What does being a Jew mean?

[Jedi4Yahweh]

Many try to mix the words Jew and Israelite together but they do not always mean the same thing because not all of Israel are Jews.  The northern 10 tribes of Israel were never considered Jews because most did not follow the teaching and the customs of the Jews.  Israel was divided between two kingdoms, the northern kingdom of Israel (also known as Ephraim and later Samaritans) and the Southern Kingdom was known as the Kingdom of Judah and also referred to as Jews.  

The word Jew refers to those who follow Judean customs, beliefs, and practices and those who worship at the Jerusalem Temple site.  Much of the northern tribes were rejected by Jews because they intermarried with foreigners and followed pagan religions and formed their own religion similar to Jews but mixed with paganism and Idolatry.  Northern Israel had its own forbidden temple and worship sites in Samaria and rejected the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.  They became known as Samaritans and Jews had no association with them (Jhn 4:9).  

On the other hand, there were many that lived in Northern Israel (Samaria) and other parts of the world, yet followed the covenant of the Jews and therefore considered Jews as well (This is where much of the confusion comes from).  Jesus and his family were prime examples:  Jesus was rejected by Jewish leaders for the fact that he came from a non-Judean village in northern Israel called Nazareth.  Jews had a hard time accepting that the Messiah would come from a non-Judean village (Jhn 1:46). This did not fit their Messiah narrative. They did not understand the Jesus was truly a Jew and a descendant of King David and was born in the Kingdom of Judah (Bethlehem) and he followed the teachings and covenant of the Jews even though he was not raised in Judea.  

A Jew could be anyone who follows the teachings and customs of the Jews and this could also apply to any tribe of Israel (northern or southern) and foreigners as well.  Being a Jew is primarily related to being a follower of the religion and customs of the Jews/Kingdom of Judah regardless of birth or tribe.  There were many gentile Jewish converts all over the world even in Jesus's day. Even modern day Jewish Rabbi's will tell you anyone can become a Jew if they convert and follow their covenant and laws.  For example, Ruth who was a Moabite gentile became known as a Jew because she joined herself to the Kingdom of Judah and their God and is the great grandmother of King David and Jesus.  Again, not all Israelites belong to the Kingdom of Judah nor followed the teachings of the Jews and therefore not called Jews,  and just because you lived in Judea and or belong to one of the southern 2 tribes of the Kingdom of Judah did not mean you were a Jew either.  It was based on if you lived according to Jewish teachings and covenant and laws.   Those who rejected the Jewish teaching were considered Sinners, Heathen, Gentiles, or Samaritans even if they belonged to one of two tribes of the Kingdom of Judah. 

Edited March 15, 2021 by Jedi4Yahweh

[Starise]

Once and for all it would be nice to simply be seen as Yahweh's children. 

I sometimes wonder if God still differentiates?  The NT seems to dispel the idea that Jews are preferred over Gentiles by God. 

All through the Bible we have favorites. Joseph was favored over his brothers. Jacob was favored over Esau.

I didn't want to become a "Jew" I wanted to become a child of God almighty. If God had made me a Jew I would be happy with it meaning I have nothing against Jews as a people. 

I don't see myself as a Jew. I would hope we have moved beyond this if God died for us all which I believe He did. 

[Jedi4Yahweh]

@Starise

Here is the good news:

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain [Sameria], nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. - Jhn 4:21-24 KJV

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. - Mat 28:18-20 KJV

Messiah commissioned his disciples to take the gospel to all nations not just Jews.  Salvation is available for all!!!

 

Edited March 15, 2021 by Jedi4Yahweh

[Starise]

3 minutes ago, Jedi4Yahweh said:

@Starise

Here is the good news:

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain [Sameria], nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. - Jhn 4:21-24 KJV

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen. - Mat 28:18-20 KJV

Messiah commissioned his disciples to take the gospel to all nations not just Jews.  Salvation is available for all!!!

 

And I guess I knew this, was good to read it again. For me, my feelings on it ( the Jews and the Gentiles) are a combination of things.

First I was exposed to a rather rude and self centered Jew who I met on a site where we shared a common interest. He was SO very pompous. A strict Jew by practice. He seen his people as elite according to him. Christians were all idiots who had not read the Torah or other writings. Keep in mind this is the ONLY Jew I have ever had any sort of conversations with, so I guess I had this bias by association that most likely wasn't accurate about all Jews. I hope it isn't. Second thought there was one other Jew I almost forgot about. This guy had a very imposing sort of demeanor in that he never let you talk to him. He was always too busy talking himself. I tried to avoid him after that. Neither of these characters impressed me very much sad to say. The second one had turned Christian.

Next, depending on how you read the Bible along with all the references to Jews, a Gentile like me sometimes begins to feel like the third wheel. Even though we have the opportunity for salvation same as Jews and even though God will send unbelieving Jews to Hell same as Gentiles. I can't quite shake the idea that Yahweh still gives special favor to the Jews over Gentiles. I guess maybe I feel the same way Joseph's brothers felt. It's like having two sons and you know your dad likes your bother better than you. That's how it feels sometimes. 

[Jedi4Yahweh]

@Starise

I have run into a few myself.  There have been many centuries of hostility between Jew and Christian on both sides and both have been at fault.  On the other hand, God will one day join the two in Messiah which is already happening.  Many Jews are Christians, majority of the 1st Century Church were Jews beginning with Messiah himself.  Many Jew's are waking up to who their Messiah is, and likewise many Christians are waking up to the Jewishness of their faith and shaking off the Roman Paganism that was adopted by much of the church.  God is restoring all things.

Edited March 15, 2021 by Jedi4Yahweh

[Waggles]

Israel - the "lost" ten tribes > Europe and the New World > became Christians in the first century > collectively referred to as Ephraim (of Joseph) 

Ezekiel 37:15  The word of the LORD came to me: 
37:16  “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 
 37:17  And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 
 37:18  And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 
37:19  say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 
37:20  When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 
37:21  then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 
37:22  And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 

This will be achieved when Jesus returns in glory to Mount Zion.

Edited March 15, 2021 by Waggles

[Who me]

9 hours ago, Jedi4Yahweh said:

A Jew could be anyone who follows the teachings and customs of the Jews and this could also apply to any tribe of Israel (northern or southern) and foreigners as well.  Being a Jew is primarily related to being a follower of the religion and customs of the Jews/Kingdom of Judah regardless of birth or tribe

 

As salvation is dependant on being a follower of Jesus, being a new is really a matter of tradition.

 

[Desopixi Seilynam]

He is not a Jew which is one outwardly, and circumcision is not that outwardly in the flesh.
He is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart. Romans 2:28

Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart... Love ye therefore the stranger Deuteronomy 10:16,19

A Jew is a person who sincerely loves everyone, as Moses commanded. 

Therefore everyone in Israel who thinks they have some sort of right to shun, hinder and evict 'strangers' in the land,
are not Jews at all whatsoever.

Those that say; 'stand over there by yourself, don't come near me for I am holier than thou'
these cause My wrath to smoke.

The Lord God shall slay such, and call His people by another name (Christian)  Isaiah 65:5,15

I will take away from the midst of thee, them that rejoice in thy pride,
and you will no more be haughty in my holy mountain. Zephaniah 3:11

I will be a swift witness against.. false swearers.. and them that turn aside the stranger from his right,
because they do not fear me says the Lord. Malachi 3:5

[Jedi4Yahweh]

16 hours ago, Waggles said:

Israel - the "lost" ten tribes > Europe and the New World > became Christians in the first century > collectively referred to as Ephraim (of Joseph) 

Ezekiel 37:15  The word of the LORD came to me: 
37:16  “Son of man, take a stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.’ 
 37:17  And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 
 37:18  And when your people say to you, ‘Will you not tell us what you mean by these?’ 
37:19  say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand. 
37:20  When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes, 
37:21  then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land. 
37:22  And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms. 

This will be achieved when Jesus returns in glory to Mount Zion.

I find it very interesting that Jacob blessed Ephraim and told him that he would become the "fullness of the Gentiles".   Some translation say "fullness of the nations" others "a multitude of nations" but in Hebrew it reads the "fullness of the Gentiles".  Many believe that when Assyria invaded Northern Israel/10 tribes of Israel (Ephraim ) and scattered them all over the world they were mixed in and became the nations we know today.  The scriptures talks about how the 10 tribes would lose their identify and not know they are the descendants of Israel.  One example is there have been recent discoveries of native American Indians that have Hebrew ties, artifacts of Hebrew language in caves and stones and many Native American languages and writings trace back to Paleo Hebrew.  Many believe that true born-again believers could be the descendants to the Northern Tribes of Israel. This would line up with biblical prophesies that say that God will gather Israel (Lost Tribes) from out all the nations from where he scattered them in the last days and restore both the House of Judah [Jews] and House of Ephraim [Gentiles] as one Kingdom under Messiah.  Today no one knows for sure who are where these 10 lost tribes ended up or who they are today.  They have blended in with the nations and through the blessing of God have become the fullness of the nations.  Think about it, this scattering happened over 2700 years ago, a few million people would be billions today maybe much more.  God has a way of increasing his people while at same time removing the wicked from the earth.  I choose to believe the bible that says they have become the fullness of the nations.  If you are a gentile you very well maybe a descendant of Ephraim which means you are a descendant of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.   Didn't God promise Abraham that he would be the Father of many nations and his descendants like the sand of the sea and stars of heaven and though him all the nations of the world would be blessed.

Sort of makes since to what Paul says:

For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this [is] My covenant with them, When I take away their sins." - Rom 11:25-27 NKJV

Edited March 15, 2021 by Jedi4Yahweh

[Dennis1209]

20 hours ago, Starise said:

I would hope we have moved beyond this if God died for us all which I believe He did. 

Amen!

Romans 10:12 (KJV) For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek [Gentile]: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. [emphasis added].