The Mind of Christ or The Mind of The Pharisees?
In the Hebrew Roots Movement [HRM], It has been said that Jesus Christ was a Pharisee; studied under Hillel/used his teachings; based His doctrine on Pharisaical concepts and teachings called “oral Torah”; upheld the Pharisees as a righteous sect; and taught by using the mystic kabbalistic concept of PaRDeS [Pasha, Remez, Drash (midrash), and Sod].
If we look at the Gospels, the picture is painted a bit differently. Jesus was not embedded in the so-called “Judaism” of that time. Actually, He was quite perturbed with it. There was a false king on the throne [Herod was a half Edomite, who were cursed of God], and a false priesthood in the Temple [See Maccabee info later in the article]. His chastising of the Pharisees throughout the book of Matthew is self explanatory. However; because of the proliferation of this teaching in Hebrew Roots, let’s explore this concept in the pages of the NT, through historical and Jewish sources.
Here are some sources that promote Jesus was a Pharisee, was a student of Hillel, upheld the Pharisees, taught from the Talmud [oral Law], and used kabbalah.
* note: Jesus’ Name in HRM is Yeshua, Yahshua, and other variations.
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From yashanet: http://www.yashanet.com/studies/matstudy/mat3a.htm
“YESHUA AND THE TALMUD – Teachings of YESHUA the Pharisee
The following chart comes from the document, “Not Subject to the Law of God?” found at www.yashanet.com/library/underlaw.htm. It shows that rather than teaching contrary to the Pharisees (a common misconception) Yeshua supported much of what they taught, as he often quoted from the Mishnah (the early portion of the Talmud) which is an entirely Pharisaic document.”
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As seen here: http://treeoflifeknoxville.com/phariseeswhowerethey.htm
“We believe that Yeshua was speaking as a Pharisee to other Pharisees. Many of the views that Yeshua taught concerning the Torah paralleled the school of Rabbi Hillel who was one of the prominent Pharisaic scholars living during Yeshua’s childhood.”
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A Book written on the subject: http://shopping.msn.com/prices/yeshua-a-guide-to-the-real-jesus-and-the-original-church/itemid24229435/?itemtext=itemname:yeshua-a-guide-to-the-real-jesus-and-the-original-church&sortby=vendorname&order=a
“Yeshua: A Guide to the Real Jesus and the Original Church” by Ron Moseley
“The early years of the Church were all Jewish. The original Church was patterned after the Jewish synagogue. Yeshua (Jesus) used numerous Jewish idioms in his teachings and was, perhaps, a Pharisee himself. Learn how Jewish customs and traditions informed the writers of the New Testament. Understand the Jewish roots of the Christian faith.
Dr. Moseley illuminates the Jewish background of Yeshua and the Church in this best-selling book. Must reading for every believer.”
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From an article explaining that Jesus [Yeshua] upheld and taught Rabbinic teachings and concepts: http://www.bethmessiah.com/topic9.htm
“Yeshua was a Pharisee in good standing.”
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Another book:
King of the Jews by D Thomas Lancaster [writer for FFOZ – First Fruit of Zion] [http://www.shoreshim.co.uk/Resource_Centre-Book_Reviews-Jewish_Roots_Study.aspx?qid=23 ]
“The Christian Jesus is way off the mark. Yeshua clearly practised Orthodox Judaism.”
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This article as well: http://www.onhigh.org/TwoSticks5.htm
“Rabbi Yeshua ben Yoseph ben David: A Pharisee Of The Academy of Hillel”
by Tracy Phillip Osborne
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Found at this site: http://z11.invisionfree.com/Yeshua_Quest/index.php?s=cf5421a1002c504aa866fb5643b60136&showtopic=237&st=0&#last
R. Harvey Falk’s “Jesus the Pharisee: A New Look at the Jewishness of Jesus” also goes down the “conspiracy road,” but he has a historical Yeshua being tapped by Hillel & the Essenes to turn pagans into good Noachides. Sadly, in so concluding, R. Falk overlooks that Yeshua “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 15:24). Nevertheless, he does make an excellent case for Yeshua being a Hillelite & he shows that Shammai & the Zealots were warned about inflaming Rome!
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Found at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Messianic_Judaism/Talmud
“Now, just my personal opinions, but let me share them: Jesus (Yeshua/Yehoshua ben Yosef) was himself a Pharisaic Rabbi. He was greater than the Ravs (such as Paul), who lived and taught in the diaspora. He was a Ribbi, like Hillel, who were the greatest Torah teachers in 2nd Temple Israel/Judah, to whom the diaspora Ravs were subservient.”
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Jesus used PaRDeS: http://members.cox.net/8thday/4levels.html
“We see these four dimensions being used by Jesus Christ during his Ministry. In Pshat (literal), it’s interesting that he never used this level to teach the masses. He only expressed literal interpretation of the scriptures when addressing the Pharisees. In Remez (parable, allegory), this is the level he used to begin teaching the masses. In Derasha (seek, search), from among the masses, he chose his 12 apostles to reveal to them the deeper understanding of the parable or allegory. In Sod (inner mystical), he chose 3 from among his apostles, and revealed to them the inner mystical truth of himself on the Mount of Transfiguration.”
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http://www.hebroots.org/hebrootsarchive/0108/0108e.html
“We praise Yahweh that more Believers are saying -“What did Yahshua really
say and what did His words really mean?” Returning to the Hebraic laws of
interpretation of the Scriptures – PaRDeS- will swell His every Word with
the pregnancy of His message for Messianic Yisrael. It will result in a
myriad of new meanings and a greater understanding of His mission to find
the Lost Sheep of the House of Yisrael.It will enrich the lives of every
Yisraelite as he seeks to serve his Master and Rebbe Yahshua HaMoshiach by
observing the Torah of Yahweh.” [Messianic Rabbi Ed Nydle, who teaches that satan was Yahweh’s bride before his fall]
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Marshall Koniuchowsky [YATI – Your Arms to Israel]: http://www.yourarmstoisrael.org/misc/pdf/The%20New%20Updated%20Messianic%20Believers%20First%20Response%20Handboo..pdf
“However, on the other hand, when the Hebrew writers of the New Testament employ PaRDeS, all hell breaks loose, amidst accusations of paganism, Greek mythology, polytheism, plagiarism, Gnosticism, deception and unreliability. By not allowing the Hebrew writers of the New Testament the same freedom and leeway they allow the writers of the First Covenant, they violate Torah, by engaging in abominations and detestable behavior before YHWH. Moreover, they cheat themselves and others of the gift of salvation from this life. For Messiah said “the Words that I speak unto you they are Spirit and they are life.” The Spirit world can only be revealed in the Spirit, and the Spirit of YHWH comes in 4 basic measures or levels.”
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In order to determine if it is true that Jesus was a Pharisee, then Biblically, we should be able to find evidence.
Proposed: Jesus Christ [Yeshua Ha Mashiyach] was a Pharisee
As a whole, the sect of the Pharisees was presumed to be educated and enlightened by Judicatory standards, based in written and oral Torah [which is said to be the compilation of the Mishneh and Torah – however; they were not collectively complied until 150-500 BCE] which Jesus consistently taught against. If Jesus was bound by Torah, it would be written Torah, not oral – as there is no evidence in Scripture for it. If Jesus was a Pharisee, He would have taught their interpretations instead of correcting their teachings. The people would have also received Jesus’ teachings as common, ordinary, “in tune with the times” – because the Pharisees aligned themselves with the common people. What we find is amazement and the incredulous surprise that what Jesus taught was not The Law as given by the Pharisees.
In fact, it is stated that Jesus taught in the Temple and the Jews responded that He was not taught, nor was He learned, and they were amazed:
John 7
14 Now about the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned?
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
If Jesus were a Pharisee, it would have been common knowledge. Instead we read this:
Matthrew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Matthew 13
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, From where has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brothers, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then has this man all these things?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said to them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Mark also relates this scene as well:
Mark 6
1 And he went out from there, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From where has this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given to him, that even such mighty works are worked by his hands?
3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
4 But Jesus, said to them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands on a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine.
Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
John 7:15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How knows this man letters, having never learned?
Scripture tells us that when Jesus was 12, He was at the Temple and the teachers of that day marveled as His wisdom. The question would be: What would the Pharisees have to teach Jesus, which He already knew?
Luke 2
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said to him, Son, why have you thus dealt with us? behold, your father and I have sought you sorrowing.
49 And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? knew you not that I must be about my Father’s business?
Please note: Jesus stated that He was about His Father’s business – His teachings, wisdom, understanding were of God, not man.
Luke states this about Jesus:
Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was on him.
Where does Godly wisdom originate?
Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
1 Kings 4:29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.
Job 38:36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
Psalm 51:6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsels:
6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;
5 Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
We know that Solomon wrote Proverbs – the wisest man, yet this is what Jesus stated:
Matthew 12:42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Jesus could not have been a Pharisee based on His own Word and the historical implications of Pharisaism. A brief excerpt from an article in the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia as quoted in this article:
“The Jewish religion as it is today traces its descent, without a break, through all the centuries, from the Pharisees. Their leading ideas and methods found expression in a literature of enormous extent, of which a very great deal is still in existence. The Talmud is the largest and most important single piece of that literature … and the study of it is essential for any real understanding of Pharisaism.”
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/332/
The Talmud denies that Jesus is the Messiah, His blood atonement, and His return as King; and uses many derogatory remarks about Jesus, His birth, His ministry, and His present state in hell – would Jesus have been taught by a religious sect that He knew would deny His work, His ministry, and His Sacrifice, and His resurrection?
Matthew 7
16 You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Why by their fruits you shall know them.
There are many passages from the Talmud that refer to Jesus, but He is referred to by many other names and titles in the Talmud such as Yeshu, which is an acronym for “Yemach Shemo U’zikhro” which translated means “May his name and memory be blotted out”. Balaam is another derogatory name. In the OT he was a false prophet.
Gittin 56b-57a
[Onkelos Bar Kalonikus] called up Balaam from the dead. [Onkelos] asked: Who is honored in that world? [Balaam] replied: Israel. [Onkelos asked:] What about joining them? [Balaam] replied: (Deut. 23:7) “You shall not seek their peace or welfare all your days.” [Onkelos] asked: What is your punishment? [Balaam answered]: In boiling semen.
[Onkelos] called up Yeshu from the dead. [Onkelos] asked: Who is honored in that world? [Yeshu] replied: Israel. [Onkelos asked:] What about joining them? [Yeshu] replied: Seek their good. Do not seek their bad. Whoever touches them is as if he touched the pupil of his eye. [Onkelos] asked: What is your punishment? [Yeshu answered]: In boiling excrement. As the mast said: Whoever mocks the words of the sages in punished in boiling excrement.”
If we go back to how the Pharisaical system was birthed, it links back to the Maccabean reign which began about 167 BCE. The Maccabees, a Jewish religious faction, instituted another priesthood and dethroned the line of David, setting themselves in succession, as High Priest and King, also known as the Hasmonean. It is this corrupt system that the Pharisees and Sadducees came from. Book 1 of Maccabees shows the history. Jesus would not have supported a system that was not of God.
For more information on the Hamonean Dynasty and the beginnings of the Pharisees see:
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/gerald_larue/otll/chap30.html
Proposed: Jesus studied under Hillel/used his teachings
As the Scripture gives us no information regarding this – some historical information might lend some insight into Hillel’s life. Although there is some differing information as to the age of Hillel or when he died [10-25 CE] most sources that I found went with 10CE.
http://www.moshereiss.org/articles/27_hillel.htm
“Rabbi Hillel, the Elder the most famous Pharisee of his day was born in 65 BCE in Babylon. As a young adult he went to Jerusalem to further his studies. When the sages met in Jericho they heard a heavenly voice (bat kol) ‘There is a man who is predestined for the holy spirit except that his generation is not righteous for such. And they put their eyes on Hillel.’ 2
Hillel had a major opponent within the ranks of the Pharisees Rabbi Shammai. They disagreed on almost every aspect of Jewish law. The Shammaites controlled the Sanhedrin (the Jewish legal authority) after the death of Hillel (10 CE) until the destruction of the Temple. It is the Shammaites who disputed Jesus on the law and who with the priestly aristocracy – the Sadducees – handed him over to the Romans. 3 After the Temple’s destruction, the Sanhedrin was reorganized under Yohanan ben Zakai one of Hillel’s disciples. That movement over a long period of time became Rabbinic Judaism.
http://www.answers.com/topic/hillel
“Sources of information about Hillel are meager and must be sifted from many legends which subsequent generations have spun about him. Hillel, known as Hillel Hazaken, or Hillel the Elder, was born in Babylonia and was said to have descended from the house of David. Impelled by a thirst for learning, he migrated to Palestine at a mature age (ca. 40 B.C.) and arrived in Jerusalem only a few years before Herod the Great ascended to the Judean throne. In Jerusalem , Hillel studied at the academy of two highly reputed scholars, Shmaiah and Abtalion, while earning a meager livelihood as a manual laborer. Half of Hillel’s wages went for the support of his family, while the remainder was used for tuition at the academy.
It does not look like the time line is conducive to Jesus being taught by Hillel.
Hillel was affiliated with Jerusalem, not Nazareth where Jesus lived for most of his life.
John 1:46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
Here is one source that describes Hillel’s “summation of Torah” – “What is hateful to thee, do not do unto your neighbor. This is the whole Torah and the rest is commentary; go and study it further!” is simply a negative concept based on Lev 19:18 “Love your neighbor as yourself”. That Jesus imitated Hillel saying “Do unto others as they would have them do unto you” is simply conjecture, considering that Jesus wrote Torah and therefore; is the Author of the concept.
John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.
Colossians 1
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Proposed: Jesus based His doctrine on Pharisaical teachings and concepts
Matthew 5:20 For I say to you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus describes the “righteousness” of the Pharisees many times in the Gospels. It was not in a good connotation. That Jesus used the word righteous to describe them in this text would appear to be irony or sarcasm, as the Pharisees thought of them selves to be righteous and above criticism.
According to the Scriptures listed below – it is impossible that Jesus would have used the corrupt teachings of the Pharisees.
Luke 18
9 And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 9
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, Why eats your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said to them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go you and learn what that means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Mat 12
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?
24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you.
31 Why I say to you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven to men.
32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.
38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from you.
39 But he answered and said to them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
42 The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
Matthew 15
1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
3 But he answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
4 For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death.
5 But you say, Whoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatever you might be profited by me;
6 And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
7 You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
10 And he called the multitude, and said to them, Hear, and understand:
11 Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.
12 Then came his disciples, and said to him, Know you that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up.
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 16
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would show them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said to them, When it is evening, you say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O you hypocrites, you can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
6 Then Jesus said to them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said to them, O you of little faith, why reason you among yourselves, because you have brought no bread?
9 Do you not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?
11 How is it that you do not understand that I spoke it not to you concerning bread, that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 21
41 They say to him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard to other farmers, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.
Matthew22
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.
16 And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of men.
17 Tell us therefore, What think you? Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt you me, you hypocrites?
19 Show me the tribute money. And they brought to him a penny.
20 And he said to them, Whose is this image and superscription?
21 They say to him, Caesar’s. Then said he to them, Render therefore to Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left him, and went their way.
Matthew 23
1 Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat [read Torah/the Law]:
3 All therefore whatever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not you after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not you called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all you are brothers.
9 And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be you called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for you neither go in yourselves, neither suffer you them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe to you, you blind guides, which say, Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?
18 And, Whoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is guilty.
19 You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?
20 Whoever therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoever shall swear by the temple, swears by it, and by him that dwells therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him that sits thereon.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 You blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 You blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like to white washed sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Why you be witnesses to yourselves, that you are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill you up then the measure of your fathers.
33 You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?
34 Why, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall you whip in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom you slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Truly I say to you, All these things shall come on this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets, and stone them which are sent to you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and you would not!
38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
39 For I say to you, You shall not see me from now on, till you shall say, Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.
Matthew 27
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say to the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said to them, You have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as you can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
What is interesting about how Jesus taught, is that He took the Law; what the teachers of the Law had said, changed them and realigned them into how God intended that they be perceived – and it was called a “new doctrine”.
For instance, Jesus often used the phrase – “You have heard it said, . . . but I say” – which appears to be an indication that Jesus was teaching a new system of obedience that was more righteous than the original.
Matthew 5:21 You have heard that it was said of them of old time, You shall not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mat 5:27 You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not commit adultery:
28 But I say to you, That whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Mat 5:33 Again, you have heard that it has been said by them of old time, You shall not forswear yourself, but shall perform to the Lord your oaths:
34 But I say to you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shall you swear by your head, because you can not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yes, yes; No, no: for whatever is more than these comes of evil.
Mat 5:43 You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which spitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love them which love you, what reward have you? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if you salute your brothers only, what do you more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The Sermon on the Mt [Matthew 5-7] is replete with examples of the Doctrine of Christ – unknown and unperceived by the people – for they were amazed at His teachings. If Jesus was using concepts and instructions of the Pharisees, it would have not been any surprise what He was teaching.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
new – g2537 – kainos
Definition: new, recently made, fresh, unused, unworn, of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of
Proposed: Jesus taught using the mystic concept of PaRDeS
The concept of PaRDeS is the 3rd evolution of the 5 stages of kabbalah known as the Pomegrante Orchard (3rd strata). It was not developed until the 1500s [CE] through the revelations of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero [Ramak] and cannot be understood unless one studies the other 3 parts of the Orchard.
“Even though all the sages of the Talmudic period knew about and were involved in the study of Kabbalah, the Talmud does not openly delve into its mysteries. However, there is one chapter dedicated to this topic: the second chapter of the tractate of Chagigah. There, the sages who were initiated into the study of Kabbalah are described as having entered the Pardes, the “orchard.” The Hebrew word pardes is also understood in Kabbalah to be an acronym for the four parts of the Torah: literal, allusive, homiletic/hermeneutic, and secret.5 That the “orchard” contains all four parts of the Torah implies that it is impossible to truly be initiated into its secrets without studying the three other strata.6” [The Book of Formation (1), The Zohar (2), and The Tree of Life (4)]
[5. Pardes in Hebrew is spelled: pei reish dalet samech. Pei stands for p’shat (literal); reish stands for remez (allusive); dalet stands for drush (homiletic/hermeneutic); and samech stands for sod.]
http://www.inner.org/archives/originals/5765/65-16.htm
When Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, God spoke so that Peter, James, and John heard what He said. God did not say – listen to Jesus as He was taught by Hillel, nor did He say teach and use Pharisaical concepts. God said:
Matthew 17:5 While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear you him.
Mark 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
Luke 9:34 While he thus spoke, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
The Pharisees were carnally minded – without Christ. As a sect, they chose not to believe in Him as the Messiah. We know that some of the Pharisees did believe in Jesus Christ, but these are not the ones Jesus continually reprimanded for their unrighteous behavior, for their hearts that were hardened against Him.
Selected verses from John 8 which were spoken directly to the scribes and Pharisees:
John 8:19 Then said they to him, Where is your Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also.
21 Then said Jesus again to them, I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come.
23 And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus to them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which you have seen with your father.
42 Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and stayed not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.
47 He that is of God hears God’s words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God.
54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom you say, that he is your God:
55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like to you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews to him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the middle of them, and so passed by.
All wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of Scriptural and spiritual concepts belongs to God and is given to us through Christ – not man made systems like that of the Pharisees or the Talmud or of kabbalah, but the mysteries of God are hidden in Christ and are given to those who have been purchased with and redeemed in His blood, through His Word, and by His Spirit.
Colossians 2 [selected verses]
2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
20 Why if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh.
Ephesians 1 [selected verses]
8 Wherein he has abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he has purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 3
3 How that by revelation he made known to me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words,
4 Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effectual working of his power.
8 To me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world has been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now to the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Why I desire that you faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Philippians 1
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
10 That you may approve things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
Colossians 1
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That you might walk worthy of the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I brothers, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6 However, we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nothing:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world to our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.
10 But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?
But we have the mind of Christ.
Think of Jesus as being more of a Karaite Jew.
Peace sister,
Paul
The karaites deny that Jesus is the Messiah. Also, the karaite sect did not come into being until about the 8th century CE.
http://www.everyculture.com/Russia-Eurasia-China/Karaites-History-and-Cultural-Relations.html
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history_community/Medieval/MedThoughtTO/TheKaraites.htm
It’s good to remember that Jesus is not about a man-made system. He is God, and therefore does not need man to teach Him, nor does he need to follow the traditions, doctrines, theologies, and practices of finite minds 🙂
For the Love of Truth,
sheep wrecked
sheepwreckedshearedandbobbed@yahoo.com
Very good article! Thanks for showing us that in more ways then one Y’shua was not a Pharisee and he isn’t affiliated with Hillel.
Y’shua was from the House of David, a Nazarene from a royal line. He was the Tzadeek! Bartimeaus even knew he was the son of David, the Tzadeek. And after he was healed of his sight, he then followed him as the Messiah.
Y’shua was the convenant of David, and He walked that out. He even chose seventy of his on disciples which was an out ward expression that He rejected the government that was in place at that time. For no one in the government was from the lineage of David, they all were usurpers of the royal family.
Thanks for the article again I enjoyed it.
Tim
Thanx for stopping by, Tim!
Please come on back, I will be adding new articles as time allows and please pass along my blog link to others!
Thank you!
For the Love of Truth,
sheep wrecked
sheepwreckedshearedandbobbed@yahoo.com
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