According to Lexico, anti-Semitism is “hostility to or prejudice against the Jewish people.”
- Was Jesus an anti-Semite?
“And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord…And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.” (Luke 2:21,22, 39)
“Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.” (Luke 2:41, 42)
“And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.” (Luke 4:16)
“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues…” (Matthew 4:23)
Answer: NO. Jesus was Jewish. He lived a Jewish life, taught the Jewish faith, and ministered to Jews and Gentiles alike.
Further Reading: Leviticus 12; Exodus 34:23; 2 Chronicles 30:21,22
- Did Jesus express hostility or prejudice against the Jewish people?
“Do not deal basely with your countrymen…You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:16-18)
“Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, Saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” (Matthew 26:67,68)
“And they crucified him…And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,… Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders…” (Matthew 27:35,39,41)
“Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:” (1 Peter 2:23,24)
Answer: NO. In His teachings, behavior, or otherwise, He expressed NO hostility or prejudice against the Jewish people,despite what He endured from them.
Further Reading: Proverbs 25:21;Matthew 5:43-45; Mark 1:35
A self-hating Jew, according to Wikipedia, is a Jewish person who holds antisemitic views. They betray their people and/or adopt the views of their enemies to get close to them, achieve a desired social status, etc.
- Did Jesus ever betray His people?
“He was maltreated, yet he was submissive, He did not open his mouth; Like a sheep being led to slaughter, Like a ewe, dumb before those who shear her, He did not open his mouth…he had done no injustice And had spoken no falsehood.” (Isaiah 53:7,9)
“And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest. And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.” (Matthew 27:11-14)
“Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?… he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:33-35,38)
“…the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.” (Matthew 27:20-22)
Answer: Even when Jesus was falsely accused before Pilate (see the references below), He said nothing to condemn His accusers or deliver Himself. His people betrayed Him, but He never betrayed them.
Further Reading: Luke 23:1-3; Matthew 9:35, 22:15-21; John 6:14,15, 18:36-37
- What about His statements against the Pharisees, chief priests, and scribes?
“Do not deal basely with your countrymen…You shall not hate your kinsfolk in your heart. Reprove your kinsman but incur no guilt because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself: I am the LORD.” (Leviticus 19:16- 18)
“The LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet [and] every seer, saying: “Turn back from your wicked ways, and observe My commandments and My laws, according to all the Teaching that I commanded your fathers and that I transmitted to you through My servants the prophets.” (2 Kings 17:13)
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet from among your own people, like myself; him you shall heed.” (Deuteronomy 18:15)
“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Matthew 23:1-3)
Answer: Jesus respected the leadership of His nation. But like the prophets before Him, He reproved the sins of His people so that they would turn from their evil ways. Their salvation was at stake and He wanted to save them before it was too late.
Further Reading: Matthew 23; Mark 3:1-5; John 8:1-11, 24
- What about the B’rit Chadashah, the New Covenant? Doesn’t it teach Christians to hate and/or kill Jews?
Answer: The B’rit Chadashah:
Does NOT promote Jewish persecution of ANY kind. (betrayal, retaliation, etc.)
“Recompense to no man evil for evil… If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
Does NOT encourage Christians to adopt anti-Jewish sentiments.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19,20)
“Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:21,22)
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” (Romans 10:1)
Does NOT promote supersessionism.
“I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11:1-5)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
- So what does the B’rit Chadashah, the New Covenant, actually teach?
“But he [Jesus] answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:1-4)
“Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.” (Luke 1:1-4)
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17)
Answer: The B’rit Chadashah affirm the understanding that the Scriptures are the Word of G-d. They chronicle the history and teachings of Jesus and the church in the first century.
- So why are some Christians anti-Semitic?
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you…” (Matthew 28:19, 20)
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:29-31)
“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 1:12-14)
Answer: When the Word of G-d was set aside by the church as the supreme authority in the later centuries, persecution arose against Jews, Christians faithful to the Scriptures, and other dissenters for over 1,260 years.
When the Scriptures were recirculated amongst the masses during the Reformation, persecution against the Jews waned and acceptance increased. They discovered the truth and repented of their evil acts against the Jews.
Though mass persecution against the Jewish people has waned, there are still some Christians who have been led astray by the doctrines of false teachers. They have adopted the sentiments of Anti-Semites and have spread them to others.
Further Reading: Daniel 7:25; 1 John 2:9-11
thechristiansclassroom.com 