Two Messianic Jews – Details, episodes & analysis

We walk through Romans to see why the Messianic Jewish community has come to exist and what our purpose is as a community. We focus on texts in Romans 1, 3, 9, 11, and 15. We have come to exist because: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - The Good News: Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah 2:12 - The Good News is for Jewish People 3:25 - Unity and Distinction Within the Body of Messiah 10:30 - Unity and Distinction Within Israel 17:55 - Messianic Jewish Community: A Double Witness

You can also watch on our ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel⁠

Follow us on Social Media:     ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you are looking for a way to support us and gain early access to our content, you can become a monthly supporter on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribestar⁠⁠⁠⁠    

We also have ⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠ ______________________

Music: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.bensound.com

Isaiah draws from the story of Passover in Isaiah 52 and 53. The New Testament portrays Jesus as our Passover Lamb and the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. Gain a deeper understanding of the gospel message as told by the Tanakh and New Testament and find out an amazing connection to the shankbone of the Passover seder and the 'arm of the Lord'!

______________________   

You can also watch on our ⁠⁠⁠YouTube Channel

Follow us on Social Media:     ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

If you are looking for a way to support us and gain early access to our content, you can become a monthly supporter on ⁠⁠⁠Subscribestar⁠⁠⁠    

We also have ⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠ ______________________

Music: ⁠⁠https://www.bensound.com

At the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) Messiah Conference 2022, Jonathan gave a presentation responding to arguments for replacement theology put forth in Pastor Andy Stanley’s book, Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World.   

Questions this presentation covers include:   

- What does replacement theology mean for the Jewish people?
- Did Yeshua teach that he came to end God’s covenant with Israel, to make the Torah obsolete in Matthew 5.17?
- Did the destruction of the Temple signal the end of Judaism and God’s covenant with Israel?
- Why did Yeshua have to die?  

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:  

Facebook
Instagram     

_________________________________________   

If you are looking for a way to support us and gain early access to our content, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar
We also have PayPal   

_________________________________________   

Works cited:  

Anders Runesson, Divine Wrath and Salvation in Mathew: The Narrative World of the First Gospel (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016).   

Anders Runesson, “Saving the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel: Purity, Forgiveness, and Synagogues in the Gospel of Matthew,” Melilah 11 (2014): 8-24.  

Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009).  

Daniel Boyarin, “Semantic Differences; or ‘Judaism’/‘Christianity’.” in The Ways that Never Parted: Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, eds. Annette Yokisho Reed and Adam H. Becker, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007), 65-85.  

David J. Rudolph, A Jew to the Jews: Jewish Contours of Pauline Flexibility in 1 Corinthians 9.19-23, WUNT 2/304 (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2011).  

David J. Rudolph, “One New Man, Hebrew Roots, Replacement Theology: How to restore the Jewish roots of the Christian faith without getting weird” (9-8-2021).

Geza Vermes, “Redemption and Genesis XXII – the Binding of Isaac and the Sacrifice of Jesus,” in Scripture and Tradition in Judaism (Leiden: Brill, 1961).  

Helen K. Bond, The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed (London: T & T Clark, 2012).  

Matthew Thiessen, "Abolishers of the Law in Early Judaism and Matthew 5,17-20," Biblica 93, no. 4 (2012): 543-56.   

Nicholas Schaser interview – “I Did Not Come to Abolish but to Fulfill”   

Shaye J. D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, 2nd ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006).  

Ulrich Luz, Matthew 1-7: A Commentary (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007).  

_________________________________________   

Music: https://www.bensound.com

This week is the Jewish holiday of Shavuot which is also known as Pentecost. In Jewish tradition, Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah. In Christian traditions, Pentecost commemorates the Holy Spirit descending after Jesus ascended to heaven. In Messianic Judaism, we commemorate both! Join us in exploring how Shavuot provides an occasion to see how Paul was both Torah-observant and Spirit-Led simultaneously. Did Paul Teach Against Torah in Acts 21?  ___________________________ You can also watch on our YouTube channel Follow us on Social Media: Facebook Instagram If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar We also have: PayPal ___________________________ Music: bensound.com

In Deuteronomy 13, we learn that false prophets can perform miracles. From this point, counter-missionary, Rabbi Michael Skobac reasons: “miracles don’t prove anything.” If he is right, then Jesus’s resurrection does not prove he is the Messiah. But is Rabbi Skobac right? In this video, I argue that when we understand Deuteronomy 13 in light of Passover and with the help of Maimonides, we see that contrary to what Rabbi Skobac says about it, Deuteronomy 13 is actually the foundation for why Jesus’s resurrection would be evidence that he is the Messiah!   

For a presentation of Orthodox Jewish scholar, Dr. Pinchas Lapide’s case for Jesus’s resurrection click here

___________________________   

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar

We also have: PayPal

___________________________

Other videos like this one:
A Case for Messianic Judaism (Live at YMJA Virtual Messiah Conference 2020)    
Does the Resurrection Prove Jesus is the Messiah? A Jewish Response to a Jewish Objection   
"Why Messianic Judaism Is Fake" [REACTION]   
___________________________   

Full videos where I get the clips of Rabbi Michael Skobac:

THE MYTH OF RESURRECTION
CHRISTIANITY CHANGED MY LIFE: Can Miracles Prove Anything?
___________________________   

Music: bensound.com

What do Messianic Jews believe? How do Messianic Jews live and worship? Join us on Two Messianic Jews as we share with you the definition of a Messianic Jew, the core beliefs of the Messianic Jewish community, and the common ways Messianic Jews live and worship. In the end, I share how we view ourselves within the Jewish community and within the Body of Messiah.

00:00 - Definition of 'Messianic Jew'
5:18 - What a Messianic Jew is NOT
7:52 - What Messianic Jews believe
12:12 - How Messianic Jews live and worship

About some key New Testament texts for Messianic Jews, Dr. David Rudolph says,  "Messianic Jews referred to their religious tradition as 'Messianic Judaism,' a term that implicitly called into question the traditional narrative of the first-century parting of the ways between Judaism and 'Christianity.'  It is important to recognize that Messianic Judaism challenged fundamental theological assumptions about the nature of the ecclesia and argued on the basis of New Testament texts - primarily Acts 15; 21.17-26; and 1 Corinthians 7.17-24 - that Yeshua-believing Jews had a continuing responsibility before God to live as Jews. Messianic Judaism took exception to eighteen hundred years of Gentile Christian theology and exegesis that precluded reading the New Testament in this way."  From Introduction to Messianic Judaism, 27 (emphasis his).

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar

We also have:
PayPal
Merch shop

--------------

Bibliography:  

Adat Hatikvah Messianic Synagogue Statement of Faith  

Baruch Hashem Messianic Synagogue Statement of Faith 

David Rudolph, "Messianic Judaism in Antiquity and in the Modern Era," in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations, 21-36.  

Jacob Rosenberg, "History and Practices in the Messianic Jewish Movement," in Messianic Jewish Orthodoxy: The Essence of Our Faith, History and Best Practices, 225-40.  

Richard Harvey, Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology: A Constructive Approach.  

Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Definition of Messianic Judaism 

Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Statement of Faith

International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues Statement of Faith     

Yaakov Ariel, "Messianic Judaism," in Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2nd. Ed. 756-59.  

Yaakov Ariel, “A Different Kind of Dialogue?: Messianic Judaism and Jewish-Christian Relations,” in CrossCurrents 243 (September 2012): 318-327.

-------------- 

Music: https://www.bensound.com

Recently, we were sent a Times of Israel blog by its author, Rabbi Joel Hoffman, entitled, "Why Messianic Judaism is Fake." We thought this was a good opportunity to try our hand at doing a live reaction as we read it for the first time! There is much more that could have been said, and much that we could have said more clearly. Hopefully, it is edifying and entertaining nonetheless!

If you'd like to see more content like this let us know!   If you'd like to hear a more careful presentation of what we discussed here, check out our videos "Does the Resurrection Prove Jesus is the Messiah? A Jewish Response to a Jewish Objection" and "Did Jesus Replace Judaism? A Messianic Jewish Response to Andy Stanley"  

Link to article: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-messianic-judaism-is-fake/ [Accessed Dec. 30, 2021]

_________________  

0:00 – Intro
0:58 – Predicting what Rabbi Hoffman means by “Messianic Judaism is Fake”
5:40 – Reacting to Rabbi Hoffman’s comments on a Messianic rabbi praying in Jesus’s name at Mike Pence’s prayer rally in tribute to the eleven Jews murdered in Pittsburgh  
10:33 – Reacting to Rabbi Hoffman’s “refutation of Christianity and Messianic Judaism in just 30 seconds”
13:11 – Was Jesus Torah observant?
17:51 – How can Jesus be the Messiah even though he did not fulfill the major criteria/requirements of the Messiah?
_________________

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar

We also have: PayPal Merch shop

______________________  

Music: https://www.bensound.com

While Christmas is not part of the Messianic Jewish calendar we affirm the Church's celebration of this tradition as a wonderful way to celebrate the birth and incarnation of the Messiah. There are many Hebrew Roots channels that argue Christmas is steeped in paganism and that the Church should not celebrate the holiday. For this episode, we are joined by Michael Jones of Inspiring Philosophy--a channel that has had a lot of influence on us--and he shares with us his research that Christmas does not have pagan roots and even if it did, it wouldn't matter. Enjoy!

____________________

0:00 – Introduction

1:41 – What was your position before doing this research?

3:14 – What primary and secondary sources are most relevant to this discussion?

6:09 – How does the anti-Christmas crowd use the term “pagan”?

6:52 – Does Jeremiah 10.2-4 condemn Christmas trees?

9:52 – Does Isaiah 44.14-15 condemn Christmas trees?

10:42 – Does Jeremiah 3.13 condemn gifts under the tree?

12:10 – If the anti-Christmas logic holds, what other things should we give up because they are apparently pagan?

14:35 – What if Christmas does have pagan roots? Is abandoning it the right response?

15:50 – What do you think causes the anti-Christmas crowd to take such a dramatic leap in logic?

16:53 – What is the origin of the myth that Christmas is pagan?

18:10 – When did Protestants come to accept Christmas as their own and why was it deemed ok?

19:26 – What are your thoughts on Protestant leader, Charles Spurgeon’s view of Christmas? 22:45 – Was Saturnalia celebrated on December 25?

23:58 – Was Sol Invictus celebrated on December 25?

25:44 – Did Jewish festivals take place on pagan holidays?

27:26 – Were any pagan holidays celebrated on December 25?

28:23 – Why was December 25 chosen by the Church?

29:38 – Do you think Jesus was born on December 25?

32:15 – When did the Christmas tree become part of Christmas celebrations?

34:35 – Is kneeling before a Christmas tree like pagan worship?

38:15 – Is singing the carol, “O Christmas Tree” tantamount to pagan worship?

39:11 – Do you have issues with the Santa Clause practice?

40:36 – Is Santa Clause derived from pagan gods?

45:40 – What do you think of Monte Judah’s view that Christmas is idolatry?

48:03 – Do wreaths come from paganism?

49:47 – What are your thoughts on 119 Ministries' documentary, “The Christmas Question”?

52:41 – What is your advice for people easily susceptible to conspiracy theories to think more rationally and critically about something like "if you celebrate Christmas you are participating in paganism"?

55:09 – Closing
___________________________

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar 

We also have:
PayPal
Merch shop
______________________

Music: https://www.bensound.com

Not many people understand or have even heard of, Messianic Gentiles. Who are they? Who are they not? In this video, I define Messianic Gentiles as are non-Jewish members of Messianic synagogues who affirm the teachings of Messianic Judaism and live according to the Jewish norms of their synagogue. I then distinguish them from many groups with which they might be easily confused, particularly Hebrew Roots/One Law adherents. I also offer tips for how non-Jews can determine if God is leading them to join a Messianic synagogue. Enjoy! _____________________________

00:00 – Introduction
1:56 – Definition of a Messianic Gentile
5:04 – What a Messianic Gentile is NOT
7:19 – Distinguishing from Hebrew Roots/One Law
13:00 – Other Hebrew Roots Errors
25:26 – Unhealthy and Healthy Messianic Gentile Attitudes
33:09 – Are you led to join a Messianic synagogue as a non-Jew?
_____________________________

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:     
Facebook
Instagram     

If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar

We also have:
PayPal
Merch shop
______________________________ 

Works Cited:  

Dan Juster, Jewish Roots: Understanding Your Jewish Faith  

Dan Juster, “The Annual Vilification of Christmas,”  https://loveforhispeople.com/2019/12/17/the-annual-vilification-of-christmas-dan-juster/

David Rudolph and Elliot Klayman, “Messianic Jewish Synagogues,” in Introduction to Messianic Judaism.
  
David Rudolph, “One New Man, Hebrew Roots, Replacement Theology”
https://collective.tku.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-New-Man-Hebrew-Roots-Replacement-Theology.pdf
 
International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues, “One Law, Two Sticks: A Critical Look at the Hebrew Roots Movement”
 
Jeff Adler, “Gentiles Within The Messianic Jewish Community,” in The Borough Parks Papers: Symposium III.  

Joel Liberman, “Grappling with Christmas as a Messianic (Jewish) Believer,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp-fZXX9_cM

Joseph Culbertson, “Rediscovering My Gentile Roots,” in Kesher: A Journal For Messianic Judaism 36.  

Rich Nichol, “The Unique Place of Gentiles in Messianic Jewish Congregational Life,” in The Borough Parks Papers: Symposium III.  

Russ Resnik, “Defining Messianic Judaism,” in Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism.   
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, “Defining Messianic Judaism,” https://www.umjc.org/defining-messianic-judaism   

References:  

Is Jesus a Copy of Pagan Myths? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWMISSOT_vU&t=5s   

Non-Jews in Synagogues  

Conservative: https://www.timesofisrael.com/conservative-synagogues-pass-proposal-allowing-non-jews-as-members/   

Reform: https://reformjudaism.org/reform-jewish-life/youth-family-community/interfaith/interfaith-couples-reform-judaism-welcomes-you   

Reconstructionist: https://archive.md/JnsC  
________________________

Music: https://www.bensound.com

Many Christians read Colossians 2.16-17 as validation that the Torah is obsolete, specifically the observance of Shabbat, Jewish festivals, and kosher laws. But is this Paul’s point? I don’t think so. In this video, I explain why through a careful analysis of the Greek text in its literary and historical context. I argue that Paul is exhorting the Colossians to not let ascetic critics who emphasize self-denial judge them for eating and drinking, celebrating Shabbat and Jewish festivals instead of fasting and afflicting themselves. He is telling the Colossians to not consider the judgment from the critics, but instead, they should consider the Messiah’s body, keeping their minds focused on Jesus and what he did for them. To translate the text, I rely on much of the arguments and translation decisions from Brian Allen’s article, “Removing an Arrow from the Supersessionist Quiver: A Post-Supersessionist Reading of Colossians 2.16-17,” Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 8 (2018) 127-146.  

You can also watch on our YouTube channel

Follow us on Social Media:   

Facebook  
Instagram   

If you are looking for a way to support us and our work, you can become a monthly supporter on Subscribestar

We also have: PayPal 
Merch shop
_________________________________________   

References:   

Brian Allen, “Removing an Arrow from the Supersessionist Quiver: A Post-Supersessionist Reading of Colossians 2.16-17,” Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 8 (2018) 127-146.  

David Rudolph, “Was Paul Championing a New Freedom from — or End to — Jewish Law?” in Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity and Judaism, ed. Gerald R.McDermott (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021),  33-50.   

Troy Martin, By Philosophy and Empty Deceit: Colossians as Response to a Cynic Critique, JSNTSup 118 (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1996).

Troy Martin, “But Let Everyone Discern the Body of Christ (Col 2.17),” JBL 114 (1995): 249–55.  

Susannah Heschel, Introduction, in Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath (New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2005), vii-xvi.  

Daniel T. Lancaster, From Sabbath to Sabbath (Marshfield, MO: First Fruits of Zion, 2016).  

David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1996).  

Sang-Won Aaron Son, “τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ in Colossians 2.17,” in History and Exegesis: New Testament Essays in Honor of Dr. E. Earle Ellis for His Eightieth Birthday, ed. Sang-Won Aaron Son (New York: T&T Clark, 2006), 222–38.   

Shaye J. D. Cohen, The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties (Berkley: University of California Press, 1999).

 _________________________________________   

Music: https://www.bensound.com