One in Messiah Congregation
Shabbat Shalom
Oct. 4, 2008
God has His own calendar - We are in the
7th month, äÈàÅúÈðÄéí ha Ethanim 4
1 Kgs. 8 [2] And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king
Solomon at the feast in the month ha Ethanim,
which is the seventh month.
---------
We are now in the 7th month, not New
Year, Rosh ha Shannah nor when the Adam or the
world was created
Not "Tishrei" which is not
found in the Hebrew Bible
--------------
Judaism has it all wrong and so do some
of the Messianics which are teaching the Protestant churches
----------------
***** reminder, mark your
calendars: (beware of Jewish, Judaism Calendars - wrong names)
***** remember, when I give you a date, it starts "the
evening before".
Leviticus 23:32 ...from even unto even, shall ye
celebrate your sabbath.
· Day of Atonement, ha Ethanim 10th,
Friday, Oct. 10th (a Sabbath)
· Feast of Tabernacles, first day, ha Ethanim 15th,
Wed., Oct. 15th (a Sabbath)
· Feast of Tabernacles, last great day, ha Ethanim 22nd, Wed., Oct. 22 (a Sabbath)
--------------------------
Just to settle this once and for all, it is not new year because it says the "End of the Year"
The feast of tabernacles is also known as the feast of
ingathering which is at "the
year's end"
åÀçÇâ
äÈàÈñÄó áÌÀöÅàú äÇùÌÑÈðÈä
Exod. 23 [14] Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the
year .[15 ] Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou
shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time
appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none
shall appear before me empty:)[16] And the feast of harvest, the
firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering , which
is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours
out of the field.[17] Three times in the year all thy males shall
appear before the Lord GOD.
åÀçÇâ,
äÈàÈñÄéó--úÌÀ÷åÌôÇú, äÇùÌÑÈðÈä
Exod. 34 [ 22] And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits
of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the
year's end.[ 23] Thrice in the year shall all your men children appear
before the Lord GOD, the God of Israel.
----------------------
Just for the record, learn this for next month: next month is
the 8th month Bul, not Cheshvan or MarCheshvan as
stated by Judaism
1 Kgs. 6 [38] And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the
house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the
fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it.
áÌåÌì - bool - sense of rain; the 8th month (and it will
rain)
--------------------------
It is also sad everyone is observing
the "New Moon" on different days.
Example: 2008 - ha Ethanim
the 7th month
--------
Judaism - started on the eve on Sept. 29, Monday - Moon was totally dark, 0%
--------
One in Messiah Congregation - started on the eve on Sept. 30, Tuesday - first visible to our eyes
- 2% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated,
many people saw it.
--------
Karaites and some Messianics - started on the eve on Oct. 1., Wednesday - 6%
of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Some finally saw it in Jerusalem. (Thursday, Oct.
2nd was 11% of the Moon's visible disk
illuminated)
--------
So who is right? We are all trying.
Karaites and One in Messiah
Congregation are most of the time the same on the new moon.
Oh well...
-------------------------
Parshah - Portion: Vayelech - Deuteronomy 31:1-30
åÇéÌÅìÆêÀ îÉùÑÆä And he went, Moses
-------------------------
éÀäåÈä
àÁìÉäÆéêÈ
English translation equivalent: the LORD Gods of you
noun common masculine plural construct
suffix 2nd person masculine
singular
--------------
Be strong and of
a good courage
Deut. 31 [6] Be strong and of a good courage,
fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go
with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
---------------
Adding and Diminishing from the Word of God
(You
shall not do)
Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall
ye diminish ought from it, that ye may
keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deuteronomy 12:32 : What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt
not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Proverbs 30:6 : Add thou not unto his
words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
Jeremiah 26:2 Thus saith
the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak unto all the cities
of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD's house, all the words that I
command thee to speak unto them; diminish not
a word:
-------------------
Judaism and some Messianics do not observe these verses
above.
Judaism observes days, and months, and times, and years . They add and diminish for the Word.
Rabbi [Judah HaNassi] says: Yom Kippur atones whether one repents or
one does not repent.
Talmud, Shevuot 13a - On Yom Kippur , the day itself atones...
-------------------------------------------
Apostle Paul warns:
Galatians 4:9: But now,
after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to
the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10:
Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11: I am afraid of you, lest I have
bestowed upon you labour in vain.
---------------------------
Let's talk, can we talk?
--------------
Tanakh : Hebrew
Bible (Torah/Teaching, Nevi'im/Prophets and Ketivim/Writings).
Targums : Aramaic
translations of the original Hebrew Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) written between 200 BC and 200 AD.
Talmud : Mishnah
(Oral Law) and Gemara (Commentary) written about 200-400 AD.
Midrash : Commentaries
on the Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) from 100-1600 AD. ( and still changing
as of 2006 AD )
--------------
They add and diminish for the Word.
Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance, can you believe this?
When you repent out of
"fear", Intentional sin becomes unintentional sin.
On a higher level of repentance ,
of" love", Intentional sin becomes merits, says somes Rabbis in
Israel, quoting sources in Judaism.
Even unforgivable sins are forgiven on
Yom Kippur. the "day" is so powerful.
If you don't believe me that Judaism
says these things, do a google search for intentional sin becomes merits...
Mishneh Torah, Laws of Repentance 1:3
Teshuvah is a soul's
experience of the agony of disconnection from its source and its channeling of
this agony to drive its return to G-d. Thus, our
sages have said that the sins of a baal teshuvah (returnee) are
"transformed into merits," and that he attains a level
of relationship with G-d on which "even the perfectly righteous cannot
stand." His transgressions become virtues,
for the distance and disconnection they created have become the impetus for
greater closeness and deeper connection. His sins have provoked -- and his teshuvah
has actualized -- a dimension of his soul's
connection to G-d which a perfectly righteous life never touches.
Thus, our sages say that on Yom Kippur,
"the day itself atones". There is even an opinion, held by Rabbi
Judah HaNassi, that the day itself atones even for those who do not repent
their sins.
Every day when they say the Sha'mar,
a certain line is whispered because the angels say that. On Yom Kippur, this
line is shouted out.
(And the cow jumped over the moon)
-------------------
Talmud - Mas. Rosh HaShana 16b
R. Kruspedai said in the name of R. Johanan: Three books are opened [in heaven] on New Year,
one for the thoroughly wicked, 24 one
for the thoroughly righteous, and one for the intermediate. The thoroughly righteous are forthwith inscribed
definitively in the book of life; the thoroughly wicked are forthwith inscribed
definitively in the book of death; 25 the doom of the intermediate is suspended from New Year
till the Day of Atonement; if they deserve well, they are inscribed in the book
of life; if they do not deserve well, they are inscribed in the book of death.
Said R. Abin, What text tells us this? — Let
them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the
righteous.26 ‘Let them be blotted out from the book — this refers to
the book of the wicked. ‘Of life — this is the book of the righteous.
‘And not be written with the righteous’ — this is the book of
the intermediate. R. Nahman b. Isaac derives it from here: And if not, blot me,
I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written,27 ‘Blot me, I pray
thee’ — this is the book of the wicked. ‘Out of thy book’ —
this is the book of the righteous. ‘Which thou has written’ —
this is the book of the intermediate.
It has been taught: Beth Shammai say, There will be three groups at the Day of
Judgment
28 - one of
thoroughly righteous, one of thoroughly wicked, and one of intermediate.
The thoroughly righteous will forthwith be inscribed definitively as entitled
to everlasting life; the thoroughly wicked will forthwith be inscribed
definitively as doomed to Gehinnom, as it says. And many of them that sleep in
the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to
reproaches and everlasting abhorrence. 29 The intermediate will go down to
Gehinnom
----------------
Exodus 32:33: And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me,
him will I blot out of my book. (No 3 books here)
Revelation 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy
of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto
him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall
take away from the words of the book of
this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of
the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things
which are written in this book.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yom Kippur
A Day, but NO Atonement if you don't have the blood - Messiah
Judaism observes
days, and months, and times, and years .
They add and diminish for the Word.
Rabbi [ Judah HaNassi ] says : Yom Kippur atones whether one repents or
one does not repent.
Talmud, Shevuot 13a - On Yom Kippur , the day itself atones...
----------------------------
Talmud - Mas. Yoma 5a - need blood for proper atonement
R. Joseph says the putting1 of the hands [upon the head of the
sacrifice] is the difference. According to the one who holds that the omission
of any detail renders the ceremony invalid, [failure] to lay the hand upon the
head of the sacrifice would render the ceremony invalid. According to him who
holds that only the omission of what is indispensable in the future renders the
ceremony invalid, [omission of] the putting of the hand on the animal's head
did not render the ceremony invalid. Whence do we know that in the future [the
omission of] the putting of the hands [on the animal's head] is not
indispensable?- For it has been taught: And he shall lay his hand . . . and it
shall be accepted for him [to make atonement for him].2 Does the laying on
of the hand make atonement for one?
Does not atonement come through the blood, as it is said:
For it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life!3 Why, then, is
it written: ‘And he shall lay his hand on . . . and it shall be accepted for
him to make atonement for him’?
To say that if he performed the
laying on of the hands as an unimportant part4 of the commandment, Scripture
would account it to him as if he had not obtained proper atonement.5 R. Nahman
b. Isaac said: The waving6 is the difference. According to him who holds
whatever detail is prescribed for the ceremony is indispensable, the waving is
indispensable; according to him who holds that only what is indispensable for
all the future is indispensable now, the waving is not indispensable. Whence do
we know that for all time to come the waving is not indispensable? — For we
have been taught:7 To be waved, to make atonement for him.8 Does the waving
make atonement?
Is it not the blood
which makes atonement, as it is written, ‘For it is the blood that maketh
atonement by reason of the life’?
Then why does Scripture say, ‘To be waved, to make atonement for him’?
To say that if he treats the waving as an unimportant part of the ceremony, Scripture
accounts it to him as if he had not obtained proper atonement.
ref:
(5) Lit., ‘as it did not atone for him and it did’.
Technically the ceremony had achieved its purpose, because essentially it is
the blood which makes atonement, but since laying the hands on the animal's
head is part of the ceremony (although not essential to it) and he has been
negligent about it, he has obtained atonement for himself, but has not attained
re-atonement with his creator, whose command he has treated slightingly.
-------------------------
Topic: - The Day of Atonement is coming
ha Ethanim 10th, Friday, Oct. 10th (a
Sabbath)
Exod.30
[1] And thou shalt make an altar to burn
incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
[2] A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth
thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof:
the horns thereof shall be of the same.
[3] And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the
sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a
crown of gold round about.
[4] And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by
the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they
shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.
[5] And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them
with gold.
[6] And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the
testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet
with thee.
[7] And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he
dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
[8] And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense
upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.
[9] Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor
meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
[10] And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the
horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements:
once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations:
it is most holy unto the LORD.
Lev.25 [9] Then
shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the
seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet
sound throughout all your land.
Yom Kippur
A Day, but NO Atonement if you don't have the Messiah
Scripture says:
Lev. 23:26 And the LORD spake
unto Moses, saying, 27: Also on the "tenth day" of this
"seventh month" there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an
holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an
offering made by fire unto the LORD. [28] And ye shall do no work in that same
day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD
your God.[29] For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that
same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.[30] And whatsoever soul it
be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from
among his people.[31] Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for
ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.[32] It shall be unto
you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even,
shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
Num. 29:[7] And ye shall have on the tenth day of
this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye
shall not do any work therein:
[8] But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD for a sweet savour; one
young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto
you without blemish:
[9] And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth
deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram,
[10] A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
[11] One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of
atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and
their drink offerings.
The word afflict in Hebrew is
"anah" meaning abase, humble or repent and never as "fast"
in the scriptures. The Hebrew word "tzum" means fast and is
"Never" used in connection with the Day of Atonement. Rabbinical
Judaism has tried to replace "the Blood Sacrifice" with fasting.
Lev.17 [11] For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it
to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood
that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Read Lev.16: 1 to 34
The Blood of the sacrifice was to be
the most important feature of the Day of Atonement. NOTHING can change this!
Nothing can be a substitute for the obligatory sacrifice the Law of Moses
demands and without which there can be no atonement.
--------------------
Jer.14 [12] when they fast, I will not hear their cry...
Since the Temple was destroyed and the priesthood
abolished, a proper Day of Atonement has been impossible to keep. (if you did
not except the Messiah)
To whom shall we go?
Within a few years after Messiah's death on the
tree and His Resurrection God permitted the Temple to be destroyed and the
priesthood abolished. It had served it's purpose and were "a shadow of
things to come".
The temple and priesthood are "shadows of
things to come". They "point" to the Messiah, the Great High
Priest and the perfect Lamb of God, without blemish, who took away the sins of
the world when He shed His Blood on the tree.
There is only one way to know God and enjoy peace
with Him through the forgiveness of sins, and that is believing in Yeshua the
Messiah Whom the biblical Day of Atonement "typified" and pointed to.
As the scriptures below say:
Heb.9 [6] Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always
into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. [7] But into the
second went the high priest alone once every year
( Day of Atonement ) not
without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the
people: [8] The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest
of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet
standing: [9] Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were
offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; [10] Which stood only in meats and
drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the
time of reformation. [11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things
to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves,
but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us .[13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the
ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the
flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Messiah
/ Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to
God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And
for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, ( Jer. 31:31, Heb. 8:8 ) that by means of death,
for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament,
they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of
necessity be the death of the testator.[17] For a testament is of force after
men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator
liveth.[18] Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
[19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to
all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats,
with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all
the people,[20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament
which God hath enjoined unto you.[21] Moreover he sprinkled with
blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.[22] And almost
all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is
no remission.
[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be
purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these.
[24] For Messiah,Christ is not entered into the
holy places made with hands, which are the figures
of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us:
[25] Nor yet that he should offer himself often,
as the high priest entereth into the holy place every
year ( Day of Atonement ) with blood of others;
[26] For then must he often have suffered since
the foundation of the world:
but now once in the end of the world hath he
appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
(Isa. 53 )
[27] And as it is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgment:
[28] So Messiah,Christ was once offered to bear the
sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the
second time without sin unto salvation.
------------
ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS FOREVER
( no more sacrifices for sin are needed )
No more daily sacrifice needed
Heb.7[ 27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice,
first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this
he did once , when he offered up himself.
Heb.9[ 12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us.
[26] For then must he often have suffered since
the foundation of the world: but now once in the
end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
[28] So Messiah / Christ
was once offered to bear the sins of many ; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.
Heb.10 [10] By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of
the body of Yeshua the Messiah / Jesus Christ once for all.
[11] And every priest standeth
daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins:
[12] But this man, Yeshua, after he had
offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat
down on the right hand of God;
Rom.6[ 10] For in that he died, he died unto sin
once
1Cor.5[7] Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Messiah / Christ our passover is
sacrificed for us:
Eph.5[2] And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath
given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour.
Phil.4[18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of
Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a
sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Heb.13[16] But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with
such sacrifices God is well pleased.
1Pet.2[5] Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
Rom.12[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which is your reasonable service.
--------
Isaiah, chapter 53
Our sacrifice, Messiah
John.15 [12] This
is my commandment, That ye love one another,
as I have loved you .
[13] Greater love hath no man than this that a
man lay down his life for his friends (as
Messiah did)
---------------
Isaiah Chapter 53 - Yeshua -Salvation
Over 40 references of a man are made in this chapter.
[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is
the arm of the LORD revealed?
[2] For he shall grow up before him as a
tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath
no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him,
there is no beauty that we should desire him
.
[3] He is despised and rejected of
men; a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were
our faces from him; he was despised, and
we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him
stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] 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.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was
oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a
sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth
not his mouth.
[8] He was taken from prison and from
judgment: and who shall declare his
generation? for he was cut off out of the
land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
[9] And he made his grave with the
wicked, and with the rich in his death;
because he had done no violence, neither
was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;
he hath put him to grief: when thou
shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed,
he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall
prosper in his hand.
[11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall
be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many ; for he shall
bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall
divide the spoil with the strong; because he
hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for
the transgressors.
-----------------------------------
The masculine gender for is used here. The
"Land of Israel" is always referred in the feminine gender.
Hebrew grammar is very involved.
In Hebrew grammar, it is very important to
understand the verb system in form, function and meaning. In the Hebrew Bible,
there are just over 23,000 verses. In the midst of these verses are found
almost 72,000 verbs. Approx. 3 verbs to a verse. Verbs contain person, gender
and number. The Qal is the basic verbal stem. There are six derived conjugations
which are constructed on the verbal root.
In the chapter, the Niphal stem with the ( 3ms )
form is applied in many verses.
The context of a sentence is very important to
watch. Some words take on different meanings pertaining to the sentence
structure.
--------------------------------------
The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah
According to the Jewish Interpreters
I have a whole list on my site
Rabbi Mosheh Kohen Ibn Crispin: This rabbi described those who interpret Isaiah 53 as referring to
Israel as those: "having forsaken the knowledge of our Teachers, and
inclined after the `stubbornness of their own hearts,' and of their own
opinion, I am pleased to interpret it, in accordance
with the teaching of our Rabbis, of the King Messiah ....This prophecy was delivered by Isaiah at the divine
command for the purpose of making known to us something about the nature of the
future Messiah, who is to come and deliver Israel, and his life from the day
when he arrives at discretion until his advent as a redeemer, in order that if
anyone should arise claiming to be himself the Messiah, we may reflect, and
look to see whether we can observe in him any resemblance to the traits
described here; if there is any such resemblance, then we may believe that he
is the Messiah our righteousness; but if not, we cannot do so." (From his
commentary on Isaiah, quoted in The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According
to the Jewish Interpreters , Ktav Publishing House, 1969, Volume 2, pages
99-114.)
"Here is where change came" :
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Itzchaki,
1040-1105) and some of the later rabbis, though, began to interpret the passage
as referring to Israel. They knew that the older
interpretations referred it as the Messiah.
However, Rashi lived at a time when a
degenerate medieval distortion of Christianity was practiced. He wanted to
preserve the Jewish people from accepting such a faith and, although his
intentions were sincere, other prominent Jewish rabbis and leaders realized the inconsistencies of Rashi's interpretation.
They presented a threefold objection to his innovation:
First - they showed the
consensus of ancient opinion that it was about the Messiah.
Secondly - they pointed
out that the text is in the singular .
Thirdly - they noted
verse eight. This verse presented an insurmountable difficulty to those who
interpreted this passage as referring to Israel. It reads:
He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who
shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living; for
the transgressions of my people was he
stricken .
Were the Jewish people, God forbid, ever cut off out of the land of
the living? No! In Jeremiah 31:35-37, God promised that we will exist forever.
We are proud that Am Yisrael Chai - "The people of Israel are much alive."
Likewise, it is impossible to say that Israel suffered
for the transgressions of "my people," which clearly means Isaiah's
people. Surely Isaiah's people are Jews and Gentiles who converted.
The words of the prophet Isaiah are words of hope. We have a glorious
future and an abundant present if we appropriate the salvation made possible by
the One who "was wounded through our transgressions and bruised
through our iniquities."
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Jonathan ben Uziel (early first century A.D.) Targum
Jonathan - Isaiah 52: 13. Behold my servant
Messiah shall prosper; he shall be high, and
increase, and be exceeding strong:
Zohar: "`He was wounded for our transgressions,'
etc....There is in the Garden of Eden a palace called the Palace of the Sons of
Sickness; this palace the Messiah then enters, and summons every sickness,
every pain, and every chastisement of Israel; they all come and rest upon him.
And were it not that he had thus lightened them off
Israel and taken them upon himself, there had been no man able to
bear Israel's chastisements for the transgression of the law: and this is that
which is written, `Surely our sicknesses he hath carried."
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Why Isaiah 53 cannot refer to the nation of Israel, or
anyone else, but must be the Messiah
The servant of Isaiah 53 is an innocent and guiltless sufferer. Israel
is never described as sinless. Isaiah 1:4 says :
Isa.1[ 4] Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a
seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD,
they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away
backward.
What a far cry from the innocent and guiltless
sufferer of Isaiah 53, Messiah, who had "done no violence, nor was any
deceit in his mouth!" This can only be Messiah!
Isaiah said: "It
pleased the LORD to bruise him" meaning God was pleased to have Messiah
suffer and die as our sin offering to provide us forgiveness and atonement.
Some untruthful rabbis contend, Isaiah 53 refers
to the holocaust. Can we really say of Israel's suffering during that horrible
period, "It pleased the LORD to bruise him?" No.
The person mentioned in Isaiah 53 suffers
silently and willingly. Yet all people, even Israelites, complain when they
suffer!
Brave Jewish men and women fought in many
resistance movements against Hitler. In the Vilna Ghetto Uprising, Jewish men
who fought on the side of the allies. Can we really say Jewish suffering during
the holocaust and during the preceding centuries was done silently and
willingly?
In Isaiah 53 Messiah suffers, dies, and rises
again to atone for his people's sins. The Hebrew word used in Isaiah 53:10 for
"sin-offering" is "asham," meaning
"sin-offering." We can look at how it is used in Leviticus chapters 5
and 6.
Isaiah 53 describes a sinless and perfect
sacrificial lamb who takes upon himself the sins of others so that they might
be forgiven.
Can anyone really claim that the terrible
suffering of the Jewish people atones for the sins of the world? No.
Isaiah 53 speaks of Messiah who suffers and dies
in order to provide a legal payment for sin so that others can be forgiven.
This cannot be true of the Jewish people or of any other people.
How can Isaiah be speaking of Israel in verse 8
that says the sufferer was punished for "the transgression of my
people," Who are the people of God and Isaiah? Israel. How could
Israel suffer for Israel?
Isa.53[ 8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall
declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for
the transgression of my people was he stricken.
The figure of Isaiah 53 dies and is buried
according to verses 8 and 9. The people of Israel have never died as a whole.
They have been out of the land on two occasions and have returned, but they
have never ceased to be among the living. Yet Yeshua died, was buried, and rose
again.
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If Isaiah 53 cannot refer to Israel, how about Isaiah
himself?
Isaiah said he was a man of unclean lips - Isa.6[ 5] Then said I, Woe is me! for
I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of
a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of
hosts.
Isaiah did not die as an atonement for our sins. Could it have been Jeremiah ? Jeremiah 11:19 does echo the
words of Isaiah 53. Judah rejected and despised the prophet for telling them
the truth. Leaders of Judah sought to kill Jeremiah, and so the prophet
describes himself in these terms. But they were not able to kill the prophet.
Certainly Jeremiah did not die to atone for the sins of his people. What of
Moses ? Could Isaiah been speaking of him? Moses wasn't sinless either.
Moses sinned and was forbidden from entering the promised land Num.20[ 12] And the LORD spake unto
Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not , to sanctify me in the eyes
of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into
the land which I have given them.
Moses indeed attempted to offer himself as a sacrifice in place of the
nation, but God did not allow him to do so.
Exod.32[ 31] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this
people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.[32] Yet
now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of
thy book which thou hast written.[33 ] And the LORD said unto Moses,
Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book
Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah were all
prophets who gave us a glimpse of what Messiah, the ultimate prophet, would be
like, but none of them quite fit Isaiah 53.
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So what can we conclude?
Isaiah 53 cannot refer to the nation of Israel, nor to Isaiah, nor to
Moses, nor another prophet.
If not to Moses, certainly not to any lesser man.
Yet Messiah would be greater than Moses. As the rabbinic writing
"Yalkut" said : "Who art thou, O great mountain? (Zech.
iv.7) This refers to the King Messiah. And why does he call him`the great
mountain?' because he is greater than the patriarchs, as it is said, `My
servant shall be high, and lifted up, and lofty exceedingly' --he will be
higher than Abraham...lifted up above Moses...loftier then the ministering
angels..." (Quoted in The Fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah According to
the Jewish Interpreters , Ktav Publishing House, 1969, Volume 2, page 9.)
Of whom does Isaiah speak? He speaks of the
Messiah, as many ancient rabbis concluded. The second
verse of Isaiah 53 makes it crystal clear.
Isa.53[2 ] For
he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a
dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him,
there is no beauty that we should desire him.
The Messiah grows up as "a tender plant, and
like a root out of dry ground." The tender plant, shoot springing up is
beyond a reasonable doubt a reference to the Messiah , and, in fact, it is
a common Messianic reference in Isaiah and elsewhere.
The Davidic dynasty was to be cut down in
judgement like a felled tree, but it was promised to Israel that a new sprout
would shoot up from the stump. The Messiah was to be that sprout.
Several Hebrew words were used to refer to this
undeniably Messianic image. All the terms are related in meaning and connected
in the Messianic texts where they were used. Isaiah 11, which virtually all
rabbis agreed refers to the Messiah , used the words "shoot"
(hoter) and branch (netser) to describe the Messianic King. Isaiah 11:10 called
Messiah the "Root (shoresh) of Jesse," Jesse being David's father.
Isaiah 53 described the suffering servant as a root (shoresh) from dry ground,
using the very same metaphor and the very same word as Isaiah 11. We also see
other terms used for the same concept, such as branch (tsemach) in Jeremiah
23:5, in Isaiah 4:2 and also in the startling prophecies of Zechariah 3:8 and
6:12.
Beyond a reasonable doubt
Isaiah 52:13-53:12 refers to Messiah Yeshua /
Jesus. He is the one highly exalted before whom kings shut their mouths.
Messiah is the shoot who sprung up from the fallen Davidic dynasty. He became
the King of Kings. He provided the ultimate atonement, Himself.
Isaiah 52:15 states: So shall he sprinkle many
nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him : for that which had not
been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they
consider.
The word translated "sprinkle", never
translate "startle" is found several other places in TeNaKh that
pertain to priestly sprinklings of the blood of atonement, the anointing oil of
consecration, and the ceremonial water used to cleanse the unclean.
Isaiah 52:13 is telling us that the Messiah will
act as a priest who applies atonement, anoints to consecrate, sprinkles to make
clean.
This vision of the Messiah as both priest and
king is also found in Zechariah 6:12-13), but, priests were to come from the
tribe of Levi and Kings from the tribe of Judah! What kind of priest is he?
David told us Messiah would be a priest of the order of Melchizedek (see Psalm
110 and Hebrews chapters 7-9).
Isaiah 53 must be understood as referring to the
coming Davidic King, the Messiah. King Messiah was prophesied to suffer and die
to pay for our sins and then rise again. He would serve as a priest to the
nations of the world and apply the blood of atonement to cleanse those who
believe. There is one alone who this can refer to, Yeshua / Jesus, whom
millions refer to as Messiah or Christ, which is from the Greek word. Those who
confess him are his children, his promised offspring, the spoils of his
victory. According to the testimony of the Jewish Apostles, Jesus died for our
sins, rose again, ascended to the right hand of God, and he now serves as our
great High Priest who cleanses us of sin and our King. Yeshua / Jesus rules
over his people. The first century Jewish disciples were willing to die rather
than deny they had seen the risen Messiah. Remember men don't die for something
they know is a lie.
Isaiah 53 is obvious to all honest hearts, it speaks of Israel's
greatest son, Yeshua the Messiah, our sacrifice forever!
Messiah died for the sins of the World
Rom.3[ 25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
that are past , through the forbearance of God;
Rom.5[ 6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us,
in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.[ 9] Much
more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from
wrath through him.
Rom.14[ 15] But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest
thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
1Cor.8[ 11] And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish,
for whom Christ died?
1Cor.15[ 3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Eph.1[ 7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins , according to the riches of his grace;
2Cor.5[ 14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus
judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:[15] And that he
died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Col.1[14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the
forgiveness of sins
1John.2 [2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours
only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Acts.13[ 38] Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
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Shalom