Main Text: Luke 24:25–27; Luke 24:44–49
Supporting Scriptures:
Genesis 12:1–3; Genesis 15; Genesis 17; Exodus 19–20; Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Isaiah 53; Psalm 22; Daniel 9:24–27; Micah 5:2; Jeremiah 31:31–34; Matthew 5:17; Romans 9–11; John 4:22
Imagine reading only the second half of a novel.
You would know the main character, but you would not understand why he came, what promises were made, or how the story began.
That is how many Christians read the Bible today.
They begin with Matthew without fully understanding Genesis.
They know Jesus but know very little about Abraham, Moses, David, the Temple, the sacrifices, and God's covenant with Israel.
Yet every page of the New Testament assumes that its readers understand the Old Testament.
The Gospel did not begin in Bethlehem.
It began when God called Abraham.
It continued through Moses.
It continued through David.
It continued through the prophets.
Then, in the fullness of time, Jesus came.
Understanding Judaism helps us understand the roots of Christianity. Christianity did not replace the Old Testament; rather, according to the New Testament, Jesus fulfilled God's promises revealed through Israel.
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
Explain the historical origin of Judaism.
Understand the major beliefs and practices of Judaism.
Know the sacred writings of Judaism.
Understand why Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.
Compare Judaism with biblical Christianity.
Learn how Christians should lovingly share Christ with Jewish people.
Judaism is the oldest of the major monotheistic religions.
Unlike Buddhism, Islam, or Sikhism, Judaism did not begin when one person created a new religion.
Judaism began when God called one man—Abraham—and entered into a covenant with him.
Everything in Jewish history revolves around God's covenant relationship with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Jewish people believe they are God's covenant people because of the promises He made to their forefathers.
For Christians, this history is not separate from our faith. It is the beginning of God's redemptive plan that ultimately leads to Jesus Christ.
Paul reminds us in Romans 9 that the covenants, the Law, the worship, and even the human ancestry of Christ came through Israel.
Read Genesis 12:1–3.
Around 2000 BC, God called Abram from the city of Ur.
God commanded him to leave his country and promised him three remarkable blessings.
First, God would make him into a great nation.
Second, God would give his descendants a land.
Third, through Abraham, all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
This third promise is extremely important.
Paul explains in Galatians 3 that this promise ultimately points to Jesus Christ.
The Hebrew word Berith (בְּרִית) means covenant.
A covenant is much more than a contract.
A contract is based on mutual agreement.
A covenant is a sacred relationship established by God that binds people together through His promises.
The history of Israel is really the story of God's covenant faithfulness.
Although Abraham had another son, Ishmael, God chose Isaac as the child through whom the covenant would continue.
Genesis 26 records God renewing His covenant with Isaac.
This teaches us that God's promises continue according to His sovereign plan.
Isaac's son Jacob became the father of twelve sons.
God changed Jacob's name to Israel.
These twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel.
From this point onward, God's chosen nation became known as Israel.
Around four hundred years later, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt.
God raised Moses to deliver His people.
The Exodus became the defining event in Jewish history.
At Mount Sinai, God gave Israel:
The Ten Commandments
The Law
The priesthood
The sacrificial system
The Tabernacle
These institutions shaped Jewish worship for centuries.
Christians believe these also pointed forward to Jesus Christ.
The New Testament teaches that Jesus fulfills the sacrifices, priesthood, and covenant promises.
After Moses died, Joshua led Israel into Canaan.
The land God promised Abraham finally became Israel's inheritance.
This event remains central in Jewish history because it fulfilled God's promise of land.
Israel repeatedly turned away from God.
God raised judges to rescue them.
Eventually, Israel asked for a king.
Saul became Israel's first king.
David became the greatest king in Israel's history.
God promised David that one of his descendants would reign forever.
Christians believe this promise is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David.
Solomon later built the First Temple in Jerusalem.
The Temple became the center of Jewish worship.
Because of Israel's continued disobedience, Babylon conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC.
The Temple was destroyed.
Many Jews were taken into exile.
Later, under Ezra and Nehemiah, many returned and rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple.
During this period, synagogue worship became increasingly important.
Between the Old and New Testaments, about 400 years passed without prophetic books being added to the Hebrew Scriptures.
During this time:
Greek culture spread throughout the region.
The Maccabean Revolt occurred.
Several Jewish groups emerged, including the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots.
These groups appear frequently in the New Testament.
The Jewish Bible is called the Tanakh.
The word Tanakh comes from the first letters of its three sections.
The Torah contains the first five books of Moses.
The Nevi'im contains the Prophets.
The Ketuvim contains the Writings.
Christians generally refer to these same books as the Old Testament, though the order of the books differs.
Another important work is the Talmud.
The Talmud is not considered Scripture, but it is a large collection of rabbinic teachings, discussions, and interpretations that has greatly influenced traditional Jewish life and practice.
The most important confession in Judaism is found in Deuteronomy 6:4.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one."
This passage is known as the Shema.
Every observant Jew knows these words.
The Hebrew word Shema means "hear."
But in Hebrew thought, hearing means more than listening.
It means listening with the intention of obeying.
For Jewish believers, worship begins with hearing and obeying God's Word.
The Jewish people believe God chose Israel to be His covenant nation.
God's covenant with Abraham, Moses, and David forms the foundation of Jewish identity.
Christians also believe these covenants are part of God's plan but understand that Jesus established the promised New Covenant foretold in Jeremiah 31.
The Torah is central to Jewish life.
It contains God's commandments concerning worship, morality, justice, family, and community.
Traditional Judaism teaches that obedience to God's commandments expresses faithfulness to the covenant.
Judaism still looks for the coming Messiah.
Most Jewish people expect the Messiah to be:
A descendant of King David.
A righteous human king.
One who restores Israel.
One who establishes worldwide peace.
One who gathers the Jewish people back to their land.
One who brings justice to the nations.
Most Jews do not believe Jesus fulfilled these expectations.
Christians believe Jesus fulfilled many messianic prophecies during His first coming and will fulfill the remaining promises at His second coming.
Jewish worship centers around several important practices.
The synagogue is the primary place of worship, prayer, and Scripture reading.
The Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.
It commemorates God's rest after creation.
Prayer is a regular part of Jewish devotion.
Many observant Jews also follow kosher dietary laws based on the commands found in the Torah.
Passover celebrates God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt.
For Christians, Passover also points to Jesus, whom the New Testament calls the Passover Lamb.
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement.
It is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar and focuses on repentance and seeking God's forgiveness.
Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year.
Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, remembers God's care for Israel during their wilderness journey.
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean Revolt.
Today, Judaism includes several major traditions.
Orthodox Judaism seeks to preserve traditional observance of Jewish law.
Conservative Judaism values tradition while allowing some adaptation to modern life.
Reform Judaism places greater emphasis on ethical teachings and personal interpretation of Jewish practice.
Reconstructionist Judaism understands Judaism as an evolving religious civilization that includes both faith and culture.
Although these groups differ in practice, they all identify with the Jewish faith and heritage.
This is one of the most important questions for Christians to understand.
First, many Jews expected the Messiah to establish a visible kingdom of peace, restore Israel, gather the Jewish people from exile, and bring justice to the whole world.
Since those events have not occurred in the way they expected, they conclude that the Messiah has not yet come.
Christians believe these prophecies unfold in two stages: Jesus' first coming and His future return.
Second, Judaism rejects the belief that Jesus is God.
The central confession of Judaism is that there is one God.
Historic Christianity also believes there is one God, while teaching that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit share the one divine nature.
Third, many Jewish interpreters understand passages such as Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22 differently from Christians.
Christians see these passages fulfilled in Jesus.
Many Jewish scholars interpret them differently, often as referring to Israel collectively or to historical figures.
Understanding these differences helps Christians have informed and respectful conversations.
Always begin with respect.
Remember that Jesus, the apostles, and the earliest believers were Jewish.
Christianity owes an enormous debt to God's work through Israel.
Use the Old Testament when discussing Jesus.
Passages such as Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Micah 5:2, Daniel 9, and Jeremiah 31 are especially important because both Christians and Jews recognize them as part of the Hebrew Scriptures, even though they interpret them differently.
Avoid arguments that create unnecessary offense.
Instead, point people to Jesus Himself and let Scripture speak.
Jesus did not reject the Old Testament.
He fulfilled it.
He fulfilled the Law.
He fulfilled the sacrifices.
He fulfilled the priesthood.
He fulfilled the promises given to Abraham.
He fulfilled the covenant made with David.
He fulfilled the prophecies spoken by the prophets.
When Jesus met the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24 tells us that He explained how Moses, the Prophets, and all the Scriptures pointed to Him.
The New Testament presents Jesus not as the founder of a new religion disconnected from Israel, but as the fulfillment of God's long-promised plan of redemption.
First, appreciate your spiritual heritage.
As Christians, we worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Studying Judaism helps us understand the historical and theological foundation of our faith and deepens our appreciation for God's faithfulness throughout history.
Second, read the Old Testament with fresh eyes.
The Old Testament is not merely a collection of ancient stories. It prepares the way for Christ. As you read Genesis through Malachi, ask how each passage contributes to God's plan of redemption that reaches its fulfillment in Jesus.
Third, love the Jewish people and pray for them.
Paul expressed deep love for his fellow Jews in Romans 9–11. Christians should reject prejudice and hostility, remembering that the gospel first came through Israel. Pray that many will come to recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, and share the gospel with humility, grace, and respect.
John 4:22
"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews."
In Lesson 3, we will study Islam, exploring its history, the life of Muhammad, the Qur'an, the Five Pillars of Islam, the major branches of Islam, its view of Jesus, and how Christians can understand and respectfully engage with Muslim beliefs.