“Life of Messiah”- Arnold Fruchtenbaum
“Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Alfred Edersheim
“Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian
“Era - C.F.Moore
“The Jewish People and Jesus Christ” – Jacob Jocz
“The Foundations of Judaism and Christianity” –
J. Parkes
“The Jewish People in the Time of Jesus” –
Emil Schurer
The Jewish Dispersion
The Diaspora
Banishment by the judgment of God
Outward Suffering
Religious Sorrow (400 silent years)
(I Peter 1:1)
“No nation in the world which had not among
their part of the Jewish people”
Josephus
The Jewish people were, “widely dispersed over
all the world among its inhabitants” (Josephus)
yet they never found a home
The Jew in the East and West
West – Hellenists
To conform to the language and manners
of the Greeks
Called: “The dispersion of the Greeks”
(John 7:35)
“Hellenists,” or “Grecians”
(Acts 6:1; 9:29; 11:20)
Engulfed in Gentile surroundings
High regard placed on winning converts
and making proselytes
Integrated Greek philosophy with biblical
revelation: (Philo of Alexandria)
Developed the Apocrypha
Developed the LXX
Used an allegorical method of interpretation
East – Called “Hebrews”
Those dispersed East had open contempt for
for the Hellenists
- The land to the east was once king David’s
territory
- Boasted a synagogue built by king Jeconiah
with stones from the Temple
- Large wealthy Jewish population
East - 63 BC Jews in the east resisted Rome and
Rome ceases to provoke their hostility in
AD 40
- In the east the Mishnah (2nd law) originates
- Study of Mishnah results in Midrash or
investigation of Scripture
Jewish Sects
The Scribes are not a party
He is known as the “lawyer”
He is the ultimate authority on all questions of
faith and practice
He is the “exegete of laws,” “teacher of the law”
He was a judge in ecclesiastical tribunals
His was a position of status, the holding of an
office
His early task was to establish the contents of the
written Torah: 613 commandments
“Hasidim” – “God’s loyal ones”
Name first appears in the context of the early
Hasmonean kings
Always a minority group – 6,000 during the time
time of Herod (Josephus)
Bitter relationship with the common people
They believed the Babylonian exile was caused by
Israel’s failure to keep the Torah
They built a “hedge” around the law
“Hedge” – to interpret and supplement the law
so that there would be no possibility of
breaking them either by accident or ignorance
All of these developments formed the “oral law”
the full development of it does not occur until
after the 1st century
Being convinced they had the right interpretation
of the law they claimed these “traditions of the
elders” (Mk. 7:13) came from God through Moses
The origins of this name are disputed
Perhaps derived from Zadok, Solomon’s
contemporary whose descendants were
regarded as the pure priestly line – Ezk. 44:15ff
Nearly all Sadducees were priests
Dominated the Sanhedrin during the Herods of
Rome
Died out with the destruction of the Temple
Denied the permanent validity of any but the
written law
Denied belief in the soul, after-life, resurrection,
rewards and retribution, angels, and demons
They believed in free-choice and denied the idea
of “fate,” or the sovereignty of God
Flourished 1st century BC – 1st century AD
Philo writes of them in his discussion that only
the truly good man is truly free
He states they numbered 4,000
He says they paid scrupulous attention to
ceremonial purity
He says: they hold all property in common
abstain from animal sacrifices
they practice celibacy
They keep no slaves
Make provision for those in their company
who cannot work due to sickness or age
They swear no oaths
Take no part in military or commercial
activities
They in general cultivate all the virtues
Pliny the Elder says of the Essenes:
They lived on the west side of the Dead Sea
above En-gedi
He says they were there for countless
generations
He says many regularly joined their ranks out
of shear weariness of ordinary life
Founded by Judas the Galilaean, who led revolt
against Rome in AD 6
They opposed the payment of Israel to a pagan
emperor
Called Zealots because they followed the example
of Mattathias and his followers who manifested
“zeal for the laws of God during the Maccabean
revolt; and Phineas (Num. 25:11; Ps. 106:30 )
The Zealots engaged the Romans throughout the
the Jewish revolt of AD 66-73
The last Zealot stronghold to fall was at Masada
in May AD 73
One of Yeshua’s 12 disciples was an ex-zealot:
Simon the Zealot (Lk. 6:15; Acts 1:13)
A Common Hope
All regarded the uniqueness of Israel & Jerusalem
(Ps. 137:6)
Jerusalem was their common center
- John 4:20
- Daniel always prayed facing west toward
Israel and Jerusalem
- The Hebrew Scriptures close with the cry,
“Let us go up.”
An even stronger belief was in the hope of
Messiah’s coming
1. Restoration of Israel’s kingdom
2. Return of the dispersed
3. Reign of Israel’s king
Common Prayer:
“Proclaim by thy loud trumpet of deliverance, and
raise up a banner to gather our dispersed, and gather
us together from the four corners of the earth. Blessed
art thou, O Lord! Who gathers the outcasts of thy
people.”
All the different views of Messiah and his coming
agree to the following:
Deliverance of Israel
Israel’s Restoration
Israel’s Future Preeminent Glory
The Coming of Messiah to bring this about
These beliefs provided Israel:
Meaning in their worship
Patience in suffering
With the means of being kept distinct from the
nations
With the basis for fixing their hearts on Jerusalem
Geography of Israel
Galilee – North
Samaria – Center
Judea – South
Idumean – Far South
Peraea – East
Decapolis – East
Iturea – North East
Trachonitis – North East
Nabataea – South East
The Sources of Knowledge
(Luke’s Prologue)
Para. 1
1. Approaching the Study of the Life of Messiah
Often the life of Messiah is studied from an
Hellenistic background rather than from a
Jewish perspective
Greek background is helpful for the latter part of
Acts, Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians, etc…
Life of Yeshua works it’s way out in 1st century
Jewish culture – Jewish frame of reference and
background
Knowledge of the Jewish background was always
available, but largely ignored by the early church
beginning in the 4th century onward
2. Two Ways to Approach the Life of Messiah
Geographical Approach
Galilean Ministry
Later Judean Ministry
Later Perean Ministry (etc…)
Thematic Approach: Yeshua the Messianic
King
3. How the Gospels were Written
Jn. 21:25 – All books could not contain all things
Yeshua did
All things Yeshua did
Events
A B C
Matthew: “Yeshua King of the Jews”
Events: A & C
Mark: “Yeshua the Servant of the Lord”
Events: B & C
Thus, the writers can choose what events to
record. And if they record the events they might
record them differently, but they never contradict
each other
Themes of the Gospels:
Matthew: Yeshua the Messiah, the King of the
Jews
Written to the Jews
Acts 7 – Stoning of Steven
Jewish believers scattered and Matthew
provides authoritative source of the life
of the Messiah for the Jews
Purposes of Matthew:
To show Yeshua is the Messiah
To explain how it is that Yeshua is the Messiah
though the kingdom was not set up
To explain the kingdom program
He writes in light of the impending judgment of
70 AD. It thus serves as a warning of this
judgment
Mark: Yeshua the Messiah, the Servant of the
Lord
Written for Romans – ¾ of all Roman citizens the
were slaves
Slaves were given a command and were expected
to immediately fulfill it
Yeshua is presented as the ideal Servant who
receives a commission and quickly carries it out
Over 40 x’s Mark uses the Greek word translated,
“straitaway,” “immediately,” or “forthwith”
It presents a sense of urgency to get the mission
done
Yet, he does have a Jewish viewpoint – appealing
to the “servant of the Lord” passages found in
the prophet Isaiah (Isa. 53)
Isaiah’s favorite title of Messiah – “Servant of the
Lord
Luke – Yeshua the Messiah, the Son of Man
Writes for the Greeks
Greeks famous for two things:
1. History – Egyptian history largely dependent
on Greek records
Concerned with chronological
sequence of historical events
2. The Ideal Man – self-disciplined, mentally
and physically
Luke 1:1-4
1. Luke not an eye witness – came to faith during
Paul’s ministry
2. Narratives of the life of Yeshua were already
out which were eyewitness accounts
Why then did Luke want to write another
account?
3. Luke’s account was to provide a
chronological account – “order” =
“chronological order”
We then are to prioritize Luke when attempting
to understand the chronological order of events
in the life of Yeshua
Luke does appeal to eyewitness accounts:
He was in Israel for 2 years with Paul
During that time he was able to interview eyewitnesses like Mary for example
Luke shows concern for three areas:
1. Concern for Jerusalem
Teachings of Yeshua about Jerusalem not
reached by the other Gospel writers
2. Concern for Gentiles
Came to faith by Paul, and served with Paul
in his ministry among the Gentiles
3. Concern for Women
Role in the life of Yeshua not revealed by
the other Gospel writers
John – Yeshua the Messiah the Son of God
Luke – emphasized the humanity of Yeshua
John – emphasized the deity of Yeshua
Written for all people – believers at large
Evangelistic emphasis reaching the lost
1. Shows believers all that Yeshua taught
2. Reveals the signs of Yeshua
Written AD 95 – After Matthew, Mark, Luke
John recalls things these Gospels left out
John – concerned with what Yeshua said and
taught (sermons, messages not covered by the
others)
Mark – concerned with what Yeshua did
John’s main theme is: Yeshua the Son of God
Sub themes: Conflict of light & darkness
Came for the purpose of teaching
about the Father to humanity
John then focuses on teachings rather than on the
things He has done
(“Show us the Father…” John 14:9ff
John works around the number 7:
7 Discourses
7 Signs
7 “I am” statements
The Branch of the Lord Motif
Matthew – Yeshua the Messiah the King of the
Jews
Mark – Yeshua the Messiah the Servant of the
Lord
Luke – Yeshua the Messiah the Son of Man
John – Yeshua the Messiah the Son of God
The Branch of the Lord Motif
Isaiah 4:2-6 – The Branch of the Lord will be
beautiful and glorious
a. The Land of Israel will be blessed
b. The remnant of Israel will be holy
c. This will come about through tribulation
d. The Shekinah will return
The Branch of the Lord Motif
Jeremiah 23:5 – The Branch of the Lord a King,
the Son of David
Zechariah 3:8 – The Branch of the Lord the
Servant of the Lord
Zechariah 6:12 – The Branch of the Lord who is
a Man
Jeremiah 23:6 – The Branch of the Lord who is
God
The Pre-existence of the Messiah
(John’s Prologue)
The word “Word” = “Logos” (Greek)
Often understood in the context of Greek
philosophy
Greek philosophers connected two concepts to
the term “Word”:
1. Reason = Focus is on the idea of God
2. Speech = Focus is on the expression of God
Logos = Word
____________│____________
│
│
Reason
Speech
│
│
Idea of God
Expression of God
John was not a Greek philosopher. He was a
Jewish fisherman
The Rabbinic Understanding of the “Word”
Greek: Logos
Hebrew: ‫ = דבר‬The “Word” was personified;
The “Word” = commissioned to carry out a
mission
Gen. 15:1 – Agent of revelation
Psalm 33:4-6 – Agent of creation
Psalm 147:15 – The “Word” moves swiftly
Isaiah 9:8 – The “Word” is sent
The Rabbinic Understanding of the “Word”
Isaiah 55:10-11 – The “Word” comes and goes
Isaiah 45:23 – The “Word” goes out in
righteousness
Ezekiel 1:3 – The “Word” came expressly to the
prophet
The Rabbinic Understanding of the “Word
‫ = ממרה = דבר‬logos = word
‫ ממרה‬became the theological term the rabbis
used
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
1. Something distinct from God; something
identified as God – Jn. 1:1
(John will enlarge on this later)
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
2. Agent of creation – Jn. 1:3
3. Agent of salvation – Jn. 1:12
4. Means by which God takes on physical form:
a. Christian theology = theophany
b. Rabbinic theology = Shechinah (the visible
manifestation of God in a given location
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
Shechinah = visible, localized presence was the
Shechinah of God.
Appeared as: light, fire, cloud – in combination of
these three things
Now he became man, or human
Greek “word” in vs. 14 – not the usual Greek
word for “to dwell”
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
The “sh” sound exists in Hebrew with one letter,
the letter ‫ש‬, the Greek does not have any way
of making this sound
Hebrew: ‫נא‬
‫“( הושיעה‬save now”) = the Greek
“hosanna”
Greek word used in Jn. 1:14 = “skeinei” “to
tabernacle”
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
Exodus 40 – the origin of the term ‫ – שכנה‬the
glory of God tabernacled with Israel until Ezk.
8-11 when the ‫ שכנה‬departed
Now for the first time since Ezekiel’s day the
‫ שכנה‬has returned – but not as a cloud but as a
person
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
The physical body of Messiah veiled his glory –
but one time the light came through at what is
often referred to as the “transfiguration”
recorded in Matthew 17
John saw this manifestation – “we” beheld his
glory” – John and 2 others (Peter and James)
Peter another eye witness of the transfiguration
makes a similar statement ( II Peter 1:16-18)
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
5. The means by which God ratified his covenants
8 covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures
3 – with humanity in general
Edenic Covenant
Adamic Covenant
Noahic Covenant
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
5 – with Israel in particular
Abrahamic Covenant
Land Covenant
Davidic Covenant
New Covenant
Mosaic Covenant
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
All 8 covenants conferred by the ‫ ממרה‬- signed
and sealed
Ex. 24:1-11 – Mosaic Law
Jn. 1:17 – New Covenant Messiah will sign and
seal by his death, burial, and resurrection
(Heb. 8-10)
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
6. Agent of revelation – “The word of the Lord
came to…”
Jn. 1:18 – “declared him,” or “revealed him”
sub-theme: to declare the Father (Heb. 1:1-3)
Rabbis taught 6 things about the ‫ממרה‬
Summary of what John states here:
1. The “memra,” the “logos,” “the word,” came
in visible form
2. The world in general did not recognize him
3. His own Jewish people did not recognize him
4. Those individual Jews and Gentiles who did
recognize him became the children of God and
received their salvation from the one who is the
agent of salvation
The Arrival of the King
Para. 3-19
Para. 3
Only Matthew & Luke give us birth narratives
Only Matthew & Luke give us genealogies
Matthew – Joseph’s perspective
Joseph active role; Miriam the passive role
The angel comes to Joseph
We know what Joseph is thinking
Why do we need two genealogies?
Matthew – Royal line; heir to David’s throne
Luke – Real line; biological descendant from David
Matthew demonstrates that if Yeshua was the
biological descendant of David he could not be
king
Neither could he be king solely by means of
adoption
Matthew – skips names in his genealogy
#14 – Yeshua the Davidic king
women mentioned – Tamar (vs.3), Rahab (vs.4)
Ruth (vs.4), Bathsheba (vs.5)
women are all Gentiles – though Messiah came for
the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” Gentiles
will benefit from his coming
Messiah came to save sinners –
Tamar- guilty of incest
Rahab – guilty of prostitution
Bathsheba – guilty of adultery
Ruth – not guilty of sexual sin, but she was the
product of it. The Moabites and Ammonites
the offspring of incest between Lot & his
daughters
Why do we need Matthew’s genealogical
account since Yeshua was not the son of Joseph?
vs. 1 – “son of David, son of Abraham”
vs. 6 – David-Solomon
vs. 11 – Jeconiah
vs. 16 – Joseph – direct descendant of David
through Joseph
vs. 16 – “whom”: feminine, “born only of Miriam not
of Joseph
Jeremiah 22:24-25 – Issue Regarding Jeconiah
Two Requirements for Kingship
1. Davidic Descent – applicable to the Southern
Kingdom of Judah with its capital in Jerusalem
Isa. 7 – attempt to sidetrack Davidic descend doomed
to fail
Isa. 8 – any such conspiracy will fail
2. Divine Appointment or Prophetic Sanction –
applicable to the Northern Kingdom of
Israel with its capital in Samaria; and the
Southern Kingdom of Israel
Jer. 22:24 – “Coniah” shortened form of Jeconiah
Special curse on Jeconiah (grows in intensity)
1. Go into captivity
2. Never to return to his homeland again
3. Die in captivity
4. “O earth, earth, earth” (3 x’s)
No descendant of Jeconiah would have the right to
sit on David’s throne
In addition to the requirements of Davidic descent
and prophetic sanction a third prerequisite is now
presented:
Jer. 22 – to be a king over Israel one must not be a
descendant in the line of Jeconiah
Matthew addresses the curse problem, therefore he
refers to the virgin conception and birth
Luke is not concerned with this issue so he does
not address the virgin birth until chapter 3
Matthew – Messiah’s kingship
(traces genealogy to David)
Luke – Messiah son of man=humanity
(traces the genealogy to Adam)
Luke follows Jewish precedence by not skipping
names and not including any women
To trace a women’s line, you substitute the husbands
name for the woman
How do you know it’s the women’s line and not the
husband’s line?
In Greek one uses the definite article –
Exception is in vs. 24, where Joseph’s name does not
have the definite article (see pg. 259-262 more details)
vs. 23-24a – In Talmudic literature Miriam is always
referred to as the “daughter of Heli”
Ezra 2:61; Neh. 7:63 – husbands name substituted
for the wife
vs. 31 – Miriam from the House of David, of Nathan
not Solomon
A descendant of David apart from Jeconiah
Why did Yeshua have the right to the Davidic
throne?
He had “divine appointment” – see Para. 5
Matthew 1:1 – Davidic Covenant
Abrahamic Covenant
4 Sonships of the Messiah
Son of David – Yeshua is a King
Son of Abraham – Yeshua is a Jew
Son of Man – Yeshua is human
Son of God – Yeshua is God
Summary: Yeshua is the Messiah the Jewish
God-Man King
Para. 4-11
Para. 4
Two key people in this section:
Zechariah – “The Lord Remembers” – ‫זכריה‬
Elisabeth – “The Oath of God” – ‫אל'שבע‬
Taken Together = “God Remembers His Oath”
(Para. 8 – we see a play on the meaning of these
two names)
vs. 5 – Zechariah served in the course of Abijah; a
member of the order of Abijah
I Chr. 24 – David divided the tribe of Levi, the
priesthood into 24 courses
-- Each course would serve 2 weeks in the
Temple
-- Their specific form of service was
chosen by the casting of lots
High Priest
│
24 Chief Priests (in charge of the 24 courses)
│
Common Priests (Zechariah was one of many,
a member of the course of
Abijah)
vs. 6 – “Both righteous before God” – they were
members of the “faithful remnant”
-- “Blameless” – not sinless; but when they
sinned they brought forth the proper
sacrifices and thus had their sins covered
Zechariah for 2 weeks was responsible to light the
altar of incense
Lighting the Altar of Incense Involved:
1. Taking a hot coal of the altar
2. Bring it to the altar of incense in the Holy
Place
3. Drop incense on the coal so that the smoke of
the incense would ascend into the Holy of Holies
This obligation was performed twice a day;
morning and evening for 2 weeks
Lev. 10 – The two sons of Aaron performed this
ceremony improperly and were judged
-- Because of this event the common teaching of
1st century Judaism was this:
If any priest made a mistake lighting the altar of incense
he too would die in the Holy Place
1st century Judaism the rabbis embellished this teaching
by adding an angel would appear on the right side of the
altar of incense to strike him down
In Luke’s account the angel has good news for
Zechariah and Elisabeth. They would have a son
in their old age
vs. 14 – They are to name him Yochanan
-- Yochanan – ‫“ – יוחנן‬The Lord is Gracious,” or
“The Grace of the Lord”
Yochanan will announce the coming of a new
dispensation of the grace of God with the coming
of Messiah
The angel says certain things about Yochanan:
1. vs. 15 – “He shall be great in the sight of the
Lord”
Later Yeshua will evaluate Yochanan and we
will see just how great he will be
2. vs. 15 – He was to abstain from anything that
had alcohol
-- He was to be a Nazarite from birth
-- Usually the Nazarite vow was something one
took voluntarily for a limited amount of
time
-- 3 people were called to be Nazarites
from birth:
Samson – unfaithful to his vow
Samuel – faithful to his vow
3. “Filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s
womb”
To be “filled” – to be controlled by the Spirit
4. “Many of the children of Israel…”
He will begin a repentance movement; a back to
God movement in preparation for the coming of
the Messiah
5. vs. 17 – “Go in the spirit and power of Elijah”
-- Several correlations are made between
Yochanan and Elijah in the Gospels
-- He will come in the power of Elijah and have
a special ministry to the believing remnant of his
day like Elijah had in his day
vs. 17 – “To make ready a people prepared for the
Messiah”
Purpose is to have a group ready to accept
Messiah
vs. 18 – Zechariah is given some very good news –
“How can I know this is true?”
This is a question that arises from unbelief
-- The angel gives Zechariah a unique sign
Since he spoke a question of unbelief he will speak
no more until the promise is fulfilled and
Yochanan is circumcised
vs. 21 – The people were anxiously waiting for
Zechariah but when he came out he could
not tell them what happened inside the
Holy Place
- the people recognized that something
happened but Zechariah could not tell
them what it was
vs. 24-25 – After Zechariah completed his two week
course of service he returns home
-- Elisabeth conceives and hid herself for 5 months
-- In biblical times childlessness was considered
a horrible thing because the husbands line is cutoff
-- Elisabeth states her “reproach is taken away”
Para. 4-11
Para. 5
vs. 26 – “Sixth month” – the sixth month of
Elisabeth’s pregnancy
-- Gabriel appears to Miriam – the same
angel who appeared to Zechariah
Gabriel told Zechariah he would be the father of
the forerunner of the Messiah
-- Gabriel then tells Miriam she will be the
bearer of the Messiah
Miriam – Miriam (the same name as the sister of
Moses)
Greek = Miriam (when you go from Greek to Latin
to English = Miriam)
Gabriel’s Message to Miriam:
1. The incarnation will be in a man – “you will have
son” God will become a man
2. His name shall be “Yeshua” = “to save” ‫ישע‬
“He will save his people”
3. He will be great
4. He will be the Son of God
5. He will fulfill the Davidic Covenant
II Sam. 7:12-17 – God’s Promise to David
1. He would have an eternal house
2. He would have an eternal throne
3. He would have an eternal kingdom
4. He would have an eternal descendant (see vs. 32)
vs. 34 – Miriam’s question is not a question arising
from doubt as in the case of Zechariah
-- She did not ask: “How can this be true?”
-- Here question is a question concerning, how can
this occur since she was a virgin
vs. 35 – The answer is that the Holy Spirit will bring it
about
-- The Holy Spirit will energize one of Miriam’s eggs
Then what will be born will be Holy, the Son of God
-- Miriam was not a surrogate mother because the
child must have a direct descent from Adam
-- There is a teaching that the sin nature was not
transmitted through the mother but only the Father
Thus, the idea goes the virgin birth protected
Yeshua from the sin nature
This idea is not true. Psalm 51 shows the sin nature
is transmitted through both the father and mother
What protected Yeshua from inheriting a sin
nature was not the lack of having a human father.
God was not limited to doing things in any one
way
God is omnipotent
God could have produced a sinless child with both
the father and mother. But he chose to do it this
way
It also served to authenticate his messianic claim –
Isaiah 7:14
What protected Yeshua from the sin nature was
the Holy Spirit
vs. 36 – six months since Elisabeth became pregnant
vs. 38 – Miriam puts herself in the safe keeping of
God’s hands for 3 reasons:
1. She is betrothed to Joseph and according to Mosaic
law if one is found pregnant during betrothal -- she
is found to be unfaithful and should be stone to
death
2. In times of Jewish history when the death
penalty was not practiced, a woman found
pregnant during betrothal would be ostracized
from the Jewish community, no Jewish wedding,
not permitted to be buried in a Jewish cemetery
3. Trust God with regard to her relationship to
Joseph
Para. 9 – Joseph did consider the process of
divorcement
Para. 4-11
Para. 6
vs. 41 – “babe leaps” – Yochanan is already fulfilling
his ministry of heralding the Messiah
-- Elisabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and gives a
prophetic utterance
-- she places a blessing upon Miriam – note what
she says
vs. 43 – she recognizes that her cousin Miriam is going
to be the mother of the Messiah
vs. 45 – Blessed is she who believes
-- Miriam is characterized as one who believed
while Elisabeth's own husband was not so
characterized
-- that is why he is still mute
-- this paragraph shows the extent of Miriam’s
faith
Para. 7
Shows the extent of Miriam’s spirituality and
knowledge of the Scriptures
Miriam’s song parallels Hannah's song which she
offered at the birth of Samuel
Two parts to Miriam’s song:
1. vs. 46-50 – praises God for who God is and what he
has done for her
2. vs. 51-55 – praises God for what he will do for Israel
vs. 47 – Miriam herself had need of a savior
She was not in a perpetual sinless state
vs. 54-55 – the Coming One will fulfill the Abrahamic
Covenant – connection with Jewish
Covenants
vs. 56 – Miriam remained with Elisabeth for 3 months
until the birth of Yochanan
Para. 5-7 – 3 examples of the strong role of women
(In Luke's Gospel in which he focuses on women)
Para. 8
A 4th example from women
Theme Principle: What Happens to the Herald
Happens to the King
Yochanan is born – but in Jewish tradition the son is
not named until the day of his circumcision on the 8th
day
Elisabeth stated the child’s name would be Yochanan
Today – Jewish tradition one names a son after a
departed family member
1st Century Israel – it was permissible to name a child
after any relative; alive or dead
vs. 61 – the problem is that none of their family is
named Yochanan – this is contrary to Jewish
tradition
They would have named him after Zechariah
When Elisabeth indicates his name would be
Yochanan, they attempted to go over her head to her
husband
But Zechariah stated in his name would be Yochanan
vs. 63 – “they made signs” – indicates Zechariah
was not only mute but deaf, otherwise they would
have spoken to him
This was an act of obedience on Zechariah’s part;
an act contrary to the Jewish tradition of his day
Then the curse is removed and Zechariah can
speak
The people sense something supernatural is going
on but they can’t quite figure it out
vs. 67 – Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit. He
gives a prophetic utterance and he speaks about:
2 parts: vs. 68-75 – the Messiah
vs. 76-80 – Yochanan himself
Again there is a connection with the Jewish
covenants
vs. 69 – the Davidic Covenant
vs. 73 – the Abrahamic Covenant
vs. 77 – the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34)
vs. 72b-73a – Play on the names of Elisabeth and
Zechariah = “The Oath of God,” “God
Remembers”
vs. 77 -Of Yochanan we read: Yochanan will be like
the “morning star” – the morning star is the sign
of day
Yochanan will be the forerunner or herald of
Messiah- The herald of the King
Luke’s concern for Gentiles
vs. 79 – “shine upon them” – Gentiles (Isa. 8:22;
9:2)
Gentiles in the darkness or shadow of death
Because they did not have the light of divine
revelation
“our feet” = Jewish People
vs. 80 – Yochanan goes into the wilderness area of
the desert of Judah.
We don’t know how old he was, but there he
would grow up to manhood
The desert would separate him from the Judaism
of his day
When he would begin his ministry it would be
with a message different from the Judaism of his
day
The Annunciation of the Birth of
Yeshua to Joseph
Para 9
Here we switch over to Matthew’s account and the
narrative is given from Joseph’s perspective
Emphasis is place on the virgin birth:
1. vs. 18 – “before they came together
2. vs. 23 – quote of Isaiah 7:14 (this reveals how
Isaiah
was understood in the 1st century
3. vs. 25 – no sexual relationship until after Yeshua
was born (Miriam had at leas 6 more
children)
Joseph after learning of Miriam’s pregnancy
considered divorcing her privately
Message of the angel to Joseph focuses attention on
three things:
1. Fulfill the marriage vow
2. Believe Miriam’s story
3. All this is according to God’s plan
vs. 21 – call his name Yeshua (‫“ = )ישוע‬save his people
from
their sin
The Birth of the King
Para. 10
Based on Luke & Matthew, and the historical
record of Josephus we can pinpoint the year of
Messiah’s birth to within 2 years
This is deduced from 4 clues:
1. Herod the Great dies in 4 BC
Thus, Yeshua must have been born sometime
before 4 BC
2. The Decree of Quirinas was issued in 8 BC
Thus, Yeshua was born after the decree.
Because of
the decree Joseph & Miriam travel from
Nazareth
to Bethlehem
3. Josephus – Herod left Jerusalem in 5 BC and
went
to Jericho never to return to Jerusalem;
Jericho is
where Herod died
4. Para. 14 – By the time the Magi arrive in
Bethlehem
Yeshua is almost 2 years old
Conclusion: Yeshua was born between 7-6 BC
The tax spoken of here is a land tax. Evidently
Joseph owned property in Bethlehem
The Announcement to the
Shepherds
Para. 11
vs. 8 – “shepherds in the field”
Some say Yeshua could not have been born on Dec.
25th because one can’t have sheep in the field in Dec.
Rainfall in Israel – End of Oct-Feb much rain
March – rain begins to taper off
April – rain dies out
Mid-April-mid Oct. – no rain
Dec. – Israel is a carpet of green
We don’t have enough information to know when
Yeshua was born – may have been Dec. 25th but we
don’t
know
Shekinah appears – an angel tells the shepherds:
1. vs. 10 – Do not be afraid of what you are
seeing
2. vs. 11 – The Savior has just been born
Israel has had many saviors (the
Judges)
3. vs. 12 – This Savior is the Messianic Savior
-Go find the child – How would they know which
child
born is the right child?
Two elements in the sign:
1. The Messianic Savior will be wrapped in
swaddling
cloth - burial cloth
2. The Messianic Savior will be lying in a
manger
Don’t look in private homes but in stable-caves in
the
hill country of Judah
Caves were used for burials and there they would
Why in stable-caves? There was no room in the inn
Messiah was found wrapped in burial cloth on both
the
first and last days of his life
The purpose of his birth – he was born not to live but
to
die
vs. 13 – Multitude of angels appear
Two-fold message concerning God
1. Glory to God in the highest
vs. 14 – angels make a proclamation – the text does
not
say they sang
vs. 15-20 – First recorded Jewish worship of the
Messiah
Initiated by means of the Shekinah Glory
vs. 19 – Miriam kept all these things in her heart
Later she will relate them to Luke
The Circumcision
Para. 12
Overarching Theme: What happens to the herald
happens to the King
Like John – though Joseph & Miriam know what
the
name of the Messiah is to be, they do not
officially
give him his name until eight days after the
birth at
his circumcision
Circumcision is commanded under two Jewish
Covenant
Those Obligated
Meaning
Abrahamic
Covenant
Jewishness
Jewish People Only
Sign of
Mosaic
Covenant
to the
Jews and Gentiles
Submission
Law
Messiah’s death brings the Mosaic Law to an end
No reason to practice circumcision with respect to
the
Law
Book of Galatians – Paul warns if you submit to
circumcision with respect to the Law you are to
keep
the entire Law
Messiah’s death brings the Mosaic Law to an end for
both Jews and Gentiles
Abrahamic Covenant is an eternal covenant which
requires Jewish believers to circumcise their
Circumcision reveals the faith and obedience of the
parents, not the child
Baptism reveals the faith and obedience of the one
being
baptized not the parents
Baptism is not the anti-type to circumcision.
Baptism
shows the faith of the one being baptized
The anti-type for circumcision is not baptism but
the circumcision of the heart
The Presentation
Para. 13
vs. 22 – These events occur 40 days after Yeshua is
born
Mosaic Law:
A woman who gives birth to a girl is unclean
for 80
days and then is to undergo the cleansing
process
If she gives birth to a son she is unclean for 40
days
Because Yeshua is Miriam’s first-born son she goes
to the
temple for two basic reasons:
1. The ceremonial purification of the mother
The offering provided is a pair of turtledoves or
two
young pigeons
a. One used for a sin offering
b. One used for a burnt offering
These offering reveal the economic status of
Joseph
Joseph and Miriam were extremely poor for only the
poor were permitted to make the substitute for a
lamb
or ram
Isaiah 11:1 – the House of David was reduced to a
stump
2. For the redemption of the first-born
a. The first-born of humans and animals belonged
to
the Lord
b. First-born of kosher animals offered up to the
Lord
c. First-born of unclean animals – substitute
Luke then gives us a Jewish and Gentile
perspective on
the presentation of Yeshua at the Temple
Simeon:
1. Member of the remnant of that day, a believer
2. God revealed to Simeon he would not die
until he
saw Messiah
Simeon recognized the fulfillment of this
promise in
Simeon – Once Simeon sees the child he is ready to
die
Note: Simeon’s play on words: “For my eyes
have seen
thy salvation.”
Yeshua – Jesus – ‫ = ישוע‬salvation as a name
Yeshuah – Salvation – ‫ – ישועה‬salvation as a
noun
“My eyes have seen your “Yeshua”/salvation”
vs. 34 – Simeon now says something negative to
Miriam
1. The child will be a new point of division in
the
Jewish faith
2. For those who believe in him it will be an
“arising”
3. For those who do not believe in him he would
be a
cause for a “falling”
Messiah will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of
vs. 35 – Miriam’s heart will be pierced as she sees
those
among the people of Israel reject her son
And her heart will be pierced even deeper when
she
sees her son hanging on the cross
Yet the death of Yeshua is essential for the hearts
of many to be revealed
Anna: The second encounter Luke records
Anna is the Anglicized form of the Hebrew
name
Hannah
She is described as:
1. A prophetess
2. The daughter of Phanuel
3. Of the tirbe of Asher
4. Quite old – over a century old
(she lived with her husband for 7 years and
then
5. She recognizes this 40 day old child to be the
Messiah
6. She deeply and devoutly worshipped the
Lord
7. She was thankful
8. She told many others of Messiah’s coming
Those she told were the believing remnant
In Bethlehem
Para. 14
Magi – At least two, but we don’t know how many
When they came they caused all kinds of
excitement
Probably more than two or three
Magi – “wise men” or astrologers (not kings)
They came from the east, Mesopotamia or
Babylon
Their questions: “Where is he that is born king of
the
Being Gentiles how would they know of the
Messiah concept?
Why would they want to come and worship him?
Gentile kings from the east knew of the God of
Israel and did not worship him. Why would these
Gentiles want to worship him now?
The thing that attracts the Magi’s attention is a star
in the east
5 things about this star in the east that reveals it is not
an ordinary star:
1. The star is referred to as “his star.” That is, the
Messiah’s star – uniquely Messiah’s star or his
private star
2. The star appears and disappears on at least two
occasions (vs. 3, 9,8)
3. The star moves from east to west (vs. 9)
4. The star moves from north to south
5. The star hovered over one particular home in
Bethlehem
“Star” – Greek = “radiance,” or “brilliance”
The reference is to the Shekinah Glory
In the ancient world astronomy and astrology
were
not different sciences or disciplines
Just as God used the profession of shepherds to
find
the stable-cave; so now he uses the
astronomer/
astrologer to follow the Shekinah Glory to the
home
Being Gentiles how would they know about the
Messianic king?
1. Daniel 9:24-27
Only prophet who gives the time table of
Messiah’s
coming
Daniel was not written in Israel but in Babylon
Half the book of Daniel is written in Aramaic
the
language of the Babylonians
Two things recorded in the book of Daniel are
relevant to the account of the Magi in Matt. 2:
1. Daniel saved all the wise men of Babylon
(Dan. 2:2)
2. Daniel became the head of the school of
astrology in Babylonia (Dan. 2:48)
2. Balaam
A prophet of Babylonia – a Gentile in the east
(Numbers 22:5; Deut. 23:4)
Numbers 24:17 – “A star will come out of Jacob;
A scepter will rise out of Israel”
Balaam’s prophecy connects the coming Messiah
with
two issues: 1. A Star
2. Kingship
The Magi go to Jerusalem because that is the
capital of
Israel; the kingdom of the coming King
They were not familiar with the works of Micah
and
thus did not know the prophecy of Messiah’s
Herod hearing of a rival king gathers the chief
priests
and scribes to learn where the Messiah is to be
born
Herod also wants to know when the star appeared
to the
Magi
Herod learns the star appeared 2 years prior (Matt.
2:16)
How did the Magi know which child was the
vs. 9 -“stood over” or “hovered over” – the house
where
Messiah was. The shekinah showed them where
the
Messiah was
vs. 11 – no longer is Messiah in a stable-cave but a
private
home
The first recorded Gentile worship (the Magi) and
the
The gifts the Magi brought:
1. Gold – symbol of kingship (Dan. 2)
Messiah is a king
2. Frankincense – symbol of deity (Lev. 3:2; 5:11)
Messiah is God
3. Myrrh – symbol of death and sacrifice (Mark
15:23;
John 19:39)
Magi return to Babylon on a different route
In Bethlehem
Para. 15
Herod the Great was known for his paranoia
1. He had killed 3 sons
2. He had killed Miriamni his favorite wife because
he
believed she conspired to assassinate him
3. It was said that Caesar Augustus said, “It was
safer
to be Herod’s pig then Herod’s son.”
Herod was a nominal convert to Judaism and as
as such did not eat pig
4. Here, he kills all the male children 2 years old
and
The gifts of the Magi become the means by which
Joseph
and Miriam can live in Egypt: Gold
Frankincense
Myrrh
In Nazareth
Para. 16
An angel tells Joseph to leave Egypt for Israel
Herod dies and his inheritance is divided up between
his
three sons:
Archelaus receives control of Judea and Samaria
Archelaus is a cruel overseer
At his crowning he had 3,000 Jews killed in the
Temple during Passover
Herod Antipas ruled in Galilee and was noted as a
milder ruler, so Joseph goes there
Galilee was looked down upon by the religious
establishment:
No rabbinic schools were in Galilee at this time
The rabbis said, “If you want to gain wealth you
go
north, if you want to gain wisdom you come
south.”
Four Ways OT Prophecy is Interpreted
1. Literal Prophecy & Literal Fulfillment
Para. 14- Matt. 2:6 quoting Micah 5:2
Micah- Messiah to be born in Bethlehem of Judea
Matt.- Messiah was born in Bethlehem of Judea
2. Literal Prophecy & Typological Fulfillment
Para. 15- Matt. 2:15 quoting Hosea 11:1
Hosea- Refers to the Exodus and the deliverance of
Israel the national son of God (Ex. 4:22-23)
Matt.- Messianic Son returns from Egypt to Israel
3. Literal Prophecy & Application Fulfillment
Para 15- Matt. 2:17 quoting Jer. 31:15
Current event of Jeremiah’s own time
Israel taken into captivity to Babylon, the
surviving
soldiers marched through Ramah (where
Rachel is
buried) en route to Babylon
Rachel became a symbol of Jewish motherhood
Matt. applies Jeremiah’s statement to the Jewish
mothers mourning the death of their children
in
In this usage of prophecy all the details can be
different
except for one:
Jer.- the location is Ramah
Matt.- the location is Bethlehem
Jer.- sons taken into captivity
Matt.- sons killed
Jer.- sons are adult prisoners of war
Matt.- sons are 2 years and younger
The point of agreement between these two events
is:
Weeping by Jewish mothers for the children
they
will not see again
Another example: Joel 2 quoted in Acts 2
The point of similarity is: the outpouring of the
Spirit
of God will be accompanied by unusual
manifestations
4. Literal Prophecy & Summary Fulfillment
Para. 16- Matt. 2:23 referring to many prophets
No specific prophet is mentioned
No particular passage is in mind
Summarizes what the prophets taught
A Nazarene in the 1st century was looked down
upon
Messiah would be “despised and rejected”
Judeans looked down upon Galileans and
Galileans
These four ways of interpreting OT prophecy was the
common practice in Judaism of the 1st century
The technical term for the system of interpreting
prophecy is called: ‫( פרדס‬pardes)
‫ = פ‬Pshat = Literal meaning of the text
‫ = ר‬Remez = “A hint” (stands for the
literal/typological)
‫ = ד‬Drash = Exposition (that leads to application)
‫ = ס‬Sod = Secret (referring to summation)
His Growth
Para. 17
Luke focuses on the humanity of Yeshua
He alone provides a statement like this
Summarizes Yeshua’s development to 12 years of age
Yeshua’s home life:
1. Jewish home
2. Spiritual home (believing home; Scripture central)
3. 5 years: begin study of Scripture in Jewish school
4. 10 years: begin study of “oral law” (Jewish tradition)
5. 12 years: apprenticed in a profession
stay at home if learning the father’s profession
go to another to learn his profession
continue to study from 12-30 years when he would
be
ordained
At 12 the decision is made regarding the direction
the
Messiah would take
Isaiah speaks of the “Servant of the Lord”
Isa. 50:4-9 – Messiah’s mission
vs. 4 – Messiah is discipled by the Lord
vs. 5 – Messiah to endure physical suffering
vs. 6 – Messiah did not shield himself from the
abuse
With respect to Messiah’s divine nature – he
knows
everything
With respect to Messiah’s human nature – he was
taught by the Lord
By 12 Yeshua understood the Father’s will and
calling
The Visit to Jerusalem
Para. 18
vs. 41 – Yeshua was raised in an observant home
3 times a year pilgrimage was to be made to
Jerusalem:
1. Passover
2. Shavuoth
3. Sukkoth
It was customary to bring one’s child to Jerusalem
for
Passover when the child turned 12, one year
before his
In 1st century it was common to travel in groups
When returning to Nazareth from Jerusalem:
1. Joseph and Miriam travel one day not realizing
that
Yeshua remained in Jerusalem – vs. 43
2. At the end of their day’s journey they realize
Yeshua
is not with them – vs. 44
3. They then travel back to Jerusalem to look for
Yeshua – vs. 45
When Miriam and Joseph find Yeshua he is in the
temple with the experts in the interpretation of
the
Law
Yeshua both understood what they were saying,
and was
raising the right questions
All were amazed at his answers – God taught
Yeshua
vs. 49 – Mary asks, “where were you?”
vs. 50 – Yeshua points out that God is his father. Thus,
he was in his Father’s house, the Temple
Miriam should have known where to find him – for he
is following in the occupation of his Father
At 12 a Jewish boy determines his vocation. Yeshua is
stating his “business,” or “vocation” is that of fulfilling
his Father’s will
By 12 Yeshua clearly recognizes the sonship relationship with
God the Father
His Development
Para. 19
vs. 51. – The Superior subjected himself to the
inferior
Yeshua submitted himself to his mother
and
father
vs. 52 – Yeshua developed: intellectually,
physically,
spiritually, and socially
These are the same areas in which we all
must
The Message to John
Para. 20
Based on the information found in Luke 3:1-2 the
date is AD 26
Luke 3:2 – “word” = two different Greek words
1. “rehma” = spoken word (“begin the mission”)
2. “logos” = written, spoken, and incarnate
word
The Message by John
Para. 21
With para. 21 we have three columns
Mark: Servant of the Lord – quotes Mal. 3:1 to
indicate this is Israel centered
Matt. – John’s Message:
1. Repent – back to God movement
2. Kingdom…- kingdom centered
3. Be immersed – an immersion of repentance
Luke – Human centered (“repentance unto
remission of sins” and “all flesh…”) vs.3,6
John’s dress is like Elijah
Earlier we were told John would come in the
“spirit and power of Elijah” here we are told he
dresses like Elijah
He gets a lot of attention: Mark vs. 5; Matt. vs. 5
The Explanation by John
Para. 22
Two Stages of Inquiry by Sanhedrin
1. Observation – Sanhedrin will send out
observers to see if there is reason for concern
2. Investigation – Sanhedrin will send out a
party to investigate
Matt. vs. 7 – observing party is sent out
Jewish leaders come not to be baptized
but to observe
Luke vs. 7- John first is talking to the multitude
When he sees the Pharisees and Sadducees he
then speaks to them
Common Jewish thought – all Jews would enter
the messianic kingdom
John tells the people not to believe this teaching
Note: John’s play on words in Hebrew:
“stones” – ‫אבנים‬
“children” – ‫בנים‬
The Sanhedrin’s observing party note that John is
instructing the Jewish people what is contrary to
their teachings
Luke vs. 11- to the multitudes he teaches them to
keep only what is essential to meet your needs
Luke vs. 13 – to the tax collectors he tells them to
not take from the people more than what is
supposed to be taken
Luke vs. 14 – to the soldiers (part of the
occupation army) he tells them:
1. Do not be violent
2. Do not forcibly take from others
3. Be content with your wages
John is addressing the issue of excessiveness
He was telling the people to do things contrary
to their nature and office
The observers will report that John’s ministry is
significant
Remember the theme: What happens to the
herald happens to the king
The Promise by John
Para. 23
Matt. vs. 11 – The one coming after John will
perform two different kinds of baptism:
1. Those who believe will be baptized by the
Spirit
2. Those who do not believe will be baptized by
the fire of judgment
Baptism (Immersion)
Repent & Accept
Reject & do not
Messiah
Accept Messiah
Wheat (believers)
Chaff (unbelievers)
Barn (kingdom)
Burned Up (judgment)
Luke vs. 18 – Many other things he exhorted
At His Baptism
Para. 24
The baptism of Yeshua marks the last act of his
private life and first act of his public life
Baptism Among the Jewish People
Baptism is a “key word”
Hebrew Terms
“Mikvah” (‫ = )מקוה‬place of immersion
“Tvilah” (‫ = )טב'לה‬immersion (not sprinkling;
not pouring)
Greek Terms
“Bapto” = to dip or dye
“Baptizo” = to immerse (equivalent to “tvilah”)
Meaning of the word in both Hebrew and Greek
is “to immerse”
Meaning of the act or ritual = “identification”
To identify with a message, person, or group
To break from a former way of life
Being baptized by John meant one identified with
John’s message and group of followers
Whoever John points out is the Messiah upon him
they would believe
Believer’s Baptism – one identifies with the work
of Messiah who provides salvation. Identifying
oneself with the death, burial, and resurrection
of Messiah
All baptisms in the NT are immersions of
believers
Matt. vs. 14-15 – 6 Reasons for baptism of Yeshua
1. To identify with righteousness; to fulfill the
demands of the Mosaic Law (vs.15)
2. To identify with John’s message; the kingdom
is here
3. To identify himself with believing remnant
being prepared by John
4. To be publically made known to Israel
5. II Cor. 5:21 – To be identified with sinners
6. Acts 10:38 – To receive his anointing by the
Holy Spirit
The entire Tri-Unity appears:
1. The Father’s voice is heard: “This is my
beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”
2. The Son is being immersed
3. The Holy Spirit comes in the form of a dove
Why does the Holy Spirit appear as a dove?
Genesis 1:2 – First mention of the Holy Spirit
‫ = מרחפת‬used of a mother bird hovering over
her eggs just before they hatch
Gen. 1:2 – Spirit of God hovering over the
waters just before land appears
Midrashim – rabbis specify that it was a dove
Matt. 3:17 – the Spirit of God hovers over Messiah
just before he begins his public ministry
God the Father identifies himself with the
Messianic Son of Psalm 2
“Bat Kol” (‫“ = )בת קול‬daughter of a voice”
This became a technical term by the rabbis for
God’s voice from heaven
Rabbinic Thought – God’s voice ceased with
Malachi; the next prophet to arise on the scene
would be Elijah who would tell the Jewish people
of the coming Messiah
This did not mean God would be silent:
In rabbinic thought periodically God would
speak out of heaven but not give a long
discourse
What he would say would be one or two
sentences but no more
This fits well with the immersion of Yeshua in
Jewish thought
Two things occur with the immersion of Yeshua:
1. He is identified with God the Father to be the
Messianic Son (Psalm 2)
2. He is anointed by the Holy Spirit for service
Luke vs. 23 – Yeshua begins his ministry at about
30 years of age (not exactly 30)
Through the Temptation
Para. 25
The connection between Para. 25 and 24 should
not be missed
1. Para. 24 – Yeshua declared to be the Son of God
Para. 25 – Yeshua must prove himself to be the
Son of God
2. Para. 24 – Yeshua came to “fulfill all
righteousness”
Para. 25 – Yeshua’s righteousness will be tested
The temptation of Yeshua was part of God’s
divine plan:
Mark vs. 12 – “the Spirit driveth him forth into
the wilderness”
Matt. vs. 1 – “Yeshua led up of the Spirit”
Luke vs. 1 – “Yeshua full of the Holy Spirit”
“Yeshua was led by the Spirit”
Mark vs. 13 – He was in the wilderness for 40
days but no details are given
Matt. & Luke:
They give us details of the temptation
The order of the temptation is different
Luke gives us the correct chronology
Matt. focuses on the kingdom so the kingdom
temptation is last
Purpose of the Temptation
From God’s perspective – Proves the sinlessness
of Yeshua
From Satan’s perspective – Cause him to sin so
as to disqualify him from making the atonement
Two separate representative roles in Messiah’s
temptation:
1. Representative role with Israel – where Israel
failed, Messiah did not fail
2. Representative role with believers – Messiah shows
us how we should deal with temptation
5 Ways Messiah Represents Israel:
1. Term “Son of God” is used: it is used of both
Messiah and Israel (Ex. 4:22-23)
2. Testings of both Messiah and Israel occur in
the wilderness (I Cor. 10:1-13)
3. Both are connected with the number 40
(Mark vs. 13)
4. The presence of the Holy Spirit is in both
events (Isa. 63:7-14)
5. Deut. only book quoted by Yeshua
Deut. Is God’s covenantal agreement with Israel
Messiah as representative of Israel restates this
covenantal relationship in the midst of temptation
Yeshua’s representative role with believers:
showing us how to deal with temptation
Hebrews 4:15
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable
to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have
one who had been tempted in every way (“in all
respects”), just as we are—yet was without sin.”
Heb. 4:15: “in all respects” does not mean, “with
the same temptations”
Yeshua was tempted to turn stones to bread; we
are not tempted to do this
We are tempted to waste our time with frivolous
things; Yeshua was not tempted to do that
What is meant is that Yeshua, like us was tempted
through the same areas, or “gateways” through
which all temptation comes
I John 2:16
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh
and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of
life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”
I John 2:16: The Gateways of Temptation
I John 2:16
Matt.4/Luke4
Genesis 3
“Lust of the
Flesh”
“Turn the Stones
to Bread”
“Lust of the
Eyes”
“See the Kingdoms
“Fruit was a
of the World”
delight to the eyes”
“Fruit was good
for Food”
“Boastful Pride “Jump from the
“Desirable to
Of Life”
Pinnacle of the Temple” make one wise”
Lk. vs. 13 – “every temptation” = every area of
temptation
Four things we learn about spiritual warfare:
1. If we resist the Evil One he will flee from us –
(“he departed”)
2. Every victory is only temporary –
(“for a season”
Spiritual warfare is not a one time battle, but
a life long conflict
3. Note what Yeshua does not do:
a. He does not call Satan any names
b. He does not bind him
c. He does not rebuke him
d. He does not command him
4. Note what Yeshua does do:
a. He resorts to the truth of Scripture
b. He applies it to his situation
Two Things We Learn From Yeshua Concerning
How to Wage Spiritual Warfare:
1. Study the Word of God
2. Apply it in your life
Knowledge alone puffs up, thus it must be
applied
Knowledge of the Word + Application of its
Truths = Victory Over the Evil One
Testimony of John Before Leaders
Para. 26
The 2nd stage of the investigative party –
raising questions
3 Times we are informed that an official
delegation from Jerusalem is present:
1. vs. 19 – “when the Jews sent…”
2. vs. 22 – “…that we may give an answer to
them that sent us.”
3. vs. 25 – “And they had been sent from the
Pharisees”
John denies three things:
1. He denies being the Messiah (vs. 21)
2. He denies being Elijah (vs. 21)
a. He came in the “power and spirit” of Elijah
b. He dresses like Elijah
c. But he denies being Elijah
3. He denies being the prophet referred to in
Deut. 18 (vs. 21)
Who Is John?
1. He is the one spoken of in Isaiah 40:3
2. He is the forerunner of Messiah; the Herald
of the King
vs. 26 – The Messiah is in our midst
But John is not willing to make him
public yet
- John is not worthy to unlatch his sandal
“What happens to the herald, happens to the King”
Testimony of John to Jesus
Para. 27
Two ideas of “the Lamb” in the Jewish mind in
the 1st century:
1. Passover Lamb – Ex. 12
2. Messianic Lamb – Isaiah 53
vs. 30 – with respect to Yeshua’s humanity he was
6 months younger than John
- with respect to Yeshua’s deity he precedes
John
vs. 32-33 – John explains why he was baptizing
1. Previous revelation was given to him that he
would see the Spirit of God like a dove
descend on the Messiah
2. The descent of the Holy Spirit was an
authenticating sign
He knew who Yeshua was already, but the
coming of the Spirit was the sign
vs. 34 – John makes the acknowledgement that he
had seen the sign
- He indicates who the Messiah is (vs. 29)
Note: the term “witness” is one that is most
closely connected with John. He is a witness to
Messiah
Acceptance of His Person:
Para. 28-36
The Authority of the King:
Para. 37-56
The Belief by the First
Disciples
Para. 28
First two disciples of John follow Yeshua:
1. John (the author of the 4th Gospel)
2. Andrew the brother of Peter – vs. 40
vs. 38 – Question: “What are you seeking?”
Answer: “Where do you live?”
Response: “Come and see.”
Rabbinic means of attracting disciples. “Come and
see” was a statement expressing the formal
acceptance of a disciple
vs. 40 – Andrew’s brother is Peter (3rd disciple)
vs. 41 – “we have found the Messiah”
vs. 43 – calling of Philip (4th disciple)
vs. 44 – mention of Nazareth
note: the attitude toward Galileans
vs. 49 – Why does Nathaniel conclude Yeshua is
Messiah?
vs. “An Israelite in whom is no guile”
1. Term “Israelite” is a cryptic reference to
Jacob
2. Jacob was one who had “guile” because he
deceived his father Isaac
3. As a result he had to flee his household
4. Unlike Jacob Nathaniel was one who had no
guile
Usually study of God’s Word occurred under a
“fig tree”
Keep in mind no Bibles existed and scrolls of the
One would borrow a scroll and sit under a fig tree
read and mediate upon it
Nathaniel becomes Yeshua’s 5th disciple
Nathaniel’s response: “Rabbi, you are the son of
God;
you are the King of Israel.”
What impressed Nathaniel was that Yeshua knew
what passage of Scripture Nathaniel was reading
(Gen. 28)
Thus when he spoke of Nathaniel as not having
guile, he Nathaniel knew Yeshua knew he was
reading about Jacob’s deceiving his father and
Then Yeshua states, “you shall see the heaven
opened, and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of man” (Gen. 28:12)
Belief Through the First
Miracle
Para. 29
This paragraph records the first of 7 signs given by
John
Timeline
Para. 26 – 1st day (vs. 19)
Para. 27 – 2nd day (vs. 29)
Para. 28 – 3rd & 4th days (vs. 35, 43)
Para. 29 – 5th, 6th, 7th days (vs. 1)
Cana – 7 miles north of the modern Cana in Galilee
Yeshua brings his 5 disciples
A typical wedding feast would last 7 days
First the better wine is served
Then the lesser wine is served
The wine runs out
Mary tells Yeshua: “They ran out of wine” – we
don’t
know why she went to Yeshua
Yeshua responds: “My hour is not yet come”
This phrase usually refers to Messiah’s death
Here it means, his going public with his miracles
Jerusalem is the place to go public
“What have I to do with you” –
1. His future death – “my hour”
2. Mary no longer has any authority over him
3. What he does will be to honor his parent; not
out of
the need to obey her
Because Jewish people will ritually cleanse their
hands before eating, and because the marriage
feast will last 7 days, there is a need for frequent
washing of hands
Pots filled with water- Yeshua will turn the water
into
wine
His wine is more significant or better than the 1st
wine
Two things result:
1. Messiah manifests his glory
Short time for the wine to ferment
2. Disciples believed on him
Faith in Yeshua’s messiahship is confirmed
vs. 11 – “beginning of his signs” –
demonstrates that all other stories of Messiah’s
miracles when Yeshua was a child are not true
This is the first miracle he performs
Psalm 104:15 – Drinking of wine is a symbol of joy
“firkin” = “bath” Two kinds of baths
1. Jerusalem bath = 5-8 gallons per firkin
2. Sepphoris bath = 17-25 gallons per firkin
Yeshua could have made as little as 60 gallons (2
firkins)
or 90 gallons (3 firkins) or wine; or as much as
204
gallons (2 firkins) or 450 gallons (3 firkins) of
wine
The Sojourn in Capernaum
Para. 30
A family journey
Later Capernaum will become Yeshua’s ministry
center
vs. 12 – “went down” – directions always in
relation to
Jerusalem
vs. 13 – “went up” to Jerusalem
Yeshua had brothers
Two brothers are named: 1. James (Jacob)
2. Jude (Judah)
The Possession of the
Temple
Para. 31
vs. 13 – 1st of 4 Passovers mentioned in his public
ministry
4 Passovers make up 3 years
Baptism – 4-5 months earlier (ministry 3 ½
years)
Public ministry is 3 years
Yeshua sees 2 things in the Temple:
1. Those who sold animals for sacrifices
2. Those changing money
This was the business venture of one man Annas
Annas was a Sadducee
He ran his family business in the Temple
compound
He made his sons the treasurers
He made his sons-in-law assistant treasurers
Josephus defines him as: “a hoarder of money,
“very
rich,” “spoiling the people by violence”
Any common priest who objected to him would be
vs. 14 – “selling sacrifices” – According to the
Mosaic
Law you could bring your own sacrifice to the
Temple
But it had to be without blemish, without spot
Thus it had to be inspected
Priests working in behalf of Annas would find
something wrong with your sacrifice
One could bring another sacrifice, if you live in
Jer.
that might be possible. But if you lived further
You could purchase your sacrifice from Annas,
but they would sell it in highly inflated prices. This
money went
into the pockets of Annas and his family members
“money changers” – Passover time everyone paid
the
half-shekel Temple tax
Because Rome is ruling the country one used
Roman
coinage
One could not use Roman coinage for the Temple
One then had to change the Roman currency into
Temple currency. Charge for this resulted in profits
going to Annas and his family
The Pharisees did not like this practice of Annas either
In their writings they refer to this practice as the
“Bazaar of the Sons of Annas
Yeshua uses his authority: 1. Drives out the animals
2. Made a whip
3. Poured out the money
4. Turned over the tables
The disciples remember Psalm 69:9
vs. 19 – Pharisees ask – by what authority do you
do
these things.
Yeshua states, “destroy this Temple and in 3
days I will
raise it up”
Yeshua was talking about his body, but he does
not
point that out
The Temple at this point was being built for 46
years
It would be finished in AD 64, about 6 years before
it
would be destroyed
In AD 67 the Pharisees get so upset with the
“Bazaar of
the Sons of Annas,” that they overthrow the
money
changers, drive out the animals, and cleanse the
Temple
At the resurrection of Yeshua:
1. His disciples remember this event and
Yeshua’s
words
2. They believe the Scriptures – they saw it come
fulfilled
3. They believe Yeshua’s words
Acceptance in Judea: Para. 32
Faith in His Signs: Para. 32a
Para. 31 – Yeshua goes public with his messianic
claims
Para. 32 – vs. 23-25 – Yeshua goes public with his
miracles
Para. 32-61 – Purpose of His Miracles
Yeshua’s miracles are to serve as signs to Israel
To get Israel to make a decision concerning his
messianic claims
Para. 61-64 – Change in the purpose of his miracles
The will be for personal benefit
These miracles will serve to authenticate 2 things:
1. Authenticate his person – he is the Messiah the
prophets spoke about
2. Authenticate his message – he is offering the
Jewish
people the kingdom spoken by the prophets
Acceptance in Judea: Para. 32
The Explanation to Nicodemus: Para.
32b
The 1st of Yeshua’s 7 discourses recorded by John
The Discourse on the New Birth
vs. 1 – “Pharisee” – tells us about his beliefs
“All Israel has a share in the age to come”
If anyone was born a Jew he had automatic rights
to
God’s kingdom
Not true of Gentiles. A Gentile had to do one of
two
1. Obey the laws of Noah
The 7 laws of the Noahic covenant (Gen. 9)
2. Convert to Judaism and take on the Mosaic
Law
Pharisees taught: “Abraham sits at the gates of
Gehenna
to snatch an Israelite consigned thereto.”
Merely being born a Jew was enough to be assured
of
heaven
Pharisaic writings: “born of water,” = being born
physically
Anyway born physically as a Jew gave one the
right to
enter God’s kingdom
vs. 3 – “Except a man be born…” – unless one
experiences
the new birth he will not even see God’s
kingdom
Many understand Nicodemus’ response to suggest
he
Nicodemus’ question is: “How is one born again
when
he is old?”
He understood the term. It was a common term
used
among the Jewish people
What Nicodemus did not understand is, “how one
can
achieve it when he has reached a certain age in
life and
achieved a certain status in Jewish society
The first two are not relevant to Nicodemus:
1. When a Gentile converts to Judaism
2. When one is crowned king
3. In the 1st century they had a unique ceremony
when a
boy reached 13 years of age. Later it would
become
what we refer to as a “bar mitzvah.” This was
relevant to Nicodemus
4. When one marries
John does not point out that Nicodemus was
married
but we do know that he was. He is called:
a. Pharisee (vs. 1)
b. Ruler of the Jews – (vs. 2) A title give to the 71
members of the Sanhedrin. A prerequisite
was that
one was a married man
Marriage usually occurred between 16-20
5. When one was ordained a rabbi – at age 30
Rav = Teacher
6. Rosh Yeshiva – The head of a religious
academy
(vs. 10) – “the teacher of Israel”
Rabban = Head of a school
This occurred when one was 50
No other way to be “born again.” Nicodemus is
saying, “I have been born again in the 4 ways
applicable to me. What other way is there?
(“When I am old”)
Yeshua uses a rabbinic style of teaching with
Nicodemus
He goes from the known factor to the unknown
Yeshua teaches one must be born of water (physically)
And be born of the Spirit (spiritually)
Yeshua is rejecting the Pharisaical notion that all Jews
will automatically enter the kingdom of God
Merely being born physically as a Jew does not qualify
one for heaven. One must be born physically and
spiritually
Nicodemus does not qualify. He must have a spiritual
birth
Next question Nicodemus has and is anticipated by
Yeshua is, “how can one be born spiritually?”
Yeshua answers the question in vs. 7
Two separate steps to being “born again” spiritually.
1. God does the first (vs. 14) – He sends his son to
provide the final atonement
2. Man does the second – individuals must believe
and
receive his son
vs. 16 – Most famous passage in John’s gospel
1. God gave his only son
2. Individuals must receive what God has
provided
Until Nicodemus believes that Yeshua is the
Messianic
King he will not enter God’s kingdom
This was so new to Nicodemus he was not able to
accept this right away. This is still true for many
Jewish people today. Jewish people go through a
struggle when challenge to believe in Yeshua as
Sometimes the struggle is a:
Spiritual struggle
Theological struggle
Ethnic struggle
Family struggle
He must change his way of thinking before he can
see the possibility that Yeshua is the Messiah
For Nicodemus the struggle begins here and will
continue for 3 years
Nicodemus appears two more times in John’s
gospel:
1. John 7 – not yet a believer but defends
Yeshua’s
right to be heard before being
condemned
2. At the burial of Yeshua where he comes out
openly
as a believer
Because Nicodemus was preeminent in Jewish
1. Nicodemus was a wealthy well digger
2. He was among the 3 most righteous men in
Jerusalem
3. Upon becoming a believer he was reduced to
poverty
4. His daughter went about the city begging as a
pauper
5. The rabbis record this account to prove that one
should not believe on Yeshua. For if one does
the same
thing will happen to them
Nicodemus may have died physically poor, but we
The Witness of John
Para. 33
The Jewish people only practiced immersion. If John
was sprinkling or pouring he would not need “much
water”
(vs.23)
John is in the southern end of the Jordan River where
it runs into the Dead Sea
Toward the end of the summer months and before the
rainy season the water gets shallow
John then goes north near Salin where the Sea of
Galilee runs into the Jordan River
During the Summer months there is more water three
which reveals how important immersion was in the
Jewish culture
The disciples of John observe the movement of the
disciples of Yeshua
They become jealous for John’s sake but John says
there is not need to be jealous, “He must increase,
but I must decrease.”
vs. 28-29 – Bridegroom = Messiah
Bride = the congregation of believers
(Acts 2)
Friend of the Bridegroom = OT saints
vs. 34 – Fulfills Isaiah 11:1-2
Messiah is given the Spirit without measure
All believers receive the Spirit in measure
We have different callings
We have different spiritual gifts
All for the purpose of doing God’s will
But Yeshua had no limitations regarding the Spirit
of God
The Imprisonment of John
Para. 34
Yeshua leaves Judea and goes back to Galilee for 3
reasons:
1. Pharisees had heard Jesus was making more
disciples than John (vs.4)
2. Yeshua’s movement through Samaria was
part of
God’s divine plan (vs.4)
3. John was arrested (vs.20)
John was arrested because of his statements about
Herod’s false marriage to Herodias
Herod married Herodias while her first husband
was till alive and her husband Philip was the
brother of Herod
Remember the theme: What happens to the herald
happens to the King
vs. 14 – part of God’s divine plan is manifested in
Luke’s
account, “in the power of the Spirit.”
The Acceptance in Samaria
Para. 35
The Samaritans were a mixed people group in 2 ways:
1. Ethnically – The people the Assyrians brought in to the
Land of
Israel inter-married with the people in the land
2. Religiously – They brought in their own pagan worship
style and
adopted the God of Israel as one of their gods but not
the only
God.
By NT period they were monotheistic but had
practices
that were uncomfortable for the Jewish people
The Samaritans were not allowed to worship in the
Temple so they build their own temple on Mt.
Gerizim.
The foundations of this temple can still be seen
today
Mt. Gerizim thus became their holy site. It is in the
village of Shechem
Samaritans would not allow the Jews to travel
through
In the Mosaic Law the Samaritans changed every
possible reference made to Jerusalem to that of Mt.
Gerizim
The Samaritans permitted travel from Jerusalem
through Samaria, but they did not allow travel to
Jerusalem
The Conversation with the Samaritan Women
5 Sections:
1. vs. 10-14 – Yeshua reveals to her a new kind of
life
2. vs. 15-19 - Yeshua reveals to her something
about
herself. Why she needs this new
kind of
life
3. vs. 20-23 – Yeshua reveals what constitutes
true
worship
The Samaritans were anti-Jewish, but the Jews
were just as anti-Samaritan
Common Jewish saying: “May my eyes never see a
Samaritan.”
We also see in this passage the woman grow from
unbelief to faith
1. vs. 9 – She calls Yeshua a Jew
2. vs. 11,15 – She calls Yeshua “Sir” (more
respectful)
3. vs. 20 – she calls Yeshua a prophet
This is very significant because in Samaritan
theology
they only prophet would be Messiah
4. vs. 30 – she calls Yeshua Messiah
5. vs. 42 – The Samaritans then refer to Yeshua as
the
“Savior of the world.”
Yeshua and his disciples arrive at Jacob’s well
vs. 6 – Yeshua became tired and hungry (vs. 8)
Yeshua then sends his disciples into the town to
buy food
vs. 9 – There is no relationship between these two
ethnic
groups
The woman is surprised that Yeshua would
even
talk with her
vs. 10 – Yeshua speaks of “living water”
vs. 14 – If one drinks this water one will never
thirst
vs. 15 – Her request: she doesn't understand the
nature
of this water
vs. 18 – Yeshua understands this woman perfectly
Often when one points out someone’s sin
that
person will engage in a theological
argument
vs. 20 – she begins to argue about the right place
for
worship
vs. 21 – A time is coming when true worship will
not be
limited to any one local
- All genuine worship will be in Spirit and
truth
vs. 23 – “Salvation is of the Jews”
Jewish people received the message of
salvation
Jewish people wrote down the record of
salvation
Jewish people knew the proper place of
vs. 20 – “You are a prophet”
Samaritans did not recognize any of the –
prophets,
only Moses, and the next prophet, Messiah
vs. 25 – “I know Messiah comes”
vs. 26 – “I am the Messiah”
vs. 27 – The disciples return
They are surprised that Yeshua is talking
with a
Samaritan woman
vs. 35 – While the harvest of physical food is yet 4
months out, the spiritual harvest is ready this
same day
- Yeshua teaches an important principle of
evangelism: “Some sow while others reap”
Others, like John the Baptist have sowed before,
others
like Yeshua then have the privilege of reaping
Both those who sow and reap all receive their
wages
Both will receive their rewards, not just those
vs. 39 – This Samaritan also does the sowing, and
Yeshua
did the reaping
vs. 41 – The woman sows & Yeshua reaps = the
principle
of evangelism
She is successful at this period of time;
there will
be a downward turn later on
The Acceptance in Galilee
Para. 36
Those who accepted Yeshua in Galilee saw his
miracles which he performed in Jerusalem
They were in Jerusalem observing the feast of
Passover
When they returned home they believed on Him
Messiah’s Authority to Preach
Para. 37
A Synopsis of Messiah’s Preaching Tour
His strategy: from synagogue to synagogue
His three tasks or roles:
1. His role of a teacher
2. His role of a rabbi
3. His role of a prophet
Two-fold Message:
1. Soteriological – “Repent,” and “believe” the
Gospel
The content of the Gospel, or “Good News” may
be
different
The Gospel spoken of here = Yeshua is the
Messianic
King
Nothing is being spoken of here concerns his
death,
burial, or resurrection
Later, when Yeshua does tell his disciples about
that
The Gospel we must believe today to be saved
has
three parts:
1. Yeshua died for our sins
2. Yeshua was buried – evidence that he in fact
did
die
3. Yeshua was raised from the dead on the
third day
The Gospel being presented here is Yeshua is the
2 . Eschatological – He presents the kingdom
program
Matt. 4:17 – “the kingdom is at hand”
Luke tells us 3 things about the nature of his
ministry:
1. Spirit controlled
2. Reputation begins to spread
3. Main place for his proclamation is the
synagogue
Messiah’s Authority to Heal
Para. 38
This section records the second of Yeshua’s sign
miracles
as recorded by John
This event takes place in Cana – the place where
Yeshua
performed his first sign miracle by turning water
into
wine
A nobleman from Capernaum seeks out Yeshua
Capernaum is about 20 miles away
The nobleman’s son is sick to the point of death
Yeshua says to the nobleman: “Do you need a sign
to
convince you a miracle occurred? Or, can you
simply
believe what you are being told?”
The man has faith (vs.53) because he left to travel
back home without the need of a sign
Messiah’s Authority Over
Defilement
Para. 45
Healing of a Jewish Leper
No record of any Jew being healed of leprosy after
the
completion of the Mosaic Law
1. Miriam – healed before the Law
2. Naaman – was Syrian not Jewish
Moses devotes much time and space to the Laws
regarding leprosy
Leviticus chapters 13-14 over 100 total verses
Requirements of Leper in Mosaic Law
1. Only priest declares someone a leper
2. A leper on the day so declared had to do the
following:
a. Tear his clothing
b. Ostracized from Jewish society
c. Face to be covered from the nose down
d. Not allowed in Tabernacle or Temple
compound
e. Must announce, “unclean, unclean”
Requirements of Leper in Mosaic Law
If a Jew was healed of leprosy he had to:
a. Go before the priest and proclaim his healing
b. The priest would offer two birds:
1) One bird killed and its blood shed
2) Second bird dipped into the blood of the
first
c. 7 days of intensive investigation to answer
three
questions:
Requirements of Leper in Mosaic Law
1) Was the person a declared leper
2) Was the person genuinely healed of leprosy
3) How was the person healed
d. If all questions are answered satisfactorily the
8th
day was a ritual with 4 different types of
offerings:
a) Trespass offering
b) Sin offering
c) Burnt offering
Requirements of Leper in Mosaic Law
The blood from the trespass and sin offerings are
applied to 3 parts of the person’s body:
1. Right lobe of the ear
2. Right thumb
3. Right big toe
Ritual ended with anointing oil applied to the
same 3 body parts
The Jewish people never put this Law into practice
No record of any Jew being healed of leprosy
Rabbinic writings have no record of a Jew being
healed
One of the punishments God visits on Israel is leprosy
1. King Josiah
2. Gehazi
First century rabbinic understanding leprosy was a
sign of a special divine judgment. Only Messiah
Two Categories of Miracles
1. Miracles performed in the power of the Spirit
2. Messianic Miracles which only Messiah could
perform
The Three Messianic Miracles
1. Healing of the man with leprosy
2. Resurrection
3. Healing one who was mute due to demonization
Note: Anyone who claims to heal a Jewish leper is
also claiming to be the Messiah
Luke vs. 12 – “full of leprosy”
Luke vs. 13 – “you can make me clean”
Luke vs. 13 – Yeshua “touched” this leper
Luke vs. 14 – Note what Yeshua tells this man to
do:
1. Tell no one
2. Show yourself to the priest
3. Do everything according to the Mosaic Law
Messiah’s Authority to forgive
Sin
Para. 46
This event occurs in Capernaum
A 3 day journey from Jerusalem (20 miles)
Luke vs. 17 – All spiritual leaders have come to
Capernaum
This event is the first stage in the Sanhedrin’s
inquiry into the nature of Yeshua
This is the observation stage
“What happens to the herald happens to the king”
Four friends lower their friend before Yeshua for a
healing
Lk. vs. 20 – “Your sins are forgiven”
1. This is in the passive voice
2. In the Hebrew text the only time the passive
voice is
used is in Leviticus chapters 4-6
3. In Leviticus the context deals with sacrifices
and
atonement
4. Yeshua speaking as if he was God
Note: because this is the observation stage no
questions are asked: Mark vs. 6; Matt. Vs. 3
Mark vs. 7 – the rabbis understanding here is
correct
no one but God can forgive sins in a salvific
sense
Yeshua responds with a question:
Two approaches to teaching in a Jewish way:
1. Going from the known to the unknown
2. Asking questions
Mark vs. 9 – The easier thing to say is, “Your sins
are
forgiven”
Yeshua will prove he can do the easier by doing
When the Jewish spiritual leaders return to
Jerusalem they will report Yeshua’s Messianic
movement is significant
Para. 47-60 – These paragraphs will record
Yeshua’s encounters during the second stage; the
Investigation Stage
Messiah’s Authority Over
Men
Para. 47
Beginning of the 2nd stage; the Stage of
Investigation
It comes in the context of calling the 7th disciple
Matthew = Levi the son of Alpheus
Levi was a “tax collector” or “publican”
Yeshua says to Matthew: “Follow me”
Matthew simply leaves his post and follows
Yeshua
Luke vs. 28 – marks the point of Matthew’s new
birth
Mark vs. 16 – “He eats and drinks with publicans
Yeshua responds by saying three things:
1. The sick need a physician
2. The Pharisees are characterized by much
sacrifice
but lack mercy
3. He came to call sinners to Himself
This paragraph helps to set the stage for what
happens from now until paragraph 60
The Pharisees will follow Yeshua around and
object to the things he says and things he does
B. The Authority of the King
Para. 37-56
12. Messiah’s Authority Over
Tradition
Para. 48
By the 1st Century a body of rabbinic tradition had
developed
History of the Development of Rabbinic Tradition
450 BC – 30 BC Sophrim (‫ = )סופר'ם‬scribes
30 BC – 220 AD Tannaim (‫ = )תנאים‬teacher
3rd Century – Judah HaNasi = Judah the Prince
AD 220 – 500 AD Amoraim (‫ = )אמוראים‬teacher
450 BC – 30 BC Sophrim
Mishnah
30 BC – 220 AD Tannaim
‫משנה‬
Talmud (‫)תלמוד‬
AD 220 – 500 AD Amoraim
Gemara
‫גמורא‬
Luke vs. 33 – Pharisees fasted Mondays &
Thursdays
Yeshua says 4 things about fasting:
1. vs. 34 – Wedding feasts are for feasting
2. vs. 36 – Yeshua did not come to patch up
rabbinic
Judaism
3. vs. 37-38 – Yeshua’s teaching will not conform to
rabbinic Judaism
4. vs. 39 – Pharisaic Judaism will reject Messiah
Messiah’s Authority Over the
Sabbath
Para. 49-51
Through the Healing of Paralytic
Para. 49
2nd of Seven Discourses: Discourse on the New
Birth
Discourse on the “works of
God”
3rd of Seven Signs: Water into Wine
Healing of a Leper
Healing of a Paralytic
Yeshua’s ministry is now one year old
Location: The Pool of Bethsesda
3 Significant points:
1. Yeshua goes to the paralytic
2. No requirement of faith
3. No knowledge of what Yeshua claims to be
vs. 9 – does not violate the Mosaic Law, but it does
violate rabbinic law
Vs. 10 – the paralytic is questioned
1. Why are you violating the Sabbath?
The man who healed me told me to carry my
bed.
2. Who healed you?
But the man did not know who healed him.
Later
when he finds out it was Yeshua he tells them.
Two challenges made against Yeshua:
1. He broke the Sabbath
2. He claims equality with God
Yeshua defends his claims with 4 points:
1. vs. 19-21 – He does what the Father does
a. Equal in relationship – vs. 19
b. Equal in love – vs. 20
c. Equal in power – vs. 21
2. Equal in honor – vs. 22-23
3. Provides eternal life – vs. 24
4. He will resurrect the dead – vs. 25
Note: Two titles – Son of God = diety (vs. 25)
Son of Man = humanity (vs. 27)
Note: Two types of resurrection:
1. Resurrection to life of those who believe
2. Resurrection to judgment of those who do not
believe
Yeshua provides 4 witnesses:
1. John the Baptist – vs. 33
2. His miracles – vs. 36
3. The Father – vs. 37
4. Scripture – vs. 39
vs. 46 – Yeshua accuses them of not believing
Moses