Why dont Jewish people beleive in Jesus

[Vince85]

A jewish person asked me , how could i believe that jesus was the Messiah. So i answered his question with a question and i said, how could you NOT believe he was the Messiah. We both just stood there and looked at each other and nodded shook hand and walked away LOL. Just out of curiousity anyone know the main reasons why they dont beleive he was the Messaih ? Are not the scriptures clear on this ?

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

A jewish person asked me , how could i believe that jesus was the Messiah. So i answered his question with a question and i said, how could you NOT believe he was the Messiah. We both just stood there and looked at each other and nodded shook hand and walked away LOL. Just out of curiousity anyone know the main reasons why they dont beleive he was the Messaih ? Are not the scriptures clear on this ?

How could he believe that the Son of a Carpenter, who was bornof the Holy Virgin Mother, was the Son of God and was crucified and ressurrected?

To believe this is a grace, it is not normal.

They expected the Messiah to come and lead Israel into victory. And they were completely deceipted by that Messiah. The judgement before the Chirf of the Temple is dramatic. There was a prisoner there that said: “You will see the Son of God coming through the Clouds to judge the living ad the dead”. And the chief tore his clothes and said: “Blasphemy” you cannot be the Son of God.

Sincerely, I do not blame him. I would have done the same!!!

 

[Crusading_Canuk]

How could he believe that the Son of a Carpenter, who was bornof the Holy Virgin Mother, was the Son of God and was crucified and ressurrected?

To believe this is a grace, it is not normal.

They expected the Messiah to come and lead Israel into victory. And they were completely deceipted by that Messiah. The judgement before the Chirf of the Temple is dramatic. There was a prisoner there that said: “You will see the Son of God coming through the Clouds to judge the living ad the dead”. And the chief tore his clothes and said: “Blasphemy” you cannot be the Son of God.

Sincerely, I do not blame him. I would have done the same!!!

The Pharisees denied Christ mainly to save their own exalted places in society. They turned the Jews against Our Lord (who had worked innumerable miracles) and Crucified Him, simply to keep their coin. Their rejection of Christ had nothing to do with fear of blasphemy or true faith.

Not that this really has much to do with modern Jews though.

 

[Sam_777]

Why dont Jewish people beleive in Jesus

Which Jewish people you are talking about!, many believed in him during his time, after his crucifixion, and nowadays.

Maybe should can ask “Why don’t the few Jewish people remaining believe in Jesus” .

 

[Bohm_Bawerk]

A jewish person asked me , how could i believe that jesus was the Messiah. So i answered his question with a question and i said, how could you NOT believe he was the Messiah. We both just stood there and looked at each other and nodded shook hand and walked away LOL. Just out of curiousity anyone know the main reasons why they dont beleive he was the Messaih ? Are not the scriptures clear on this ?

I’m a former Catholic so I’ll give you the reason from a Christian/Catholic perspective why Jewish people do not believe Jesus is Messiah. I’ll also touch upon the question from a “Jewish perspective” as well, although I think Jews on board these forums are better equipped to deal with that.

From a Christian perspective, the reason why Jews do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah is because it is a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah: “”‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving’ (Isaiah 6:9). This is actually quite an interesting prophecy, because it goes on to say: “Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). If you actually go to a Tridentine Mass today, there is a prayer which petitions for the conversion of Jews and it asks that they may be healed from their “blindness” and “delivered from their darkness”. This is a derivation from Old Testament scripture. It also prefigures the verses in the Gospels as well: “In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving” (Matthew 13:14). Jesus spoke to the Jews of his time in parables because they just wouldn’t get it. They just didn’t understand who exactly it was they were speaking to - indeed, “I tell you that one greater than the temple is here” (Matthew 12:6). Yet even despite this, Jesus was - as prophecy says - a man who was not esteemed, who was mocked, laughed at, and took the iniquity of Mankind: “…] Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

From a Jewish perspective (well, sort of), you have to understand that the only reason Jesus is necessary is because of Original Sin. If Original Sin did not exist, then it wouldn’t really be necessary for Jesus to become Incarnate and to be crucified. Jews do not believe in Original Sin, nor do they believe that Man is born with the stain of Original Sin. Therefore, there is no need for redemption.

You say that you and your friend just “looked at each other”. Well, that’s what this debate eventually ends up in. The whole idea of Jesus’ divinity and his Incarnation is based upon the belief that Man is born with the stain of Original Sin, that there is a rupture between Man and God, and that God became flesh and died on the cross as a way to redeem Mankind. Jews do not believe in Original Sin, and so the subsequent beliefs that follow from that are not believed in either. So it generally leads to a stalemate in the debate.

 

[Kaninchen]

A jewish person asked me , how could i believe that jesus was the Messiah. So i answered his question with a question and i said, how could you NOT believe he was the Messiah. We both just stood there and looked at each other and nodded shook hand and walked away LOL. Just out of curiousity anyone know the main reasons why they dont beleive he was the Messaih ? Are not the scriptures clear on this ?

This question usually - once or twice a month - turns up in the Non-Catholic Religions forum.

These are the links I usually give there:

This Simple To Remember page may be helpful. For further information on Messiah from a Jewish perspective - there’s Jewish Virtual Library, Judaism 101, and My Jewish Learning.

In the end, it all comes down to how one sees the ‘New Testament’, if you believe it to be reportage and sacred scripture, then you’re likely to believe one way. If, on the other hand, you see the whole thing as pious fiction, then you’re likely to see things differently.

For example, Christians may consider that various prophesies in the Tanakh (‘Old Testament’ to you) were ‘fulfilled’ in the New Testament while we’d see it being that the story of Jesus in the New Testament was merely constructed that way - rather like biting bits off jigsaw pieces to make them appear to fit.

 

[BertBlyleven]

For clarification, Bohm Bawerk, are you referring to Original (ancestral) Sin or Original Guilt? Jews, as do Orthodox Christians, believe in the sin of Adam resulting in a fallen (sin-inclined) man; this is ancestral sin. They, and Orthodox Christians, do not believe in original guilt, or the view that mankind has guilt/accountability for the sin of Adam. At any rate, to say Jews reject Jesus because of original sin is not exactly true, for Orthodox Christians accept Jesus and reject original guilt (sin) in the Roman Catholic sense. Eastern Catholics generally do not believe in original guilt either.

I think the question the OP is asking is loaded, and there is no short answer. There are many Jews in the world, and many types of Jews in the world. Jews do not accept Jesus for some of the same reasons Catholics do not leave the Church and Protestants do not become Catholic. Culture, and how one is raised, are both huge parts. Complacency. Sinfulness. Lack of wisdom. All these contribute, but they affect us just as they affect Jews, and people of other religions.

Most Jews, and Muslims, reject Jesus because He is God incarnate. Of all the things in heaven and on earth, God becoming man is by far the least likely to ever occur. It is a radical and divergent belief. Only the grace of God or the evil of Satan could ever draw someone to believe this.

 

[SeekNFind]

I asked a Jewish person once if most Jews are still awaiting their Messiah. Sadly, she said no. I understand that she hardly represents all Jews, but it made me sad. I feel that for a lot of Jews, the traditions are more cultural than spiritual/religious.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

The Pharisees denied Christ mainly to save their own exalted places in society. They turned the Jews against Our Lord (who had worked innumerable miracles) and Crucified Him, simply to keep their coin. Their rejection of Christ had nothing to do with fear of blasphemy or true faith.

Not that this really has much to do with modern Jews though.

I am keeping to the Gospels.

 

[JM3]

I’d love to hear more about this if anyone knows the details, bible-wise…was there not a “list” of attributes /activities that the coming messiah was supposed to have/perform, as per the old testament…but according to many, Jeshua did not fulfill these specific requirements at all?

whatjewsbelieve.org/explanation3.html

 

[Kaninchen]

I’d love to hear more about this if anyone knows the details, bible-wise…was there not a “list” of attributes /activities that the coming messiah was supposed to have/perform, as per the old testament…but according to many, Jeshua did not fulfill these specific requirements at all?

If you read my post above you’ll find various links and the explanation that we don’t accept the New Testament as reportage anyway.

 

[SeekNFind]

This question usually - once or twice a month - turns up in the Non-Catholic Religions forum.

These are the links I usually give there:

This Simple To Remember page may be helpful. For further information on Messiah from a Jewish perspective - there’s Jewish Virtual Library, Judaism 101, and My Jewish Learning.

In the end, it all comes down to how one sees the ‘New Testament’, if you believe it to be reportage and sacred scripture, then you’re likely to believe one way. If, on the other hand, you see the whole thing as pious fiction, then you’re likely to see things differently.

For example, Christians may consider that various prophesies in the Tanakh (‘Old Testament’ to you) were ‘fulfilled’ in the New Testament while we’d see it being that** the story of Jesus** in the New Testament was merely constructed that way - rather like biting bits off jigsaw pieces to make them appear to fit.

Just for clarification when you say the “story of Jesus” do you mean that He was made up or just the events surrounding Him were? Because there’s historical facts to support that Jesus walked the earth. Also, there were multiple books of the New Testament written in different places in different languages at a time when it would have been impossible for one person to make up a story and get multiple people to write/believe the same story. So it seems less likely that a story was constructed to make Jesus fit as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

 

[Kaninchen]

Just for clarification when you say the “story of Jesus” do you mean that He was made up or just the events surrounding Him were? Because there’s historical facts to support that Jesus walked the earth.

Oh, I think that arguing about his existence or not is one of the great Internet futilities.

Also, there were multiple books of the New Testament written in different places in different languages at a time when it would have been impossible for one person to make up a story and get multiple people to write/believe the same story. So it seems less likely that a story was constructed to make Jesus fit as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

What seems unlikely to you seems likely to me.

 

[SeekNFind]

Oh, I think that arguing about his existence or not is one of the great Internet futilities.

What seems unlikely to you seems likely to me.

Agreed.

 

[Alfonsus]

Well, regarding why, we can just leave it as one of God’s mystery at the moment. But it is worth to read the most elaborate chapter in the Bible regarding this topic, Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, chapter 11:

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? Of course not! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have torn down your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what is God’s response to him? “I have left for myself seven thousand men who have not knelt to Baal.” So also at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if by grace, it is no longer because of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? What Israel was seeking it did not attain, but the elect attained it; the rest were hardened, as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of deep sleep, eyes that should not see and ears that should not hear, down to this very day.” And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes grow dim so that they may not see, and keep their backs bent forever.”

Hence I ask, did they stumble so as to fall? Of course not! But through their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is enrichment for the world, and if their diminished number is enrichment for the Gentiles, how much more their full number. Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the firstfruits are holy, so is the whole batch of dough; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in their place and have come to share in the rich root of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. If you do boast, consider that you do not support the root; the root supports you. Indeed you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is so. They were broken off because of unbelief, but you are there because of faith. So do not become haughty, but stand in awe. For if God did not spare the natural branches, [perhaps] he will not spare you either. See, then, the kindness and severity of God: severity toward those who fell, but God’s kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. And they also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated one, how much more will they who belong to it by nature be grafted back into their own olive tree.

I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not become wise [in] your own estimation: a hardening has come upon Israel in part, until the full number of the Gentiles comes in, and thus all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The deliverer will come out of Zion, he will turn away godlessness from Jacob; and this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.” In respect to the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but in respect to election, they are beloved because of the patriarchs. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may [now] receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given him anything that he may be repaid? For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Based on St. Paul words, the Jews do not believe in Jesus so that we, gentiles, may be saved. So that we may be grafted to the olive tree of Israel as branches. God do not reject the old trunk and grooming a new one, we are not replacing Israel’s descendants but we are made heir along with the Jews by grafting us to the trunk of Israel.

But their unbelieve will persists, until the day come when the number of gentiles are full, and then the whole Israel will be grafted back to their roots, and we will become one tree, one church, without separation.

 

[Pfaffenhoffen]

The Pharisees denied Christ mainly to save their own exalted places in society. They turned the Jews against Our Lord (who had worked innumerable miracles) and Crucified Him, simply to keep their coin. Their rejection of Christ had nothing to do with fear of blasphemy or true faith.

Not that this really has much to do with modern Jews though.

I prefer to say nothing about the jews of that day. I meditate many times, and I tell you, I would do exactly as they had done. I would run away when Jesus was crucified as Peter and the the Apostles did. And i am ashamed.

Why did they do that? God Knows, I dont.

But to accept that somebody comes and says He is God, tell you it is not an easy situation.