This essay study is dedicated in the loving memory of Ms. Fredriqua Ann Brown,, may she rest in peace. Jesus was a very stern teacher, not a rabbi with a Smicha {ordination} even though the New Testament often refers to him as rabbi. The only occasion where Jesus is reported to have learned in the entire New Testament is at the age of twelve when for three days he is accredited with learning from the teachers in the Holy Temple. There is something amiss with this story. Are we to believe that Jesus learned in the Temple for three days and nights without sleeping? Are we to believe that no one was concerned with who this strange child was or where his parents were? No! In fact if a strange child suddenly appeared in the Temple without his parents, many questions would be asked. Understanding the very curious nature of Jews would make such an incident impossible. Jesus' act of disappearing for three days without informing his parents {Joseph and Mary} of his intentions was a serious violation of the commandment to honor one's parents. {Luke 2:41-52} This commandment applies EVEN IF ONE DID SPEND THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS LEARNING IN THE HOLY TEMPLE! A good action like learning in the Holy Temple DOES NOT supersede the commandment of honoring one's parents. G-d who gave the Torah would NOT encourage a child to learn in the Temple as opposed to honoring his parents! Next, consider if your child disappeared, G-d forbid, what would you do? The normal parent would check with close relatives, friends and playmates to determine the child's whereabouts. The normal parent would search for the child in places that the child frequents. We have no reason to believe that Joseph and Mary did anything different from what any normal parent would have done under such circumstances. As a result, why didn't they search for Jesus in the Holy Temple FIRST? The answer is simple. Jesus did not have a pattern of learning in the synagogue, house of study or the Holy Temple. If he had, then his parents would have searched there first! Mary corrects Jesus for his wrongful actions as any proper parent would do to a child who had disappeared for three days... Later we read, "Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor." {Mark 6:1-5} Many times I have heard this passage taught with regards to focusing on what causes a lack of faith... HOWEVER, the fact is this passage points to a much more serious problem. Those who knew Jesus recognized him as an unlearned man FROM A TORAH PERSPECTIVE! This is evident!! Only an unlearned man who had not studied Torah from a child up and who had NOT learned in a Yeshiva would harshly condemn Jewish law as Jesus did. It is not enough that Jesus condemned Jewish commandments but he introduced laws and taught cruel instructions in the New Testament like cutting off one's hand or plucking out one's eye if it was a source of offense. Such cruel instructions are a violation of G-d's commandments in the Torah AGAINST damaging or marking one's own body. Inflicting damage to one's own body is a heathen practice that Jesus taught. {Matthew 5:29, Mark 9:47} Men that knew Jesus... Men that studied Torah... These men were, as it says in Mark, offended by Jesus' ignorance... and his supposed miracles... Jesus' alleged acts of miraculous healing on Shabbos would have been considered acts of "CREATING". This is a serious problem if one intends to emulate Hashem and observe Torah mitzvahs! Emulating Hashem and following Torah commandments requires EVERY JEW to cease from their work {acts of creating} on the seventh day of each week {which begins before sundown on Friday and ends after sundown on Saturday night}. The Torah states: "By the seventh day G-d completed His work {creating} which He had done, and He abstained on the seventh day from ALL HIS WORK {creating} which he had done. G-d blessed the seventh day {NOT SUNDAY} and sanctified it {set it apart from the other six days} because on it He {G-d} abstained from His work {creating} which G-d created to make." {Genesis 2:2,3} Let's say, for example, that one had the special gift of healing blind eyes and they knew they had this gift of creating sight. Even though it was a very good and special gift {as are all of G-d's gifts}, it would still be inappropriate to use that gift on Shabbos because it is a form of creating and G-d ceased from creating on Shabbos because G-d wants the Shabbos to be separated from the other six days. G-d did not permit Moshe Rabbeinu and Kal Yisroel to construct the Mishkon during Shabbos even though the Mishkon is very good and very holy and a place where G-d's presence would dwell. Any act of love or being zealous, etc. would desecrate the Mishkon and Shabbos. Just as G-d commanded Moshe Rabbeinu in the wilderness that construction of the Mishkon {the Holy Tabernacle, the place where G-d dwelled} should not take place during Shabbos He would not permit any form of creating EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FOR HUMAN GOOD! Just as a child is required to honor one's Torah observant parents as opposed to studying in the Temple, one is required to honor the Shabbos as opposed to creating on Shabbos! Then, in addition to this, Jesus is quoted many times in the New Testament speaking evil {loshon hora} and causing pain with words {onoas dvorim} about the High Priest {Kohen Godal} and about the Jewish Court {Bais Din}, etc. Now one may be tempted to justify such actions by thinking, 'If one causes pain with words or if one speaks evil, it is acceptable, if it is true.' NOT SO! G-d does not permit one to cause pain with words or to speak evil EVEN WHEN IT IS TRUE... However, considering the New Testament's record of frequently using unverifiable reports and often quoting unknown sources, it is highly unlikely that any of Jesus' accusations against the Kohen Godal and the Bais Din are founded. Regarding loshon hora, the Torah states : "You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people," {Leviticus 19:16}, and with regard to onoas dvorim, "Each of you shall not aggrieve his fellow, and you shall fear G-d; for I am Hashem your G-d." {Leviticus 25:17} Now, for Messianics / Christians who support the crumbling theory of the trinity based on the name Elokim, G-d being plural representing Jesus in the "Old Testament,"under such a profoundly mistaken belief you have JESUS VIOLATING HIS OWN LAW making him a hypocrite too. Furthermore, Jesus instructed his devotees to follow his rebellious example. See Origins of Grace. Now there are many additional examples of Jesus' SINFUL Violations of Torah Halacha besides these that prove JESUS DID NOT LIVE A SINLESS LIFE! One cannot properly interpret the Torah from a Christian / Messianic viewpoint looking backwards from the twenty-first century. That is why Christians / Messianics EXCUSE ALL OF JESUS' SINFUL ACTIONS. They DISMISS THEM under the guidelines of the New Testament WHICH did not exist until hundreds of years later. From their viewpoint Jesus was excused from these sins EVEN THOUGH THE NEW TESTAMENT DID NOT EXIST IN WORD OR EVEN IN THOUGHT! My friend, Jesus was instructed to observe Jewish law from childhood by his parents, according to Luke. In addition, Jesus was required to observe Jewish law in accordance with the Torah. He did neither! Wishing you the best, Dr. Akiva G. Belk JewishPath is a sponsor of B'nai Noach Torah Institute. As a sponsor we are permitted to offer one FREE E-Mail course on a limited basis per individual from BNTI's Introduction Courses. We invite you to visit and choose an E - Mail Intro Course. BNTI offers Intro Courses in Judaism and Spirituality {7 Noaich Laws}. BNTI Responses are NOT AUTO!!
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