Bro, I’m not sure why you’re so committed to this line of thinking—Scripture strongly implies the opposite of what you’re proposing. I know you get somewhat fired up about this subject, and I’m not sure why it’s so important to you, but it undermines the lineage of Yeshua’s heritage and also weakens some of the clear prophecies regarding the coming Messiah.
The claim that Yeshua (Jesus) was not Jewish by faith or race contradicts both historical and biblical records. Let's address these points systematically:
1. Yeshua’s Jewish Heritage
The Bible clearly states that Yeshua was born of the tribe of Judah, fulfilling the Messianic prophecies. For example:
Hebrews 7:14 (TLV): “For it is clear that our Lord has sprung forth from Judah—about this tribe, Moses said nothing concerning kohanim.”
Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 both provide genealogies tracing Yeshua’s lineage to King David and Abraham, affirming His Jewish heritage.
2. Yeshua’s Faith
Yeshua adhered to the Torah and Jewish traditions. He observed Jewish feasts, taught in synagogues, and followed the commandments:
Luke 4:16 (TLV): “Now when He went to Natzeret, where He had been raised, as was His custom, He went into the synagogue on Shabbat, and He got up to read.”
Matthew 5:17 (TLV): “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.”
Yeshua often criticized the religious leaders for their hypocrisy, but His criticisms were rooted in their failure to properly follow the Torah, not in a rejection of Judaism itself.
3. The Leaders of Judea
It is true that Edomites (Idumeans) like Herod the Great held power during that period, but this does not mean that all Jewish leaders or the people of Judea were Edomites. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and other groups represented a spectrum of Jewish religious thought. The rejection of Yeshua by many leaders stemmed from their unwillingness to recognize Him as the Messiah, as prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures, not because of Zoroastrian influence.
4. Claims of Zoroastrian Influence
While Persian Zoroastrianism did interact with Judaism during the Babylonian exile, the Jewish faith remained distinct. Core doctrines about Hell, salvation, and the Messiah are rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, not Babylonian Zoroastrianism. For example:
Hell and salvation are explicitly addressed in the Hebrew Scriptures (e.g., Daniel 12:2 speaks of resurrection and judgment).
Messianic prophecies predate Zoroastrian influence, as seen in Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 53, and Micah 5:2.
5. Conclusion
Yeshua was unmistakably Jewish by both race and faith. The rejection by certain Judean leaders had more to do with their hard-heartedness and political concerns than any supposed blending of Zoroastrianism with Hebrew thought. Any attempt to redefine Yeshua’s identity or the roots of His faith misrepresents both history and Scripture.
