Is It Necessary to Know All This Jewish Stuff?
Is It Necessary to Know All this Jewish Stuff?
By Pastor Ron Laney
If you’ve ever heard me teach, especially over the last few years, you know that I frequently refer to Jewish culture and customs. For a non-Jew (Gentile) this can often seem unnecessary, and cumbersome. Is it necessary to know all this Jewish stuff? Do we really need to be educated in this? Can’t I just read the Scriptures, love Jesus and listen to the Spirit? The answer is yes and no. Yes, you can be saved and filled with the Spirit without all the history and knowledge that surrounds the Bible. Your sins can be forgiven and your eternity established without understanding life around the Sea of Galilee, the Jewish Feast or the political climate of ancient Jerusalem.
Some would say, “Well that’s all I want, to be saved and secure at peace with God and my family.” But, here’s where the “No” part of my answer comes in with a bit of a warning to us. There is no way to truly understand the God of the Bible, Jesus the Messiah and the Gospel of the Kingdom without having some sort of knowledge of the ancient world and the life of the Jewish people. Plain and simple, Jesus was a Jew, born into the life, culture and customs of the Hebrew people. To more fully grasp Jesus’ teachings, manners and ways, you need to be somewhat aquanited with the Jewish stuff. Here’s the warning: Without the historical context of the ancient Hebrews, we will more than likely twist the Scriptures into something different than its intended meaning.
We are to draw out our understanding of God from the words written in the Scriptures by the Apostles and Prophets. If our view of the Scriptures is wrong, our view of God will be wrong. We may even create a graven image and fall into error or idolatry. History has proven this to be a problem over the last two thousand years.
Here is an important idea that is essential to our faith – we Gentiles have been grated into the story of God that He began with the nation of Israel. In Genesis 12, God chose a man named Abram to be the beginning of a nation of people whom He would relate to and ultimately bless the whole world through. Abram’s descendants became the nation of Israel. According to the Scriptures, God blessed the world through the Jews in these ways – He gave the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the Law, the service of God, the promises, the fathers, and Messiah Jesus through them (Romans 9). God revealed these things to us, yes. But, He did it through the Jewish people. The Scripture teaches that the Gentile nations have been included, or grafted, into this story God started with Abraham. Because of Jesus, the blessings promised to Abraham have been extended to the people of all nations — God being merciful and gracious to us all. Remember, God didn’t start this thing in America, Europe or Russia. He started with a Middle Eastern man and his descendants. Understanding their history, their struggles and their lives helps us more clearly see Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah and the Messiah of the whole world.
Can you go too far with all the Jewish stuff? Absolutely! As non-Jewish people (Gentiles) we are to greatly respect and be grateful for our Jewish roots. Without the work and revelation God released through them, we would have nothing. But we can take our admiration too far. How? When non-Jews try to become Jews by imitating their culture and customs, we can take that too far. I believe we even become offensive to God. Here’s what I mean. If you were not born a Jew, it was by God’s sovereignty you were born a Gentile. God has set the boundaries of our habitation and made use a part of the Gentile world. To try to be something or someone you are not, is to question the will of God for your life. Besides, when non-Jews try to be Jews, it’s often sloppy, at best. They usually end up picking and choosing the parts they like and discard the rest, usually creating a hybrid that is offensive to everybody except their small sect of eager zealots. Besides all of this, Acts 15, Colossians 2 and the Letter to the Galatians speak directly to this subject. Gentiles are not to become Jews. They are to serve the Jewish Messiah, Jesus, and believe and be thankful that He fulfilled all the covenants, promises and law on our behalf. In fact, the Jews are to see Jesus in this light as well.
So, where should we stand in all this Jewish stuff? We need to know our Jewish roots! Knowing the history, Text and expectation of the Jewish people and the ancient world, help us know, understand and serve Jesus better.
The anti-Semitism that has taken root in some of the Gentile Church has caused us to misunderstand the Scriptures and the God who gave them. We must correct this in our generation. We’ve got to get back in touch with our Jewish roots, in order to more fully understand Jesus, His ways and His Kingdom.
I’m so thankful for my trips to Israel and my trips to see and study in Turkey, the land of the Book of Acts. These have opened up a peek into the world of the Bible that helps me better understand the Scriptures. Still lots to learn! I want to always be a growing student of Jesus and what He teaches.
Grace & Peace!
Hope this helps!
Pastor Ron Laney