Featured Scripture and Commentary
Romans 11:28–29 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
I, Zeb (Gary Konigsberg) am a Levite. Son of Aaron my great, great, great, great… well you get the idea – the brother of Moses. The carriers of the Ark of the Covenant. The priests of Exodus and Levitticus. Raised in a non-religious Jewish family. Not forced to attend Hebrew school as my other friends were. At the time I considered it a blessing. Not that watching the Munsters, I Dream Of Jeannie, Gilligan and F-Troop afternoons day after day instead of attending Hebrew school was the best way to spend my time, looking in retrospect. But now I find it amazing that this is my heritage. Assuming the Rabbis who told my dad that he was a Levite were accurate and not just in need of a Levite. That being said I never had much engagement with my Jewish heritage until I became a Christian. But like most Jewish people, my heritage is a mixed bag to me. And so as an impartial observer and aspirant theologian I speak.
Let’s start honestly with the indictments. First with what we can dismiss. The hateful and disgusting term “Jesus killers” is pure ignorance. Someone had to play the part and that is what the Jewish leaders of the time can be most found guilty of. If one was to be honest and fair then we would all be, to this day, thanking the Jewish leaders that crucified Jesus with playing their part in the dramatis personae in the part of villain and committing the most detestable crime in all of history. Why? Because if they were not there to play that part then the scripture would not have been fulfilled, the Resurrection could not have happened. We would all be dead in our shoes if the world would have lasted this long at all. Sympathy for the Jewish indeed. Cursed and condemned, guilty of the crime but not ever having been given any credit for the role they played and the ultimate result. Jesus said no man takes His life but He laid it down willingly (for our salvation). Truth be told we can each and every one of us be labeled Jesus killers for He died for our sins and to rescue us of our sin nature. Everything Jesus said to the Jewish leaders was provoking them to take Him to the Cross. Admitting to being the Son of God when questioned at his trial, saying He existed before Abraham, whipping up a frenzy and tearing down the market place inside the Temple (cutting across the vested interests of the Jewish leaders), healing on the Sabbath and explaining to the Jewish leaders who knew every word of scripture why it was righteous to heal on the Sabbath and more. So now can we go forward with this theme and its indictments without being taken as antisemetic? Here then are some surface level observations and thoughts understanding that this theme requires both courage and compassion. –
Yahweh means “behold the hand, behold the nail” and the name Yahweh is largely left out of the Bible, Jews say that it is to keep from taking the name in vain. Maybe but there another reason? Surely the Pharisees knew what it meant. Whether one wants to debate this meaning or not, the theological truth remains and cannot be erased: The God who revealed His name to Moses is the same God pierced for our transgressions.
Isaiah is widely recognized as the prophetic “5th Gospel” written hundreds of years before the year zero. Yet, Isaiah 53:5 is left out of many Jewish Old Testament Bibles used by Rabbis. The tragedy: Isaiah 53 is a gift to Israel and the nations. It deserves to be read, wrestled with, and prayed over—not avoided in cowardice.
Israeli government policy is that if one is Jewish but Messianic then they ain’t Jewish.
Most modern Jews don’t even read the Bible opting for the Talmud Rabbinical commentaries instead of the Word of God if they read anything Biblically oriented at all. For many in New York, Judaism has become just a socio-cultural heritage.
When I was attending a Messianic Synagogue the cross was not included in their literature and dialogue because it harkened back to the oppression from such as the Knights Templar. The pain across generations is real. The cross was ordained before the foundation of the world and belongs to Israel first. When confronted with the choice of holding on to the pain or claiming their heritage the Messianics often choose the former.
Even Jesus used the phrase “Synagogue of Satan” in Revelation. Granted that this was a judicial declaration more so than ethnic. That is to say that Jesus’ injunction of this phrase in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9 was directed at specific congregations claiming Jewish identity while slandering believers—not at the Jewish people ethnically. Still if one is to reject their true heritage by rejecting Jesus then that, itself, amounts to slander.
In the Holy Gospel at the time when Jesus committed (put it in place for safe keeping with the Father) his soul the Veil separating the people
from the Holy of Holies wherein was the presence of the Lord, which was six inches thick, was torn from top to bottom, down the middle opening up
access to the Father from the Father because “It is Finished”. But the “Jewish veil” which keeps 99% of Jews out of the kingdom of God exists for them as if the actual veil was still intact, the Father inaccessible.
Let us remember this – if we were in the courts of Heaven and accused by Satan the prosecutor we could not do other than plead guilty of all charges. The penalty has been paid in full by Jesus and so we get to live another day in Grace. We are all guilty (as sin, one might say). So as James said, who are we to judge? Let’s look at some scripture.
What scripture addresses this?
CORROBORATING SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 53:4–5, Zechariah 12:10, 2 Corinthians 3:14–16, Romans 9:1–5, John 19:37, Revelation 1:7, Matthew 23:37, Acts 3:17–19
Isaiah 53:4–5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows… But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son…
2 Corinthians 3:14–16 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Romans 9:1–5 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
John 19:37 And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Acts 3:17–19 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.
Recommendations if one were to discuss this topic further:
People are individuals who belong to groups, by choice or by birth. It is lazy and counterproductive in the extreme to talk about: the Jews, the Muslims, the Dems, the MAGA crowd, Christians as if we are all cookie cutter gingerbread men. There isn’t a single ___________ (fill in group) anywhere in the world. Each person came from somewhere, went through their experiences, formulated an orientation towards life that happens to fit into some category and each person has varying degrees of knowledge and experience as a member of that group. Let’s do our best to do away with all labels. Now the leadership of said groups, that is a different story.
Acknowledge Christian sin: Name the Church’s history of antisemitism with repentance. Understood that the Jews persecuted the Christians first. It was not for no reason that Jesus intercepted Paul on the road to Damascus to ask him why he was persecuting Him and His people. But the Knights Templar and many other crusading Christians defied everything Jesus said about loving your neighbors and your enemies to persecute the Jews in turn, terribly.
Affirm covenant love: God has not rejected His people (Romans 11:1). Replacement theology is the bunk aka not Biblical. Therefore understand Yeshua as fulfillment, not replacement: He is the climax of Israel’s story, not its erasure. Rejected and persecuted to this day but unerasable.
Speak with tears, not triumph: Like Paul and Jesus, let conviction be wrapped in lament. There is no “Jesus is ours now, you guys blew it”.
The Cross is not anti-Jewish. It is the Jewish Messiah’s victory over sin for Jew and Gentile alike. The veil is lifting. The day is coming when “they shall look upon me whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). Until then, we speak truth in love and we have nothing, certainly not a perch to persecute from, if we don’t follow the beatitudes and other lessons of Jesus, faithfully
PRAYER FOR WHOMSOEVERS
Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me courage to speak truth and grace to walk in love. For my Jewish brothers and sisters, I pray: Remove the veil. Open the eyes. Let them see Yeshua as their long-awaited Messiah. Heal the wounds of history. Unite Your people in Your truth. Let a new day be declared across the world. There have been many new days in 2000 years. Let this one mean something that rocks this world with the light that darkness cannot impede nor diminish. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
