The Real Messiah?

by Rabbi Mordechai Becher

Why Jews don't believe Jesus is the Messiah.

Published: October 22, 2008

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Visitor Comments: 29

(29) Gerry van der Hoek, August 22, 2012 8:52 AM

Excellent. Rabbi Becher you need only five minutes to give a cristal clear answer to this question. Thank you very much.

(28) Ariella, June 27, 2011 8:43 PM

EXCELLENT!!! :D

(27) tom, May 23, 2011 5:26 AM

wow

Rabbi that is the most profound video i have ever seen . That is the question i have asked myself countless times why Jews do not believe Jesus was not the messiah. You're answers are like a giant load off my back because i thought maybe i was the only one that sees the contradictions of the new testament. Again thank you and may G-D bless you !!!!

(26) Ratza'an, January 9, 2009 1:22 PM

For Argument's Sake

For the sake of argument, what if he is Moshiach, but has been taken so far out of context and misrepresented for two millenia to the point that he is no longer recognizable? The Torah tells us that all of the "evidence" supported Jacob's and the 11 brothers' belief that Joseph was dead. When in fact he was alive and well and reigning among the getiles of Mitzrayim. All the while, Joseph was working for the good of Israel, his father, and his brothers. At long last, when the moment was right, he revealed his true identity to his brothers and to the Egyptians (imagine their surprise). Then Joseph fulfilled his role which began so many years before. Like the sages have said, "The Messiah you expected is never coming. The Messiah that is coming, you never expected." or something like that. Thank you for the video, Rabbi Becher. Shabbat Shalom.

(25) Anna T, November 19, 2008 5:43 AM

Read articles and listen to tapes by rabbi Tovia Singer

Those have been TREMENDOUSLY helpful to me. I run a website and many of my readers are evangelical Christians. Their attacks on my faith led me to study the argument in-depth, and rabbi Singer's analysis has been invaluable. Now, when someone emails me and tries to evangelize me, I have a ready reply - it never produced counter-replies yet. Rabbi Singer's analysis of scriptures Christians mostly use (and twist, and mistranslate) to prove their point is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt.

(24) A.D, November 11, 2008 2:08 PM

Rabbi, you are amazing!! Such insightful stuff! thank you

(23) Emmanuel, November 7, 2008 5:27 PM

Thank you!

(22) Phil, November 5, 2008 10:40 PM

The world at peace

I doubt anyone here will believe the following story, but I promise it's true: A coworker asked me why I didn't believe in Jesus. I started very similarly to Rabbi Becher, that the messiah will bring world peace. She interjected, "but the world IS at peace. Just look around out there and feel the peace. It's just the /people/ who aren't."

(21) Mark Jacobi, November 2, 2008 7:45 PM

Interesting comments - good to see you in person!

Thanks Rabbi Becher for your insightful comments! It was also good to see you here Down Under in Australia! I saw you at one of Melbourne's Shules! Keep up the good work!BeHazlacha!

(20) Madlyn, October 29, 2008 1:50 PM

Excellent arguments - I never know what to say when queried by Gentile friends. I have some well reasoned answers to use now!

(19) Steve, October 29, 2008 1:23 PM

A Great Website I Recommend

My fellow Jews, if you want a detailed analysis as to why we shouldn't believe in Jesus, I highly recommend "Faith Strengthened" by Isaac ben Abraham of Troki. If you Google the title, it's the first result. Once you access the website, click on the Hebrew in order to access the text. I had a lot of fun reading this yesterday. It definitely proves that Christianity is unquestionably rife with theological flaws and inconsistencies. Enjoy!

(18) Anonymous, October 29, 2008 8:39 AM

Why I don't believe

Another reason might be because Jews do not believe that anyone, i.e. Jesus died for our sins. We believe in free choice and are judged by G-d based upon those choices. Also, if Jesus was G-d's son, then where is he? Why would G-d's son die? If Jesus himself ever knew that an entire religion was created based on him, he would probably be the one in the most shock. It always amazes me why Chrisitans have to go door to door, be they Evangelicals or Jehovah witnesses, to try and convince others to believe. I think they do it, because they probably don't believe it themselves.

(17) Dvirah, October 28, 2008 3:42 PM

Yet Another Reason

I'll add another reason for a Jew not to believe in Jesus: the Christian belief is not just that Jesus is the Messiah but that he is a necessary and indispensible intermediary between G-d and Man. And that is also contrary to Jewish belief. Our understanding is that one should never put anyone or anything in between oneself and one's Creator, the relationship is direct and no intermediary is allowed (lest it become Avoda Zara), let alone required.

(16) Mordechai Becher, October 27, 2008 9:28 PM

response

Thanks for the responses. Clearly there is much more to be said on the subject, as there is on all the other subjects I address on this website. Thanks for pointing out the other arguments/points. I try to fit as much as possible into about 6 minutes, so please forgive the omissions.

(15) Anonymous, October 27, 2008 8:25 PM

Wow, that was good!

Rabbi Becher, that was SO well said! I used to get pulled into speaking to evangelical Christians about the reasons why a Jew would not think that Jesus would be the messiah. I have since realized that theirs is a religion of emotional attachment not intellectual reasoning, so I no longer try and say the rational, easy points as the rabbi mentioned. I save my energy to try and share R. Becher's points with Jews who don't have the education to respond to the Christian talking points. Thank you Rabbi Becher for so concisely and beautifully addressing this topic.

(14) Joe Whitehead, October 27, 2008 5:42 PM

Awesome explanation

Every Jew should watch this video over and over again until them have it memorized. Now if the rabbi can do a video segment of Isaiah 53.

(13) Allie, October 27, 2008 12:51 PM

Thanks!

A beautiful summation. I will start referring people here when I am asked this question.

(12) Liora Sitelman, October 26, 2008 6:18 PM

One more point!

Well done, Rabbi Becher! I have one more point to add...the messiah is supposed to lead all of the Jews towards complete Torah observance--he is not allowed to contradict the Torah in any way. Jesus contradicted the Torah by claiming that "it is not what goes into man's mouth that is evil but what comes out", to support his eliminating Kashrus from the equation. This is obviously a contradiction of the Torah! Also, he claims to be G-D himself, too--the messiah is not supposed to be G-D himself! He is supposed to be an ordinary person--not someone who is to be worshipped himself. Jesus claims: "one comes to know that Father through me--I am the truth, and the light..."etc--another No-No... Jews For Judaism is the way to go! We need to educate Jewish youth so that they don't get brainwashed by J4J nonsense.

(11) BENJAMIN ONONIBA, October 26, 2008 4:37 PM

is like i am the one that this topic was meant for......

pls......we need more and more of this kind of analysis as to why jesus was never the messiah....., i am a messianic believer but over the time i had been in tumoil over this very topic.... thank you Rabbi......i need more of this topic.. shalom.. Benny...sweden

(10) Ronni, October 26, 2008 3:36 PM

Thank You!

If we only could all be so eloquent as the Rabbi but when I get accosted by the crazies in the streets of Manhattan and see that gleam in the eye of someone who has been brainwashed and not interested in the truth I just walk on. It's kind of like the famous movie line from Jack Nicholson "You can't handle the truth!". Still I am very grateful that for those searching for real answers they have our wonderful Rabbi Becher to thank for a truly wonderful (and humorous) response.

(9) Anonymous, October 26, 2008 2:36 PM

Great video! You explained this questionable concept extremely well with valid proof-thank you for your time!

(8) steve nichols, October 26, 2008 12:37 PM

Simple...yet clear. I've read some of the other posts which seem to indicate that Rabbi Belcher is making an argument...there can be no argument....they can not prove their claims...without proof...there is nothing to argue about!

(7) Florence, October 26, 2008 11:36 AM

I totally agree with Rabbi Becher. It is obvious

The only other addition I would make is simply that should Jesus return, as a religious Jew he would seek a minyan immediately, he would be horrified to be called the Son of God,or as another God to whom people pray. This is unacceptable to God and therefore, to Jews.

(6) s, October 26, 2008 2:15 AM

I heard like you mentioned, some people say that peace and the other things will come in the second comming. However, there are still some things that don't qualify him. The messiah has to be someone who's father is from the line of David. They claim that his mother is. But that's meaningless because it has to be from the father's side.

(5) JJ, October 25, 2008 1:42 PM

Melissa

Melissa a good website for lots of clear, concise, chaptered refutations of the nonsense evidence J4J put forward can be found on: www.drazin.com They are mamesh a braindead lot, but they are motivated. So know your stuff. Shalom aleichem.

(4) Ben S, October 24, 2008 6:48 AM

More Jewish Education is Needed

With the added increase in missionary efforts especially in Israel Jewish education and "defensive" eduction is sorely needed. There is added push by 'Messianic Jews' (Jewish christian missionaries) and we saw such a girl was one of Israel's Bible Quiz champions and the increased complaints by messianic Jews and the State Dept report reporting against counter missionary (Self Defence) efforts in Israel (The US is only country not reported on by State Dept) Jewish education via Schools but also www.bensolomon.info and www.jewsforjudaism.org are also good links.

(3) Anonymous, October 23, 2008 8:29 PM

Not the most simple/elegant answer.

According to Rabbi Becher's argument, it appears that jc is qualified to be Messiah except for the fact that we see we have not yet entered the messianic era. A more direct answer would specifically address jc's lack of qualification for the job.

(2) Anonymous, October 23, 2008 2:47 PM

Thank you, Rabbi Becher!

Finally, a clear and concise answer to a question I've been asked and had difficulty answering many times in my life.

(1) Melissa, October 23, 2008 1:05 PM

I had someone tell me they are a Jew for jesus. I tried to explain to them why it's impossible to be a Jew for jesus but I was unsuccessful. This video with certainly helps. Thanks!

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About the Author

Rabbi Mordechai Becher

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Rabbi Mordechai Becher, originally from Australia, is a Senior Lecturer for the Gateways Organization. He was a Senior Lecturer at Ohr Somayach, Neve Yerushalayim and Darchei Binah in Jerusalem for 15 years, was a chaplain in the Israel Defence Forces and taught in a number of Rabbinic training programs. Rabbi Becher is the co-author of After the Return, and has answered thousands of questions on the Ask-the-Rabbi website. His latest book, Gateway to Judaism, was recently published by Shaar Press. Rabbi Becher received his ordination from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He has lectured for the UJA, Jewish Federations, the Zionist Organization of America, Hillel and is on the speakers bureau of the Israeli Consulate in New York. He has taught in Canada, the United States, England, Israel, South Africa, Australia and Russia. He resides with his wife and 6 children in Passaic, NJ.