Traditional Objections

6.1. We have an unbroken, authoritative chain of oral tradition going back to Moses! Who are you to teach us what our Bible says?

There is no unbroken, authoritative chain of oral tradition going back to Moses. That is simply a pious myth without biblical support. In fact, I can show you that the oral traditions often contradict the Scriptures. You and I need to go back to the written Word of God. That alone is our sure guide. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 4-84.)

6.2. On several occasions, the Written Torah makes reference to “Torahs” in the plural, meaning two Torahs. This obviously refers to the Written and Oral Torahs.

As we have just seen, the cumulative evidence from the entire Hebrew Bible is against the existence of a binding, authoritative Oral Torah. As for the references to tôrôt (“torahs”), the context is always dealing with various commandments, laws, and teachings (tôrôt) in the plural, with nothing more intended. It’s plain for anyone to see that it speaks of many teachings (tôrôt) -- not just two, one oral and one written -- along with many commandments and laws. Not only is this true, but the earliest strata of rabbinic literature very rarely speak of the concept of “two Torahs.”(See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 84-95.)

6.3. The Torah (along with the rest of the Hebrew Bible) is unintelligible without the rabbinic traditions. From circumcision to Sabbath observance, from the vowels of the Masoretic text to the Messiah, we can only understand the Scriptures with the help of our traditions. Even common sense would tell you that every set of laws and rules needs ongoing oral explanation and interpretation. And let’s also be realistic. Who am I to think that can I understand the Bible on my own? I have to ask my rabbi. In the same way that I go to the doctor with medical questions and the lawyer with legal questions, I go to the rabbi with spiritual and biblical questions. Who am I to differ with him?

First, the best interpreter of the Bible is the Bible itself, and the Word of God makes it clear to us that God’s laws were based on their plain, literal sense, not on tortuous interpretations that are hardly related to the written text. Second, just because Judaism has preserved and developed many traditions doesn’t mean that those traditions are in harmony with Scripture. In fact, it is not hard to see that, in many cases, they are not. Third, there are other groups that take the Sabbath seriously and manage to do so successfully without rabbinic interpretation. Fourth, God himself said that he would give wisdom and understanding to those who would study his word and seek his face. Fifth, nowhere does the Word of God tell us that we must go to the rabbis to understand what the Bible says. Sixth, there have been times in our history when our leaders have misled us. How can we unhesitatingly follow them without question? Seventh, there are large areas of disagreement even within Judaism. Are the ultra-Orthodox Jews right? The Reform Jews would surely take exception to that, pointing out that they constitute a far larger percentage of world Jewry than do the Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox. Yet many Orthodox rabbis do not even recognize the authenticity, let alone a legitimate role of communal leadership, of Reform rabbis. So, even within our traditions, there are some very large areas of division. What makes you so sure that the whole system is therefore trustworthy? (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 95-139.)

6.4. According to Deut 17:8-13, the rabbis have the sole authority to interpret the Law and to tell us how to live. Whoever refuses to listen to them is guilty of a serious sin in the sight of God.

This is a gross misinterpretation of Deut 17:8-13, a text which does not mention the rabbis at all and speaks only of the function of a court of referral for certain difficult cases. It does not give later rabbinic teachers the authority to tell the Jewish people how they should live out every detail of their lives, both private and public, down to the minutest detail. In fact, nowhere in the Bible is any such authority given to human beings, an authority that far transcends both the Torah and the words of God’s inspired prophets. Even more seriously, the Talmud teaches that any Jew who denies that both the Written and Oral Torahs come from Moses has no share in the world to come, meaning that if a Jewish person denies the validity of these rabbinic traditions, they are excluded from the world to come. Nowhere in the Scriptures is such a thing intimated. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 139-161.)

6.5. We have an eternal covenant that was given at Mt. Sinai, and anyone who tells us to deviate from that covenant is either a false prophet, a false teacher, or both. Just look at the last verse in your “Old Testament.” What does it say? Remember the Law of Moses! That’s why we reject Christianity. It’s a foreign religion and a deviation from Sinai.

We addressed this issue in vol. 4, 5.28, 30-31, refuting the objections that Jesus abolished the Torah and that he was a false prophet who changed the Law. The real issue, however, is not the Sinai covenant, since traditional Jews say it is only intelligible and can only be kept through their oral traditions. The real issue is: Does Sinai ultimately point to Yeshua the Messiah or to the traditions of the rabbis? It is to the Messiah, not human traditions, that it ultimately points. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 162-164.)

6.6. Various passages in the Tanakh demonstrate that biblical figures such as Daniel followed the rabbinic traditions. For example, according to Daniel 1, he wouldn’t eat certain foods – just as the rabbis teach, but something not required in the written Torah – and according to Daniel 6, he prayed three times each day – just as the rabbis teach! Similarly, Nehemiah 13 follows the rabbinic understanding that forbids buying and selling on the Sabbath, although this is not explicitly spelled out in the written Torah.

To the contrary, the biblical texts are the source of the later rabbinic laws. It is preposterous to claim that someone who lived at least five hundred before the rabbis got his traditions from them. Logic would tell you that it is the reverse, and that the rabbis based on their traditions on the biblical accounts. I might as well argue that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. helped provide the inspiration to President Abraham Lincoln to free the slaves! (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 164-179.)

6.7. Modern computer studies have demonstrated that the Torah and the Oral Law are divinely inspired. Haven’t you heard of the Bible Codes? And there are indisputable examples proving that the Oral Law was supernaturally inspired. For example, only the Oral Law knew the exact length of a lunar month – and I mean exact. Modern science confirms this.

First, there are solid arguments against the so-called Bible Codes that completely undermine your objection. Second, even if you wanted to argue for these so-called Bible Codes, other scholars claim that similar Codes can be found that prove that reliability of the New Testament documents. Third, there are indisputable examples proving that the Oral Law was clearly wrong at times – scientifically, historically, chronologically. If you want to prove the truth of the Oral Law through scientific and historic confirmation, then you will have to admit that those very methods disprove the accuracy of your traditions more than they prove them. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 180-187.)

6.8. Our tradition is totally self-sufficient -- our prayer books, our commentaries, our law codes, our customs. We don’t need your Jesus!

In terms of what Rabbinic Judaism seeks to do, you are right: Your tradition is totally self-sufficient in a very comprehensive way. However, in light of God’s purposes for our people and his promises to our people, it is only fair to ask: How does God evaluate Rabbinic Judaism? And is there anything Yeshua brings that your traditions do not have? (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 187-204.)

6.9. Judaism is anything but a dead religion. It has inspired and preserved millions of our people for thousands of years. In fact, as far as spirituality is concerned, Christianity is a decided step down for a Jew. The rabbis and religious Jews, both men and women, who survived the Crusades, Inquisition, and Holocaust without wavering in their faith are a testimony to the vitality of Judaism.

I believe that Judaism is an incredible religion, the greatest religion ever created by man. Without a doubt, it has helped to preserve our people and brought a consciousness of God and a high, moral ethic to countless thousands. It has kept families united through the generations, inspired great sacrifice, and produced many noble deeds. But it is lacking in at least three important ways: First, at its best and in its most observant forms, it is ingrown, failing to be a light to the nations, failing to make God known outside the borders of Israel. Second, even among our own people, it does not provide complete redemption for the soul. In other words, it does not bring the assurance of forgiveness of sins, the assurance of being in right standing with God, the assurance that upon death, we will be received into his eternal presence. Third, traditional Judaism places its greatest emphasis on the study of the Oral Law – more than on any other subject – and so, it bases itself primarily on the traditions of men rather than on the Word of God. Because of these things, traditional Jews who have come to know Jesus the Messiah have testified clearly that they passed from a wonderful, beautiful religion in which they were seeking to know God into a wonderful, beautiful relationship with God in which they know Him intimately. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 204-219.)

6.10. According to Deut 30:11-14, it is not difficult to keep the Torah, which is God’s special gift to Israel. This is completely contrary to the Christian view that sees the Law as an impossible-to-observe burden and as a curse.

There are other interpretations to Deut 30:11-14, even in the traditional Jewish sources and, quite frankly, this interpretation contradicts one of the previous objections, namely, that the Torah is completely unintelligible without the help of the oral traditions and the rabbis (above, 6.3). You also misunderstand some of the “Christian” position on the Torah. More importantly, however, the facts of history are against you. As a nation, we have never kept the Torah, consistently breaking even the most fundamental laws and commands, and if you’re honest, you’ll have to admit that it’s true even in your own life, at least on some level. We all fall short! Somehow there’s something you’re missing in your view of the Torah and in your interpretation of Deut 30:11-14. Let’s take another look. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 219-223.)

6.11. The only identifiable Jews today are those whose parents, grandparents, or great grandparents rejected Christianity (or secularism). Only those who were traditional Jews have survived as a people.

In reality, this can easily be explained on sociological grounds, given the process of cultural assimilation. Still, the argument is flawed for a number of reasons. First, it is God himself who promised to preserve us as a people, and this is a credit to his faithfulness more than our faithfulness. Second, the fact that traditional Judaism has been a large part of our people’s preservation does not validate that system anymore than the fact that many of the founders of the modern state of Israel were atheists validates atheism. Third, one reason that it was hard for Jews to preserve their Jewish identity outside of traditional Judaism was because that very system refused (and refuses) to recognize the validity of other, competing systems, making it very hard on a social level for other Jewish expressions to survive. Fourth, in this generation, Reform Judaism would claim that it, rather than the more traditional expressions, has been the key to Jewish survival en masse. Fifth, there are Messianic Jews in the Land and in the Diaspora who are now fourth and even fifth generation, and their commitment to their Jewishness is as deep as ever – if not deeper. In fact, many Messianic Jews today were raised in secular homes and would have been completely assimilated if not for their faith in Yeshua. So, while I certainly appreciate what traditional Judaism has done in helping to preserve us as a people, for a number of good reasons, in no way can I agree with your objection. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 223-235.)

6.12. Judaism is a unique religion. Of all the religions of the world, only Judaism began with a public revelation witnessed by the entire nation. No one and nothing can alter that fact or change the substance of that revelation.

Although this objection is often raised as if it carried tremendous weight, it really adds no support to the rabbinic position at all, since: 1) Followers of Jesus also accept the revelation of God at Sinai, recognizing it as the foundation of everything else that follows – including the historical, prophetic, and poetry and wisdom books of the Tanakh, along with the New Covenant writings. 2) In and of itself, the revelation of Sinai argues against a binding oral tradition – which is the foundation of traditional Judaism – rather than for it. 3) God did not stop speaking at Sinai, and therefore I embrace the words of the prophets and the words of the Messiah, which build on the foundation of Sinai. I should also point out that many liberal Jewish scholars do not even believe that this revelation at Sinai even occurred – in other words, they believe it to be a myth that was introduced at some point in ancient Israelite history and was then retrojected on Israel’s past. So, they have no problem saying that the whole thing was made up, something that Rabbinic Jews find to be an impossible proposition. Their liberal Jewish colleagues differ with that assessment. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 235-238.)

6.13. Judaism is a rational, reasonable religion. It says, “Use your mind,” not, “Shut off your mind.” Christianity, on the other hand, is illogical and unreasonable. It demands absolute faith without any rational proof.

This objection assumes what it wants to prove, namely that: 1) There is a universal criterion for what constitutes a “rational” and “reasonable” religion and Judaism, as opposed to Christianity, meets that criterion. 2) Biblical religion itself meets this same criterion of rationality and reasonability. 3) “Christianity” contradicts the biblical pattern. In reality, none of these assumptions are true since, 1) It is highly subjective to call one religion rational and another one irrational. 2) In the Scriptures, God often required absolute faith, without offering rational arguments or proofs. 3) It is actually the Messianic faith that is in most harmony with the testimony and pattern of Scripture. 4) The New Testament emphasizes loving God with the mind as well as the heart, and Christianity has consistently emphasized the importance of education. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 238-243.)

6.14. Anything good in the New Testament can already be found in Rabbinic Judaism; anything new in the New Testament is not good.

Really? Do you know this from first hand study? I suggest you read a number of passages from the New Testament that are without any parallel in rabbinic literature and that are profoundly spiritual and deep. You will be surprised with what you find. And did you know that some of the concepts found in both the New Testament and the rabbinic literature are found first in the New Testament? (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 243-248.)

6.15. Jesus himself taught in Matthew 23 that his Jewish followers were to submit to the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees -- in other words, to follow the Oral Law!

Absolutely not. On a number of occasions, Jesus emphatically rejected some key Pharisaic traditions, even stating that the Pharisees made the Word void with their traditions. That is strong language! Yet those are some of the very traditions that became an integral part of the Oral Law. On other occasions, he was persecuted by the Pharisees because he violated their sacred traditions. It is therefore impossible to teach that Jesus was calling on his disciples to submit to the yoke of the Oral Law – and unconditionally, at that. There are other, more plausible interpretations to his words in Matt 23:3. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 248-260.)

6.16. Traditional Jews are the people of the Book. Read the Hebrew Scriptures and ask yourself, “Who follows these laws and commandments?” Traditional Jews!

First, traditional Jews are not so much “the people of the Book” as they are the people of rabbinic tradition (see above, 6.1, for more on this). Because of that, they do many things on a daily basis that are not found in the Torah, adding various customs and practices while taking away others. Second, because the Temple has been destroyed and, for the most part, we have been in exile for most of the last 2,000 years, there is no group of Jews on earth who literally follows what is written in the Scriptures in every respect. It’s not possible. Traditional Jews make up for this by following the Talmud and later traditions; Messianic Jews differ with this approach, looking to the Messiah, the New Covenant Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit for practical wisdom in living out what is written in the Hebrew Scriptures. Third, the Karaites – Jews who deny the Oral Law and believe that they have the right interpretation of the Hebrew Bible – would claim that they are the true people of the Book, a claim strenuously and passionately rejected by traditional Jews based on rabbinic tradition. So, in reality, the argument is not about who does what is written in the Book. The argument is about who has the right interpretation of what is written. Followers of Jesus the Messiah can best make this claim. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 261-262.)

6.17. According to Psalm 19, the Torah is able to save and convert the soul.

Psalm 19 certainly does celebrate the beauty, power, and majesty of the Torah. As a follower of Jesus the Messiah, I love the whole psalm and I love the whole Torah! However, Psalm 19 does not teach that the Torah can convert the soul. That is based on a mistranslation of the Hebrew, as reflected in virtually all Jewish translations, as well as Christian translations aside from the King James Version. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 262-265.)

6.18. “You can have your Jesus. I’ll keep my Judaism. You have nothing I need or want.”

Maybe that was your gut-level feeling before reading this book (or series of books), but now you know better. I think it’s time you reconsider! What do you say? If ‘your Judaism’ has missed the Jewish Messiah, could it be that it needs some adjusting? The fact is that your long-rejected Messiah stands ready to welcome you home. Now is the perfect time to receive forgiveness from our God, to get a new heart, and to enter into the joys of the New Covenant predicted by Jeremiah. Jesus -- Yeshua our Savior and King -- is everything you could ever need or want. It was for you that I wrote these books, and, of infinitely more importance, it was for you that Messiah died. Don’t reject God’s gracious offer or rob yourself any longer. Humble yourself, confess your sins, ask him for a clean slate, and acknowledge Yeshua as your God-appointed Messiah and Lord. You will be glad forever that you did. (See Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, vol. 5, pp. 265-267.)