph and Moses).

Psalm 118:22
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

Currently, God has veiled the eyes of the Jewish people so that the majority do not see Yeshua as their Messiah. However, this veil will not last forever. There will be a time when God will lift the veil from their eyes. This is detailed by Paul in Romans 11.
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lasuremartin, here is your reference and explanation with prophetic and fulfillment passages.
http://www.schneblin.com/studies/pdfs/seventieth_week_of_daniel.pdf

SvetlanaFunGirl, which ones are you talking about? For His first coming, or His second? It ain't over yet. Here is a long list of fulfilled Messianic prophecies fulfilled by Yeshua.
http://www.schneblin.com/studies/pdfs/in_the_volume_of_the_book.pdf

Peppa, again, it isn't over yet. Didn't the Jews reject Moses at his first appearance to them, then accepted on the second? Did not the brothers of Joseph not recognize him on their first visit to Egypt, but was revealed on the second?

Last note: Message from this asker to me...
"thanks for doing all the work for me, moron"

I think we can conclude that this person does not care for answers that do not appeal to his agenda. So be it.

Answer 8

jesus taught mythology, taught demon possession and hell, no longer Judaism. jesus, who on no account quoted scripture properly and did no longer understand Judaism verbally abuse Torah pupils and taught against Judaism. in the creation parable, the alternative isn't between warring solid and evil gods/angels, the alternative is between - mythology through fact the supernatural (fruit of solid and undesirable) - OR - fact through fact the supernatural (tree of existence). paul became the 1st guy or woman to ever write of any jesus, the gospels have been written long after paul died and the various historians of jesus time on no account wrote of jesus. The gospel writers had jesus say he did no longer come to hold peace, got here with a sword (bloodshed), got here to coach kinfolk against one yet another, taught followers to hate their mothers and fathers, taught followers to grant away each and every thing that they had (so as that they could no longer help their getting previous mothers and fathers) and then persist with him, taught that actual and psychological ailment became demon possession, taught that the intellectually challenged have been possessed - and xtians have traditionally dealt with psychological ailment with a mix of worry and cruelty. the only way jesus can save you from evil gods/angel, an underworld and a river of fireplace is that if zeus is god.

Answer 9

And accordingly, the prophet Elijah is suppose to precede the coming of the Messiah....

Answer 10

The jewish messiah will be a FAKE, a PHONY, and plain EVIL.