Passover (פסח) and Sacrifice (קרבן)
©By Menashe Walsh
Picture the communal scene, a ‘Rabbi’ wrapped in Tallit[1] sat at a table demonstrates the story of the Passover using the traditional rabbinic visual aids of
the Seder Plate, Wine and Matzos. Everybody sat at table with their Haggadas[2] following along listening to the story of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, reciting the traditional blessings, singing the traditional songs and eating foods which symbolically represent both slavery and freedom. The communal scene is not all it seems, however, the ‘Rabbi’ has upgraded this Seder to incorporate new ideas which give the participants even greater spiritual lessons! With a wink in his eye and a knowing nod of his head, the ‘Rabbi’ lets the participants of the Seder into a little secret. The little secret being just one of the many little secrets to be told this evening! Holding the machine baked Matzos for all to see, the ‘Rabbi’ tells how most Jews unwittingly fail to see the major significance of the pierced holes and stripes of the Matzos. How there are a trinity of three Matzos used in the 
Seder and why the middle Matzo Jesus is broken and hidden only to be resurrected found later. The irony for most Jews not ‘in the know’… there is no lamb Jesus, no sacrifice crucifixion, only a burnt egg and a shank bone on the Seder plate! The ‘Rabbi’ knows the punch line which he is more than happy to tell. There is a lamb sacrifice for everyone’s personal liberation from Egypt sin, its Yeshua (Jesus). Who would have known that all of this is tied up to a historical event 3500 years ago and traditional rabbinic visual aids of the Seder Plate, wine and now modern day machine baked Matzos providing the stripes!
The Seder continues, the participants happy in the ‘new’ knowledge that a superior atonement has been secured for all, forever, by the body and blood of THE LAMB JESUS! To emphasize the superior atonement has been secured for all, a communion service is added to the Seder, like the communion service that Jesus the Jew did on the Passover just before he initiated the ‘new’ covenant by dying on a cross. It just makes so much sense does it not? It fits like a glove! Dead to the old and now alive in a new covenant!
Sacrifices
The problem with messianic ‘Jews’ and Christians trying to morph the historical biblical event of Passover into Jesus and the New Testament is something which is not readily apparent to the casual observer with only a cursory knowledge of the Jewish Scriptures. Additionally, other agendas such as Messianics putting on a Passover Seder to target disaffected or disenfranchised Jews, for the purpose of converting Jews to Jesus, tends to monopolize on the emotional vulnerability of such Jews. Emotional vulnerability along with a morphing of two separate distinct theologies may border on the downright deceptive and in some cases has proven to be a potent combination in conversion of Jews to Jesus but not on a sound biblical basis however!
So what is the point and where is the harm? The point is that nowhere in the Jewish Scriptures is it ever intimated or suggested that the Passover sacrifice is a sacrifice for atonement. Indeed sacrifices of any kind from the time of Cain and Abel to the birth of the nation of Israel emerge in the Torah as man-initiated events, without any reference to sin! One possible exception to man-initiated events is the near sacrifice of Isaac commanded by G-d. Despite heated debate within Judaism about the meaning of the binding of Isaac, Abraham on his own initiative, subsequent to G-d telling Abraham not to sacrifice
Isaac, sacrifices a ram (Gen 22:13), even though Abraham tells Isaac that G-d will provide a lamb (Gen 22:8). Either way, both possibilities of lamb and/ or ram are not commanded by G-d! Moreover, in the binding of Isaac there is no mention that the purpose of sacrifice is for atonement of sin either! Additionally, the binding of Isaac, a typology used by Messianics and Christians, attempts to create a correlation between the “Binding of Isaac” (Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac) and God’s sacrifice of Jesus. Unfortunately the correlation breaks down practically before it ever begins. The typology says that God sacrificed His own son just as Abraham would have sacrificed his own son, had God allowed the act to be completed. However, Abraham was sacrificing his son to God, which showed Abraham loved God more than he loved his son Isaac, something that even God acknowledges in the text:
“He said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” (Gen 22:2)
So who did God sacrifice Jesus to? Did God sacrifice Jesus to mankind in order to show mankind that He loved mankind more than he loved Jesus? Is mankind God’s god? God needs mankind’s approval in order to be God? Does this make sense? Of course it does not make sense. Indeed, sacrifices as man-initiated events are confirmed in the book of Jeremiah 7:
22 For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices. 23 But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’
So troubling is the above to Christian theology, that the New International Version (NIV) of Jer 7:22, 23, adds an extra word to the translation which the Hebrew does not support:
22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands about burnt offerings and sacrifices, 23 but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.
The extra word ‘just’, parachuted into the NIV translation of verse 22 gives the reverse idea that G-d did command the Israelites to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings for sins in stark contrast to the man initiated sacrifices found in the Torah (prior to Sinai) without reference to sin! Moreover, the ‘but’of verse 23 renders verse 22 in the NIV illogical!
With respect to Passover, Christianity has made the substitutionary death of Jesus ‘the Passover lamb’, to be the sole basis for an entirely new religion! And here is the harm of such a distortion of the biblical narrative. The ‘Passover lamb’ of Christianity is atonement for sin and has its worshipers passively worshiping the lamb itself because the lamb does the work for them, takes the punishment for them and pays the price of ALL sin for them![3] Indeed according to Christian theology it is impossible for anybody to actually make themself acceptable to G-d by their actions[4].
In contradistinction, the actions and thoughts behind the actions of the Israelites with respect to (but not only) slaying of the Passover lamb[5], where saving actions and thoughts by virtue of the Israelites choosing the G-d of Israel over the lamb god[5b] of the Egyptians!
Indeed some of the ten plagues were with respect to the other idols of the Egyptians (frogs, river Nile, wild animals for example). Tellingly, the lamb, a sign of fertility, was killed in the middle of the month of Nisan (Aries in the zodiac corresponds to the time of Nisan and has the sign of the sheep) and the blood of the lamb placed on the door lintels of the Israelites’ dwellings. A biblical proof that the lamb was a god of the Egyptians is by consideration of Exodus 8 which concerns Moshe’s request of pharaoh to allow a sacrifice in the desert. Considering verse 22:
22 And Moses said: ‘It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God; lo, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us? Exodus 8
A question may be asked if the sacrifice (lamb/ sheep) was an abomination to the Israelites or the Egyptians. The answer to the rhetorical question asked by Moshe causes us to consider what would the basis be for the Egyptians to stone the Israelites, if not for Israelites sacrificing the god of the Egyptians?
The Passover Lamb was a sacrifice to show ones’ allegiance to the G-d of Israel! Obedience to the word of G-d is more valuable to G-d than sacrifice[6]. And where one does need to bring a sacrifice for sin as commanded in the Torah, a primary prerequisite is teshuva or in the not so accurate English term repentance. Judaism considers the prerequisite teshuva or repentance to achieve atonement and not the idea of a penal human substitutionary atonement which the Jewish scriptures teach against[8]. Without teshuva any sacrifice for sin is worthless otherwise! With the prerequisites of teshuva in place and obedience to the word of G-d being preferable than sacrifice, the sacrificial sacrifice[7] aspect of Torah is placed in its proper context. Without the sacrificial sacrifice aspect of Torah in its proper context, Christianity makes sacrifice for atonement alone the sole basis of its religion without any reference to a personal effort to get closer to G-d. However, with Passover we are talking about something altogether different. Passover is a sacrifice of allegiance not a sacrifice of atonement.
[1] A Jewish Prayer Shawl.
[2] A booklet showing an order of service to follow for the Passover meal.
[3] 20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die; the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father with him, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son with him; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. 21 But if the wicked turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all My statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. (Ezekiel 20)
[4] ibid
[5] The lamb in the context of the Passover story was a god (amongst many) for the Egyptians. Indeed some of the ten plagues were with respect to the other idols of the Egyptians (frogs, river Nile, wild animals for example). Tellingly, the lamb, a sign of fertility, was killed in the middle of the month of Nisan (Aries in the zodiac and spring time too) and the blood of the lamb placed on the door lintels of the Israelites’ dwellings. The spiritual force of this Egyptian lamb god, in the middle of the month of Nisan (Aries in the zodiac) was supposed to be at its most potent then! The Israelites brazenly chose to go out of Egypt, painting their lintels and eating their lamb sacrifice, something never done before with respect to sacrifices of animals!
The significance of the 10th of Nisan is mentioned in the Torah:
Speak to all the congregation ofIsrael, saying, “In the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house.” (Exodus 12:3) Tosfot [1] point out that by taking the lamb, the Jews piqued the interest, and the ire, of the firstborn ofEgypt. They pleaded with Pharaoh to release the Jews. When he refused, the firstborn rebelled and attacked their own parents [2]. Therefore the day is considered great, due to the miracle of God which was manifest and the subsequent unraveling of Egyptian society. Furthermore, by slaughtering the object of Egyptians worship, the Jews liberated themselves from the chains of spiritual slavery. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses to slay the paschal lamb, Moses answered: “Lord of the Universe! How can I possibly do this thing? Do You not know that the lamb is the Egyptian god? As it says: If we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?” (Exodus 8:22) God replied: “As you live,Israelwill not depart from here before they slaughter the Egyptian gods before their very eyes, that I may teach them that their gods are really nothing at all.'” This is what He [God] actually did, for on that night He slew the Egyptian firstborn and on that night the Israelites slaughtered their paschal lamb and ate it. When the Egyptians beheld their firstborn slain and their gods slaughtered, they could do nothing, as it says: While the Egyptians were burying them that the Lord had smitten among them, even all their firstborn; upon their gods also the Lord executed judgment. (Midrash Rabbah – Exodus 16:3) God then said to Moses: “As long asIsraelworship Egyptian gods, they will not be redeemed; go and tell them to abandon their evil ways and to reject idolatry.” This is what is meant by: Draw out and take you lambs. That is to say: Draw away your hands from idolatry and take for yourselves lambs, thereby slaying the gods of Egypt and preparing the Passover; only through this will the Lord pass over you. This is the meaning of In sitting still and rest shall you be saved. (Midrash Rabbah – Exodus 16:2). The taking of the lambs was significant on another level as well. The Jews were now occupied with performance of a Divine decree; aside from the rejection of the Egyptian gods they were now actively fulfilling God’s command.
[6] See 1 Sam 15:22 , Jer 7:23 above and Amos 5;25.
[7] / Korban (קרבן) in Hebrew has its root in the concept of ‘to draw near’ to an unfathomable G-d.
[8] (Ezekiel 20:20, 21), 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God; for every abomination to the LORD, which He hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods. Deut 12
Menashe's Blog 
Excellent Menashe,
Another great article.
I think it is a very important point you emphasis about the Korban Pesach not being an atoning sacrifice. Many gentile Christians are simply so gullible when they see a messianic ‘Rabbi’ up there doing the ‘seder’ meal with a messyanic twist. They go all wobbly at the knees because – a real Jew – is telling them the ‘secrets’ of the ‘seder’ meal. The real problem as you suggest is when non-educated Jews are caught in the net and then are indoctrinated. On the one hand we have to laugh as Eliyahu HaNavi did at the prohets of Ba’al but on the other it is serious stuff. Bezrat HaShem we will merit helping many out of Christianity and the Messianic Movement returning them to the ways of HaShem.
I directed someone to your site who has come out of Christianity and he texted me saying, “I had never seen that about the sacrifice.”
Kol HaKavod and Chag Sameach.
LikeLike
Menashe, I appreciate your attempt to disabuse uninformed Christians of popular misconceptions surrounding the seder.
Evangelicals often claim the fact that Jews perform the seder with three sheets of matza is an ancient prophecy of the trinity. This claim goes as far back as Johannes Pfefferkorn (1469-1523), an infamous apostate who incited Christians to persecute his former people. This claim is still being repeated all over the internet. I don’t want to rain on anybody’s parade, but three sheets of matza is not ancient Jewish custom. The Babylonian Talmud (b. Pesachim 115b) mentions only one sheet of matza. Rambam (hilkhot chametz umatza 8:6) mentions two. The current Jewish custom of three sheets of matza on the table dates back to the Middle Ages. Living within majority Christian culture as they did, European Jews in the Middle Ages evidently felt Christian ritual wasn’t necessarily specific to the Christian religion, but common symbolic language. At any rate, Jews felt free to drawn on common symbolic language to express a Jewish message. It was Roman Catholics who first divided the Host into three parts. This practice dates from the 10th century. Three sheets of matza is the Jewish response to Roman Catholic treatment of the Host. If Roman Catholics had three pieces of holy unleavened bread, then Jews felt they were entitled to have three pieces of holy unleavened bread too! It’s not an ancient prophecy of the trinity; it’s monkey see, monkey do.
Our Messianic friends draw attention to the fact that factory matza has stripes. They claim this is a prophecy fulfilled by Jesus. After all, there’s a verse in Isaiah which says “By his stripes we are healed.” The problem is, prior to machine-made matza, matza didn’t have stripes. Hand-made matza still doesn’t have stripes. How can an industrial product of the 20th century really be a prophecy of Jesus? Furthermore, the word translated “stripes” חבורה in Isaiah simply means contusions or bruises. It has nothing to do with a pattern of stripes. This is the kind of silliness we get when we ignore historical development.
Perhaps Evangelical Christians are being deceptive here, but the deception is probably inadvertent. I don’t think it’s intentionally aimed at converting naive Jews to Christianity; it’s a matter for internal consumption. Evangelicals seek outside affirmation for their truth, which they find in a sister religion. This isn’t to justify what they’re doing, only to understand the dynamics. The spirit of American religion is pure inventiveness and improvisation. Unfortunately, the facts may be the first casualty.
Menashe, I can’t agree with your statement, “Christianity has made the substitutionary death of Jesus to be the sole basis of an entirely new religion.” Again, from listening to Evangelical rhetoric this is the impression you might gain, but in the New Testament substitutionary sacrifice is a relatively minor note. Christians have never agreed about atonement, even back when Christian doctrine was the most monolithic. It certainly isn’t the basis of the Christian religion, either historically or ideologically.
LikeLike
10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
It is patently obvious that Jesus is THE sole basis of the Christian religion!!
LikeLike
Romans 8:3(KJV) – For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: [See also 1 Tm 3:1-6; 1 Jo 4:2.]
18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 1 Peter 3:18 (New International Version)
Characterizing the death of Jesus on the cross as any kind of sacrifice would render it to be a human sacrifice and a clear violation of Torah too.
LikeLike
The main point of the article is that nowhere in the Jewish Scriptures is it ever intimated or suggested that the Passover sacrifice is a sacrifice for atonement.
There are actually seven different mitzvot that we perform at the Seder. Two are from the Torah:
1) telling the Exodus story
2) eating matzah
The other mitzvot are rabbinical:
3) eating Marror (bitter herbs)
4) eating the Afikomen (an extra piece of matzah for dessert as a reminder of the Passover offering)
5) saying Hallel (Psalms of praise)
6) drinking the Four Cups of wine
7) demonstrating acts of freedom and aristocracy ― e.g. sitting with a pillow cushion and leaning as we eat and drink, and beginning the meal “with a dip.”
The 15 steps of our Seder were composed in the 11th century by Talmudic commentators, either Rashi or Tosfot.
LikeLike
Why do we have three matzot at the Passover Seder?
By Chani Benjaminson
The matzot are symbolic of the three castes of Jews: Priests, Levites and Israelites; all of whom were liberated from Egyptian bondage.
They also commemorate the three measures of fine flour that Abraham told Sarah to bake into matzah when they were visited by the three angels (Genesis 18:6). According to tradition, the angels’ visit was on Passover.
They also represent our Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in whose merit we were redeemed from Egypt.
On a practical level, three matzot are needed so that when we break the middle matzah, we are still left with two whole ones to pronounce the Hamotzie blessing (as required on Shabbat and Holidays. See The Two Loaves).
For the mystical spin on the matzah numerology, see The Matzot and Four Cups of Wine.
Best wishes,
Chani Benjaminson
Chabad.org
LikeLike
With this point, I agree.
The Pesach rubric became the core of a midrashic-style interpretation of the patently unjust treatment of Rav Yeshua. The story of release and redemption accomplished through the death of an innocent serves as a wonderful model for the life, death, and resurrection of Yeshua.
But you are correct in pointing out that the Pesach narrative provides no hook on which to hang the concept of substitutionary atonement. That is a separate, parallel strand of thought, developed from other festivals and Torah teachings.
You may find it ironic that, just this afternoon, I challenged an elaborate document that tried to match Yeshua’s final days to a highly detailed chart, claiming to prove a parallel between Yeshua’s final days and the career of a selected Pesach Korban. The chart was several pages long, “proving” that Yeshua needed to go through exactly the same validation procedures as the Pesach sacrifice, and die at the exact moment the lambs were slain at the Temple. The fellow using this chart was actually happier asserting that Yeshua did not actually celebrate a seder than he was giving up the notion that Yeshua was literally a sacrificial lamb.
Another irony? I learned to take the approach of PRDS and midrash towards these interpretive parallels because of a question asked by another anti-missionary some 14 years ago! He also questioned how we followers of Yeshua could simultaneously refer to him as our Pesach, and also as our ultimate sin atonement, a là Yom Kippur. The difference between you and I, however, is that I believe the original Jewish followers of Yeshua were not stupid–they would have interpreted his career according to traditional Messianic expectation that was extant in the first century.
And that, they did.
LikeLike
It is an interesting article, and I am pleased to learn about the tradition of 3 matzot, and the relevance of the lamb to the Egyptians.
1) Regarding your statement: “Christianity makes sacrifice for atonement alone the sole basis of its religion without any reference to a personal effort to get closer to G-d”.
On the whole there is a lot of discussion and effort amongst many Christians to overcome sin and come closer to G-d. However, they see the death and resurrection of Jesus as providing the power by which they are able to overcome sin. They believe that it is not possible to overcome sin and become righteous without that power.
Their definition of sin of course, will not usually be closely tied to the Torah, although in Messianic circles it might be more so.
2) Whilst the sacrifice of Jesus is thought of primarily as being one of atonement, it can also be seen as having layers of meaning: e.g. firstly, the people are freed from being slaves to sin (Passover sacrifice) i.e. they regain the power to choose their way out of sin; secondly, they are taught what is sin (Torah) and then they are given the choice whether to sin or to obey; once they choose to obey, the atonement aspect of the sacrifice comes into play so they can avail themselves of that when they sin. Passover, Day of Atonement, First Fruits – they can all be covered by a multi-dimensional view of Jesus’ sacrifice. This might not be brought out in most Christian circles, but I think it is in Messianic circles where they are more aware of the festivals.
LikeLike
Messianic Jews do not entertain the polemics that Orthodox Jews contend with as far as Yeshua’s death to be a sort of a human sacrifice. Why? This is because Messianic Jews reason that something far greater than sacrifices exists. As a result, Messianic Jews do not perceive Yeshua’s death on a persecution stake as a sacrifice. Instead, Messianic Jews argue the importance of practicing obedience.
“I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, […]” (Psalms 50:8, NASB) the Psalmist said. Instead of simply relying on sacrifices, the Psalmist learned that there exists something more important than just the sacrifices presented on the altar; in fact, Nathan the prophet revealed that obedience to Hashem supercedes any sacrifice that a true worshipper could ever present on the altar: “[…] Behold, to obey is better than [to present a] sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22, NASB).
In agreement with the prophet’s message, Moshe Rabeinu wrote in Torah, “You shall therefore obey the L-RD your G-d, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today” (Deuteronomy 27:10, NASB). Why, then, does the Tanach place a greater emphasis on obedience as opposed to any sacrifices? Well, it’s possible that when a person focuses on one mitzvah at a time, the person may miss out on the entire purpose that Torah serves; it’s possible that by focusing on one mitzvah at a time, the worshipper may forget to observe all the other mitzvot registered in Torah. On the long of focusing on just one mitzvot, the worshipper may forget the true intentions Torah serve.
What does Torah suggests that we do? Torah suggests that we “[…] obey the L-RD (our) G-d, and do His commandments and His statutes […]” (Deuteronomy 27:10, NASB). This means that we should not concern ourselves with just doing one mitzvah; rather, we should concern ourselves with obeying all of Hashem’s mitzvot as a whole with reason- prevent ourselves from ignoring what Torah instructs. In our society, many don’t think about the importance Torah serves. Yet, we as the children of Israel should concern ourselves with wondering, “What are the consequences for ignoring Torah?” This is because the Tanach stipulates a consequence to those who do not obey Torah, being the act of ignoring it. By definition, a person who ignores Torah is an individual who refuses to take a notice to what Torah as a whole have to say. [Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary: ref. ignore]” As a result of ignoring Torah as a whole, they miss out on the many blessings that Torah plays in our modern living. This act of missing out on the function that Torah serves as a whole results in disassociating oneself from its relevancy. In our society, many don’t identify their actions in relation to Torah observance; they just simply reason that avoiding harm to others is good enough.
What does the Bible say in reference to those who purposely ignore Torah? The Scriptures state, “58 If you refuse to obey all the terms of this Torah that are written in this book, and if you do not fear the glorious and awesome name of Hashem your Elohim, 59then[,] Hashem will overwhelm both you and your children with indescribable plagues. These plagues will be intense and without relief, making you miserable and unbearably sick. [Deuteronomy 28:58-9, NLT]” By ignoring Torah, the person submits themselves and their children to varying illnesses that Torah intended to preserve them from. In fact, The Heavenly Father ignores purposely those who ignore His Torah. In Hosea’s time, such was the result of the chosen priesthood and their children who refused to incline their ears to the instructions of Torah. (ref. Hosea 4:6)
After learning what it means to ignore Torah, it now becomes relevant to understand why obedience to Torah is far more important to any sacrifice that we could ever present on the altar. Also, it becomes evident that the worshipper can loose out on focusing on one mitzvah if they forget the intentions that Torah as a whole serves. The consequence of disobey Torah as a whole is a great significance, indeed! The wisest man that ever lived penned, “Fear Hashem and safeguard His commands, for this is the duty of every person” (Ecclesiastes 8:12, NASB). Notice that the author does not say command to suggest to safeguard one mitvah; he says commands as in to suggest that obedience to Torah as a whole more important.
Once, one of Israel’s prophets presented two things and compared both items next to the other. These two things were obedience and sacrifice. Now, we know that Hashem did not reprove Israel for their desire to present animal sacrifices upon the altar as the Psalmist revealed. (Ref. Psalms 50:8, NASB) Yet, when both obedience and sacrifice are placed side by side, the prophet Nathan reveals that obedience is far more important than presenting a sacrifice. As a result, King David subscribed to something far greater than sacrifice, being obedience. Furthermore, King David revealed that obedience alone was not just greater than sacrifice; he also included that the worshipper’s intent was just as significant: “15 O L-rd, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. 16For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O G-d, You will not despise” (Psalms 51:15-7, NASB).
What, then, do Messianic Jews say about Yeshua’s death on the persecution stake? Messianic Jews do not entertain the notion that Yeshua’s death on the persecution stake was a form of a sacrificial system. Instead, we reason that, like any Jew who was persecuted for their faith in Hashem, Yeshua too was persecuted by Gentiles who had no incling of an understanding of what it meant to obey Hashem. The Brit Chadashah states, “[Yeshua] learned obedience from the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8, NASB). In fact, Messianic Jews believe that Yeshua’s obedience to Torah serves as a model example of becoming a tzaddik! “Because one person disobeyed G-d, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed G-d, many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19, NLT) So, if Yeshua was obedient to Hashem’s mitzvot contained in Torah, and if His obedience was to the extent that he died for the sake of obeying Torah, then Messianic Jews reason along with the Tanach that obedience supercedes sacrifice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I find this article quite disgusting to say the least. Misquoted scriptures get you nowhere. There is nowhere in all of the book of Exodus where the lamb is referred to as a god of the Egyptians. NOWHERE!! You are bearing false witness and need to keep quiet lest you incur wrath.
Furthermore there is NO MENTION of the Passover Lamb until chapter 12 and it is all YHWH talking, never Moses. Never is it mentioned that the lamb is a god of the Egyptians. When Moses speaks he only relays the instructions given him by YHWH, blessed be He.
If you are going to refute something use truth to do it. People have been so misled they’re not that stupid anymore. And ditch the NIV, which is proven to be the most inaccurate of all the translations. No self respecting Jew or Sabbath keeper would ever touch one.
Would the real Exodus 8:22 please step forward?
“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land.”–Exodus 8:22.
See, no mention of the lamb being an Egyptian god.
You have borne false witness against YHWH and His Moshiach. Might I suggest a study on repentance.
Just like your father who was a murderer and a liar from the beginning.
LikeLike
Your messiah fulfilled Deut 13 to the T.
LikeLike
Who said anything about Deuteronomy 13? The Exodus 8:22 you posted does not exist. This seems acceptable to you?
LikeLike
Verse 26 in your version.
LikeLike
That seems to have hushed the anti-semite Menashe 🙂
LikeLike
Pingback: Dan 9 for Evangelicals | Menashe's Blog
Pingback: Danger from Within by Promoting from Without – Menashe's Blog